I started with a battery radio that I could receive station weakly after changing the electrolytic and other capacitors, and now have next to nothing B+ voltage.

What would be the logical sequence in checking for this? Capacitors to ground first? Even A volatge is gone way down.

Carl: Did the radio work before you recapped it? If so, then I would suspect a wiring error.

I assume that the radio uses two separate batteries - an A and a B? It is strange that both voltages are low. Are the batteries good? If you're using a battery eliminator, a short on one voltage can drag the other one down too.
Doug

:I started with a battery radio that I could receive station weakly after changing the electrolytic and other capacitors, and now have next to nothing B+ voltage.
:
:What would be the logical sequence in checking for this? Capacitors to ground first? Even A volatge is gone way down.

Hi Carl

You must be operating the radio off AC line? That's the only way both A and B voltage will be low.

Measure voltage at the rectifier first. Follow it through to find out where voltage is lost. Check electrolytic caps. Be sure they aren't reversed and have a high enough voltage rating. Rectifier tube or selenium could be weak?

Norm

:Carl: Did the radio work before you recapped it? If so, then I would suspect a wiring error.
:
:I assume that the radio uses two separate batteries - an A and a B? It is strange that both voltages are low. Are the batteries good? If you're using a battery eliminator, a short on one voltage can drag the other one down too.
:Doug
:
::I started with a battery radio that I could receive station weakly after changing the electrolytic and other capacitors, and now have next to nothing B+ voltage.
::
::What would be the logical sequence in checking for this? Capacitors to ground first? Even A volatge is gone way down.

Hello Norm,

Actually it is a battery set, I'm running B off an eliminator and A (2 volt tubes)off a storage battery with a dropping resistor. All capactors including the electrolytic have changed, at one point I was reading 80+ volts at the plates. I did clean the volume control at a subsequent point. Plates now run between 4 and 12 volts.

:Hi Carl
:
: You must be operating the radio off AC line? That's the only way both A and B voltage will be low.
:
: Measure voltage at the rectifier first. Follow it through to find out where voltage is lost. Check electrolytic caps. Be sure they aren't reversed and have a high enough voltage rating. Rectifier tube or selenium could be weak?
:
:Norm
:
:
::Carl: Did the radio work before you recapped it? If so, then I would suspect a wiring error.
::
::I assume that the radio uses two separate batteries - an A and a B? It is strange that both voltages are low. Are the batteries good? If you're using a battery eliminator, a short on one voltage can drag the other one down too.
::Doug
::
:::I started with a battery radio that I could receive station weakly after changing the electrolytic and other capacitors, and now have next to nothing B+ voltage.
:::
:::What would be the logical sequence in checking for this? Capacitors to ground first? Even A volatge is gone way down.

Carl

What voltage is coming from your B eliminator? It may have dropped off? Plate of your output tube is supplied through a transformer right to B+. This voltage should be just about the same as your supply.

What voltage do you read across your A dropping resistor. It may be getting hot and changing value?

Norm

:Hello Norm,
:
:Actually it is a battery set, I'm running B off an eliminator and A (2 volt tubes)off a storage battery with a dropping resistor. All capactors including the electrolytic have changed, at one point I was reading 80+ volts at the plates. I did clean the volume control at a subsequent point. Plates now run between 4 and 12 volts.
:
:
::Hi Carl
::
:: You must be operating the radio off AC line? That's the only way both A and B voltage will be low.
::
:: Measure voltage at the rectifier first. Follow it through to find out where voltage is lost. Check electrolytic caps. Be sure they aren't reversed and have a high enough voltage rating. Rectifier tube or selenium could be weak?
::
::Norm
::
::
:::Carl: Did the radio work before you recapped it? If so, then I would suspect a wiring error.
:::
:::I assume that the radio uses two separate batteries - an A and a B? It is strange that both voltages are low. Are the batteries good? If you're using a battery eliminator, a short on one voltage can drag the other one down too.
:::Doug
:::
::::I started with a battery radio that I could receive station weakly after changing the electrolytic and other capacitors, and now have next to nothing B+ voltage.
::::
::::What would be the logical sequence in checking for this? Capacitors to ground first? Even A volatge is gone way down.

The eliminator is putting out 90 volts at its terminals, the plate on output tube currently shows about 20 volts. When I touch the probe to the B- terminal on the radio, I get negative 80 volts approximately.

:Carl
:
: What voltage is coming from your B eliminator? It may have dropped off? Plate of your output tube is supplied through a transformer right to B+. This voltage should be just about the same as your supply.
:
: What voltage do you read across your A dropping resistor. It may be getting hot and changing value?
:
:Norm
:
::Hello Norm,
::
::Actually it is a battery set, I'm running B off an eliminator and A (2 volt tubes)off a storage battery with a dropping resistor. All capactors including the electrolytic have changed, at one point I was reading 80+ volts at the plates. I did clean the volume control at a subsequent point. Plates now run between 4 and 12 volts.
::
::
:::Hi Carl
:::
::: You must be operating the radio off AC line? That's the only way both A and B voltage will be low.
:::
::: Measure voltage at the rectifier first. Follow it through to find out where voltage is lost. Check electrolytic caps. Be sure they aren't reversed and have a high enough voltage rating. Rectifier tube or selenium could be weak?
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::
::::Carl: Did the radio work before you recapped it? If so, then I would suspect a wiring error.
::::
::::I assume that the radio uses two separate batteries - an A and a B? It is strange that both voltages are low. Are the batteries good? If you're using a battery eliminator, a short on one voltage can drag the other one down too.
::::Doug
::::
:::::I started with a battery radio that I could receive station weakly after changing the electrolytic and other capacitors, and now have next to nothing B+ voltage.
:::::
:::::What would be the logical sequence in checking for this? Capacitors to ground first? Even A volatge is gone way down.

Carl, in order to follow your description, please link us to the schematic for this set.

When you say you read X volts when the voltmeter probe is on a certain point, tell us where the other probe is connected. Also, where the positive vs. negative probe is and whether the voltmeter is on the DC or AC scale.

:The eliminator is putting out 90 volts at its terminals, the plate on output tube currently shows about 20 volts. When I touch the probe to the B- terminal on the radio, I get negative 80 volts approximately.
:
::Carl
::
:: What voltage is coming from your B eliminator? It may have dropped off? Plate of your output tube is supplied through a transformer right to B+. This voltage should be just about the same as your supply.
::
:: What voltage do you read across your A dropping resistor. It may be getting hot and changing value?
::
::Norm
::
:::Hello Norm,
:::
:::Actually it is a battery set, I'm running B off an eliminator and A (2 volt tubes)off a storage battery with a dropping resistor. All capactors including the electrolytic have changed, at one point I was reading 80+ volts at the plates. I did clean the volume control at a subsequent point. Plates now run between 4 and 12 volts.
:::
:::
::::Hi Carl
::::
:::: You must be operating the radio off AC line? That's the only way both A and B voltage will be low.
::::
:::: Measure voltage at the rectifier first. Follow it through to find out where voltage is lost. Check electrolytic caps. Be sure they aren't reversed and have a high enough voltage rating. Rectifier tube or selenium could be weak?
::::
::::Norm
::::
::::
:::::Carl: Did the radio work before you recapped it? If so, then I would suspect a wiring error.
:::::
:::::I assume that the radio uses two separate batteries - an A and a B? It is strange that both voltages are low. Are the batteries good? If you're using a battery eliminator, a short on one voltage can drag the other one down too.
:::::Doug
:::::
::::::I started with a battery radio that I could receive station weakly after changing the electrolytic and other capacitors, and now have next to nothing B+ voltage.
::::::
::::::What would be the logical sequence in checking for this? Capacitors to ground first? Even A volatge is gone way down.

Measure the eliminator's voltage both before and after you connect it to the radio. You could either have a problem in the radio, or in the eliminator. Make sure that the polarities of your electrolytics are correct. Otherwise there may be a failing component in the eliminator.

T.

Thanks to all who assisted me on the back burner. What happened was a defective open switch between B minus and chassis (i.e. lack of B voltage). Also, a defective modern alligator clip wire which gave me intermittent A voltage. Thanks again.

:Measure the eliminator's voltage both before and after you connect it to the radio. You could either have a problem in the radio, or in the eliminator. Make sure that the polarities of your electrolytics are correct. Otherwise there may be a failing component in the eliminator.
:
:T.