A friend has an interest in old engines. One of his engines has a 32 volt generator attached and he is interested in buying a 32 volt radio to run from this old engine. Does anyone have or know of one for sale, in Aussie??
Can this be done?? Or is some 'smoothing' of the output required??

They are around, although I've only seen them in magazines photographed at radio show days. They were used by country people who generated their own 32 volt power onsite.

The majority of those generators were DC and fed batteries, the batteries were the smoothing.

The 32V radio's tended to be Vibrator sets, or sets that could have a power module plugged in for various sources eg Mains.

I have the chassis only, of one but have not explored how incomplete it actually is, although I suspect that the PSU is still there. It could actually adapt to a mains radio, with a bit of tinkering.

I am in the throes of re-organising, after moving house to where there is actually none, but I know exactly where in which shed the chassis is.

Marc

I would think that the same issues you would have when installing a radio in a car would also show up here. What sort of engine? gas engines have ignition noise to be filtered out.

Something to check for: At least in the USA, many 32 volt "farm" radios got blown up when someone finds it, sees that it has a plug that will fit our mains/powerline outlets, plugs it into the 120VAC and fries the tube heaters, at least. Not realising that the radio cannot accept 120VAC.

When someone describes a small stationary engine here they are usually (but not always) referring to set ups like the old single pot Wolseley engines driven by a magneto and equipped with a shiny cast iron or brass flywheel. They use bugger-all fuel and would be quite adequate for a basic lighting plant. Because the engine is mechanically coupled to a dynamo there's no electrical link between the lighting plant and the engine there's no transmission of interference.

Most 32 volt gear here would have been connected with crocodile clips/clamps or a polarised two pin plug, one pin horizontal and the other vertical as per the photos in the top row on the following page:-

http://www.allabout12volt.com.au/cat04/plug.html.

I have vintage stationary farm engines as well as old radios.
I have a 32v Moffat Virtue 3hp genset and a couple of 32v radios, they will work fine. The best is an Operatic Mignon vibrator set, it uses a 32v vibrator, the original had disintergrated inside, I replace it with a NOS from Ebay.
My genset can be seem here, third engine down.
Engine Photos
Polarised plugs can be bought from any electrical wholesaler, you may have to order them from the smaller wholesalers. I just pulled some out of the hospital where I work, the basement had an old 32v lighting system there years ago. Will come in handy.
Peter

Some of those engines would not create spark noise as they were diesel.

Being across batteries did get rid of a lot of the noise, but the generator was not always running when the radio was being used, so there was never an issue.

Many were operated around me, into the 60's.

Marc

Hi. I restored a farmer radio ERLA (Electric Researchs Laboratories) that works with 32 VDC direct : no use the vibrator. It works perfectly. You want some information about it? Regards
Daltro D'Arisbo

Airzone,

A fully operating 32 volt radio is the preferred solution.

Are any of your radios for sale???? If so, please advise of price range.

Cheers,
Ian

Hi friend.
Unfortunately, I don't sell radios. I only restore my radio tubes and collect to r5escue the old radios history.
Cheers
Daltro D'Arisbo
www.museudoradio.com

Try the VIC branch of the HRSA. They should know who's into 32 volt sets and maybe able to out you in contact with somebody.

Mine are not for sale, sorry. Watch Ebay and US Ebay.
When I show my engines I take the radios as well.
I will ask my US buddies for you.
Peter

An Astor (big bow) QN QP which doesn't use a vibrator but
the valves are wired in series to directly use the low voltage
are common. Should cost around $ 100 complete and
meybe $200 restored. These radios are voltage sensitive
and most have settings for "charging" situations.
One day I may find someone to show me some (paid)
hands on repairs/ trouble shooting so as I can sell ones that
will become excess to needs.
Cheers Michael.