Radio Bench Test
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,062
Likes: 103
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
you also need an antenna to test the am (and to a lesser extent the fm). all you will get otherwise is a lot of static which really won't give you a clue as to the working condition of the radio. basically all it will tell you is that it will power up nothing more. you can also use one of those 12 volt "jump" starter packs to provide the appropriate 12 volt + and -
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Radio bench test
I just went through this last week and can shed some learnings from this.
First, get a good 12 v DC source, eg a good battery fully charged.
Connect the DC to the + and -. Note on the orriginal radio there is another + for the internal lamp but this does not need to be connected to test the radio.
Second, make sure that the speakers are the correct ohms (10 Ohms) is the correct impedence...any lower and you WILL watch the output transistors burn, baby burn.
Third, make sure you have ALL the components, Radio, Convector,1 Output Transistor on a seperate heat sink, Antenna with cable,and correct speakers.
Once all is set, power up from battery and switch radio ON, spin the tuner and try to pick up an FM station, and if successful then try AM.
Hopefully the output transistors will be OK, if not, then new ones are about $15.00 each. Search the net for Delco DX501 and equivalents.
I am in Australia and had to replace my transitors 'cuase the radio had been Bubba-ed with 4 Ohm speakers.
Best of luck.
Peter
First, get a good 12 v DC source, eg a good battery fully charged.
Connect the DC to the + and -. Note on the orriginal radio there is another + for the internal lamp but this does not need to be connected to test the radio.
Second, make sure that the speakers are the correct ohms (10 Ohms) is the correct impedence...any lower and you WILL watch the output transistors burn, baby burn.
Third, make sure you have ALL the components, Radio, Convector,1 Output Transistor on a seperate heat sink, Antenna with cable,and correct speakers.
Once all is set, power up from battery and switch radio ON, spin the tuner and try to pick up an FM station, and if successful then try AM.
Hopefully the output transistors will be OK, if not, then new ones are about $15.00 each. Search the net for Delco DX501 and equivalents.
I am in Australia and had to replace my transitors 'cuase the radio had been Bubba-ed with 4 Ohm speakers.
Best of luck.
Peter
