Wireless of the Week - week 6

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Fascinating piece of kit, and what a story behind it. Thanks very much for showing it!!

I know a fellow here in Canada who made a battery powered unit that fit in the bottom of his 48 set and he used a combination of modern batteries to run it. I think it cost him about $50 in Duracells to run the set for a half hour.

Originally Posted by things_green

Hi Bruce & all, I took the 12v PSU out of my WS48 today and photographed it....been meaning too for years!

... so the story goes a ship with WS48 batteries was torpedoed by a Japanese sub...so there was a desperate shortage of batteries...
I don't know if that's the case or we were just too far from the beginning of a very extended supply chain.

The Kiwi boffins came up with this Vibrator Unit that supplies all the relevant voltages which sits beneath the transmitter unit.
The original radio plugs into the Vib unit and there is an on/off switch that attaches to the front hole in the battery box...

there are 2x copper upstands that connect to the TX chassis to earth the unit.
its a tight fit.

I have a hard copy of the original specs/wiring diagram somewhere, I'll post it IF I can find it

I bought 2 of these and gifted one to a chap who didn't even say 'Thankyou'. ~sighs~

[Bruce MacMillan]

For those who wish to power up their WS48 there is a fellow on ebay who sells solid state inverters. His user name is inverter45 and he makes these for a variety of sets.

I've purchased a couple from him for a GRC9 and MK128 radio set. They work quite well and just need a gel battery.

[things_green]

Originally Posted by Bruce MacMillan

For those who wish to power up their WS48 there is a fellow on ebay who sells solid state inverters. His user name is inverter45 and he makes these for a variety of sets.

I've purchased a couple from him for a GRC9 and MK128 radio set. They work quite well and just need a gel battery.

yes, Nico (I think it was Nico ;-) )out of Italy....brilliant kit, not cheap but well made and reliable.

I've had one of his inverters in my A510 for numerous years.
He also makes a a great unit for your/my BC611....drop it in, add 3x 'D cells' and voila!
I also bought one for my WS38 MkII*.... but I think I'll be selling that unfinished soon, too many projects not enough time & dosh.