RadioGuy wrote:
N8KDV wrote in message
...
N8KDV wrote:
RadioGuy wrote:
N8KDV wrote in message
...
RadioGuy wrote:
Peter wrote in message
. cable.rogers.com...
I have a question about this radio.
If I plug the AC jack in the wall and I have the 12 volt
connection
hooked
up to a battery as a power failure backup will it damage the
radio? Is
there
an internal switch to protect it from both sources being
connected at
the
same time?
Thanks
Pierre
Shouldn't be any problem... Drake told me years back to put a big
battery on
those terminals to act as back-up power supply for my R8B. Down
here in
the
lightning capital of the US we routinely pull the plugs, antennas
and
grounds from our gear to keep it from getting damaged by lightning
discharges. The @#!&*# Drake R8B does not have any internal
power
back-up
so to keep from having to reset the clock every time the plug is
pulled
an
external power supply is needed. The current draw on battery
during
standby
is about 0.64 amp so size a battery accordingly. Why Drake
couldn't
have
put an internal back-up battery for the clock escapes me---then
again,
the
R8B is a half-baked receiver anyway!
RG
Half-baked?
Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B
Drake... When you care enough to listen with the best!
Hi Steve, I've been away for awhile... happy to see you are still
here; lots
of folks have left it seems.
Yea... halfbaked... you know me... remember that long thread years
back
where we picked at the R8B? I still haven't changed my mind about it!
My
R8B gets a serious workout; it's on everyday and sometimes all day
too.
Over the years since I had it little glitches keep coming up. I've
reached
the point where it might be a cheaper to trade it in on a new one
instead of
sending it back to Drake for repair---labor was $70.00/hour a couple
of
years ago, maybe more now. Besides, every time it comes back there is
a new
ding here and there.
Problems I notice now is drifting of the notch, passband control has
slowly
moved off center, some crystal must have drifted off frequency as I
get a
beat when it should be zero beat in LSB and USB mode during exalted
carrier
reception and a quirk that comes and goes---It take a couple of three
seconds to get audio after the receiver is turned on and sometimes I
have to
crank the audio gain way up to get it to go. I just don't feel
exicited
about trouble shooting it myself.
BTW, I guess it's been a year since I did a clean job on the
encoder/switch. Everything is running fine. I am really beginning to
think
its the grease that the encoder/switch is packed with that is the
problem
with the premature failing of the control that folks are
experiencing---you
might have read my analysis a year ago. I cleaned mine with DeoxIT
and
lightly lubed it with CaiLube---that's after I cleaned all the grease
out of
it.
Best Regards,
RG
I have yet to experience the problems you've had so far, except for the
rotary
encoder problem. I had cleaned mine out and it worked ok for quite some
time,
but the problem is back. It only ever manifested itself when tuning down
in
frequency. It doesn't bother me too much as I enter a lot of stuff via
the
keypad, and if I tune slowly down in frequency it will not jump.
One thing I did not do the last time was use the CaiLube, I suppose I
should
order some up, and re-do the process.
A question: Which particular type of CaiLube did you use? The 5% solution
or the
100%?
That's what I found so interesting about the two encoders that failed me;
for the most part I only use the keypad, the knob was just for fine tuning.
The CaiLube that I used is 100%. The part number is 100L-L25C, it's the 25
ml bottle with the needle applicator---I used the smallest drop.
BTW, after cleaning out all that grease stuff in the encoder I really like
the way it tunes now---it's a nice crisp feel instead of that thick greasy
feel. I added a couple of felt washers between the knob and panel so I can
also regulate tuning knob tension ( I also put on the older R8 tuning knob
too).
RG
Thanks, I'll order some up.
Steve
Holland, MI
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