For Beginners: The basics of recapping a typical AA5 radio

This will be the first in a series of videos made for those who are new to the hobby. This is for a PC board set. The next will be for a typical point to point wired set. Above all, keep in mind that live voltages are in these sets. If you are not comfortable working on these then please don't.

[michaelpetersonjr]

Seth, this is an Admiral 4L20A from the late 1950's on chassis 4L2A, and it has the triangles on the AM dial for Civil Defense markings. Very nice video as always!

[ChadQuickW]

Thanks so much for these videos. For an amateur like me (who’s not going to work on a radio) I find them fascinating. I do know that my two Zenith Transoceanic transistor radios have hand wired point to point chassis with a positive ground (not sure on what that means). They work fine and I had them re-capped a few years ago as I’m lucky to still have a repair shop in my area. Again, thanks for the very informative video 😊

[PapiDoesIt]

I really enjoyed your tutorial. I don't know that I'd choose an early PC set for my first project, but this one is one of the improved boards that aren't crack prone and don't lift the traces if you look at them wrong. I just finished a GE PC board set and amazingly the main electrolytic was in perfect shape, so I left it in.

[LanceHall]

Well, i think it's cool how you give these old radios a modern capability

[hestheMaster]

The example/victim today is an Admiral AM only AA4 radio model 4L2A from 1958. Pretty good video in learning about
tube radio restoration. Looking forward to more lessons as time permits Seth.

[thomascano]

There’s a trimmer mounted on the inside of the back cover that you can adjust to improve reception. The trimmer is adjusted from the outside of the cover.

[ingussilins]

3 tube superhet + 1 rectifier tube.
Interesting radio :)

[larryshaver]

i have a Magnavox stereo amplifier that needs to be re-capped and would like to get started on it soon, which is why i'm watching this.

[mvbukkb]

Just what I needed thanks for your awesome channel makes my Friday I owe you some soerrs Nevada brews 😊

[TobiasThede]

Not much inside to replace, easy to Service, the perfect tube radio.

[rayrussell]

Seth: @22:43 where you talk about "across the line cap", you didn't say how you/we would identify that as such. You went on to say why knowing that is important (and I understood that reason), but you did not give any explanation how to know it is an across the line cap. Could you explain that to me?
I like getting an education, not that I'll likely jump in soon to doing any recapping, but I'd like to know.

[charliep]

Thank you for the video. What kind of switch are you using for the Bluetooth ?

[waynegram]

The red tiny chief capacitor is being used as an AC line surge protector? They didn't have varistors in the 40s to 60s so they used a capacitor in line with the AC to short out to blow out the line fuse. Any reasons why they call it a "cheater" cord? Cheating what the earth chassis ground I'm guessing.

[Tibetan]

Just curious: Why use a small power transformer that might be poor at audio when you can use a small 600:600 audio isolation transformer? I scavenge mine from old 56k dial-up modems... Thanks.

[jimmywillis]

I have a 1950s Delmonico nt-5 superheterodyne radio that I want to do Bluetooth upgrade on due to radio only picks up MW

[FreezeNGraham]

Where do you get your isolation transformer for adding the audio input? I cannot find one that matched the specs on yours.

[delosla]

In your schematic diagram you are using a single pole switch to interrupt the radio signal but your audio input is always in circuit. couldn’t you use a single pole double throw switch instead to interrupt the radio signal in one position and then in the other position would interrupt your audio input signal and alleviate the need for the shunt circuit?

[marcelfilms]

WOw there is almost nothing inside that radio.

[mvbukkb]

Where to buy those yellow caps? Are yhey called a particular name? Thank uou😊

[MartinSBrown-tpji]

Not rec-amended to a beginner with no understanding of electronics. ( tools, soldering, safety and equipment)