Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

:Also would like to know when they increased line voltage. I like my radios and want them to play for years to come at their proper voltage
:
:Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

Hi Sean

You could use a lamp in series with the radio to drop line voltage. A filament transformer can be wired to subtract from line voltage. Adding a filament transformer would be a good idea for a bench set up.

Is todays higher line voltage causing a problem? If B+ is too high you could add a wire would resistor in series? A lower emission rectifier would also reduce B+. If your radio uses a 5Y3 a 5W4 might reduce some voltage.

Norm

:Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

:Hello, I was thinking of a lamp too, but what wattage or would that also too depend on how much wattage the radio used. Another question is what would be the voltage to run these radios at, 107volts? How would you wire a filament to do this, just use it in series?
:
:Hi Sean
:
: You could use a lamp in series with the radio to drop line voltage. A filament transformer can be wired to subtract from line voltage. Adding a filament transformer would be a good idea for a bench set up.
:
: Is todays higher line voltage causing a problem? If B+ is too high you could add a wire would resistor in series? A lower emission rectifier would also reduce B+. If your radio uses a 5Y3 a 5W4 might reduce some voltage.
:
:Norm
:
:
:
::Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

Hi Sean

Use a 12 volt filament transformer. Secondary voltage will be added or subtracted from line voltage. Wire the secondary in series with your radio and measure voltage with a meter. If it added, reverse the winding wires. You can do the same with transformers of other voltages.

Norm
::Hello, I was thinking of a lamp too, but what wattage or would that also too depend on how much wattage the radio used. Another question is what would be the voltage to run these radios at, 107volts? How would you wire a filament to do this, just use it in series?
::
::Hi Sean
::
:: You could use a lamp in series with the radio to drop line voltage. A filament transformer can be wired to subtract from line voltage. Adding a filament transformer would be a good idea for a bench set up.
::
:: Is todays higher line voltage causing a problem? If B+ is too high you could add a wire would resistor in series? A lower emission rectifier would also reduce B+. If your radio uses a 5Y3 a 5W4 might reduce some voltage.
::
::Norm
::
::
::
:::Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

:Hello, would you also have to hook up the primary side of the filament trans to the line voltage, so you would basically be adding an opposing 12 volts into the line thus lowering the voltage 12 volts, assuming you had the secondary wires correctly wired as far as polarity goes?
:
:Hi Sean
:
: Use a 12 volt filament transformer. Secondary voltage will be added or subtracted from line voltage. Wire the secondary in series with your radio and measure voltage with a meter. If it added, reverse the winding wires. You can do the same with transformers of other voltages.
:
:Norm
:::Hello, I was thinking of a lamp too, but what wattage or would that also too depend on how much wattage the radio used. Another question is what would be the voltage to run these radios at, 107volts? How would you wire a filament to do this, just use it in series?
:::
:::Hi Sean
:::
::: You could use a lamp in series with the radio to drop line voltage. A filament transformer can be wired to subtract from line voltage. Adding a filament transformer would be a good idea for a bench set up.
:::
::: Is todays higher line voltage causing a problem? If B+ is too high you could add a wire would resistor in series? A lower emission rectifier would also reduce B+. If your radio uses a 5Y3 a 5W4 might reduce some voltage.
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::
:::
::::Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

Hi Sean

You got it. The primary is also hooked up. The secondary will either add or oppose. A transformer rated 12 volts @ 1 amp will be enough for most radios.

Norm

::Hello, would you also have to hook up the primary side of the filament trans to the line voltage, so you would basically be adding an opposing 12 volts into the line thus lowering the voltage 12 volts, assuming you had the secondary wires correctly wired as far as polarity goes?
::
::Hi Sean
::
:: Use a 12 volt filament transformer. Secondary voltage will be added or subtracted from line voltage. Wire the secondary in series with your radio and measure voltage with a meter. If it added, reverse the winding wires. You can do the same with transformers of other voltages.
::
::Norm
::::Hello, I was thinking of a lamp too, but what wattage or would that also too depend on how much wattage the radio used. Another question is what would be the voltage to run these radios at, 107volts? How would you wire a filament to do this, just use it in series?
::::
::::Hi Sean
::::
:::: You could use a lamp in series with the radio to drop line voltage. A filament transformer can be wired to subtract from line voltage. Adding a filament transformer would be a good idea for a bench set up.
::::
:::: Is todays higher line voltage causing a problem? If B+ is too high you could add a wire would resistor in series? A lower emission rectifier would also reduce B+. If your radio uses a 5Y3 a 5W4 might reduce some voltage.
::::
::::Norm
::::
::::
::::
:::::Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

Hi Sean,
Using a filament transformer as Norm describes is commonly known as a "back-buck" transformer. Here is a webpage which gives a detailed description of this, along with step-by-step instructions, a parts list, schematic and a suggestion for installing one in a portable enclosure:

http://bama.sbc.edu/voltagereducer.htm

If you wanted to get a little fancier, you could also add a fuse and/or pilot light to this setup.

Poston

:Hi Sean
:
: You got it. The primary is also hooked up. The secondary will either add or oppose. A transformer rated 12 volts @ 1 amp will be enough for most radios.
:
:Norm
:
:
:::Hello, would you also have to hook up the primary side of the filament trans to the line voltage, so you would basically be adding an opposing 12 volts into the line thus lowering the voltage 12 volts, assuming you had the secondary wires correctly wired as far as polarity goes?
:::
:::Hi Sean
:::
::: Use a 12 volt filament transformer. Secondary voltage will be added or subtracted from line voltage. Wire the secondary in series with your radio and measure voltage with a meter. If it added, reverse the winding wires. You can do the same with transformers of other voltages.
:::
:::Norm
:::::Hello, I was thinking of a lamp too, but what wattage or would that also too depend on how much wattage the radio used. Another question is what would be the voltage to run these radios at, 107volts? How would you wire a filament to do this, just use it in series?
:::::
:::::Hi Sean
:::::
::::: You could use a lamp in series with the radio to drop line voltage. A filament transformer can be wired to subtract from line voltage. Adding a filament transformer would be a good idea for a bench set up.
:::::
::::: Is todays higher line voltage causing a problem? If B+ is too high you could add a wire would resistor in series? A lower emission rectifier would also reduce B+. If your radio uses a 5Y3 a 5W4 might reduce some voltage.
:::::
:::::Norm
:::::
:::::
:::::
::::::Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

:Hello, would you also have to hook up the primary side of the filament trans to the line voltage, so you would basically be adding an opposing 12 volts into the line thus lowering the voltage 12 volts, assuming you had the secondary wires correctly wired as far as polarity goes?
:
:Hi Sean
:
: Use a 12 volt filament transformer. Secondary voltage will be added or subtracted from line voltage. Wire the secondary in series with your radio and measure voltage with a meter. If it added, reverse the winding wires. You can do the same with transformers of other voltages.
:
:Norm
:::Hello, I was thinking of a lamp too, but what wattage or would that also too depend on how much wattage the radio used. Another question is what would be the voltage to run these radios at, 107volts? How would you wire a filament to do this, just use it in series?
:::
:::Hi Sean
:::
::: You could use a lamp in series with the radio to drop line voltage. A filament transformer can be wired to subtract from line voltage. Adding a filament transformer would be a good idea for a bench set up.
:::
::: Is todays higher line voltage causing a problem? If B+ is too high you could add a wire would resistor in series? A lower emission rectifier would also reduce B+. If your radio uses a 5Y3 a 5W4 might reduce some voltage.
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::
:::
::::Hello, I have tested my detrola 106 and found the speaker field coil amps to be 41ma. I am thinking this is because the line voltage was less back then. I adjusted my variac to get the radio to only pull 30ma and the radio still plays fine. speaker doesnt get too hot now. Question is how do you come up with a cheap ballast of some sort for all of these radios that I play. The variac does creat radio noise through the radio when you start cranking down the line voltage so I would like to know if there is maybe a light bulb or something you can use to drop the necessary voltage

::::wattage the radio used. Another question is what would be the voltage to run these radios at, 107volts?

I bought a bunch of 22 ohm-50 watt Dale chassis mount resistors (cheap) to cure this problem on some of my sets. Voltage tends to be in the high 120s at times and some sets simply don't like that. But be doubly sure that you aren't experiencing overheating due to some other problem like leaky caps, poor biasing, etc.
Depending on the set of course, this value will drop about 9-10 volts. Mounted to the rear panel of the chassis they really don't generate a scary amount of heat.
If you want one to try, send me your address and I'll drop one in the mail. My email address is exray at caribe.net.