What's a Takara Booster 200A? Let's Find Out!

Lets look inside! Also in this video: "Electronic Trivia" to stump your friends. Click the SHOW MORE tab below this writing to expose the links.
To learn electronics in a different and very effective way, and also get access to my circuit designs, click this link: / mrcarlsonslab

[@jimnugent3851]

The light bulb is included because, tucked away in the dark underneath a chassis, a regulator might otherwise have a hard time "kickstarting." Even when normal voltages are applied, stray photons from ambient light are usually needed to start the regulator conducting. Some types of regulators included small amounts of radioactive compounds just to make sure they would predictably ionize.

[@tglendenning]

This is correct.

[@NiHaoMike64]

Some old fluorescent lamps also have the problem of having a hard time starting in the dark. Anyone remember the early CFLs that often needed a flashlight as a starter?

[@kaunomedis7926]

@@tglendenning also some are/were radioactive.

[@bobweiss8682]

100% correct! A word of caution on the radioactive ones. While most used an isotope like Kr-85 or Ni-63 sealed safely inside the bulb, occasionally you will come across an ordinary neon bulb that was painted externally with a radioactive paint, which can easily be flaked off when working on the gear, and contaminate your work area and possibly get ingested or inhaled. A 60's era GE glow lamp catalog I have shows which types were doped to reduce what they called the "Dark Effect".

[@zaprodk]

Agree :)

[@dojmike]

I had one of these when I lived in Japan from 1963-1967. My Dad was in the USAF and stationed at Fuchu Air Station and we lived at the Kanto Mura housing annex. My Dad measured the voltage to be around 90VAC. He needed higher voltage to run his Saba tube powered HiFi system that we bought when stationed in Germany in the 1950's. As I recall we might have had even two of these devices. I think he gave them to another GI when we were transferred back to the States. Thank you for bringing this wonderful memory. I hadn't thought about the Takara for years!

[@JP-rt1to]

I was assigned to Yokota in 1983 for a two year tour... I never left except for a 2 year tour to the D.C. area. Still here in Japan and love it. Check out the facebook groups of the Yokota area, you will see old pics from when you were there as well as current ones.

[@dojmike]

@@JP-rt1to Very cool to meet new folks that lived the Japan experience. I have looked at the Yokota FB page and I really enjoy seeing folks in one of the last remaining AF bases in Japan. There used to be about a dozen bases/posts in the Tokyo area alone. Our sports teams often played the Yokota Panthers back in the 1960's. My High School still has a couple of sites as well. On Facebook it is called Chofu Rules. Our high school was named Chofu. We also have a website - Chofu dot org. I have some friends that still live in Japan. Do you know where the American School in Japan (ASIJ) is? Our housing area was located less than a mile from ASIJ. My old Chofu High School is now the location of the new Ajinomoto Stadium. Glad to see that they put that hallowed ground to good use. Since you view Mr. Carlson's channel, may I assume that you pay regular visits to Akihabra? I used to love that place, and I used to buy all sorts of electronic gear to build my projects there. Cheers!

[@davidsymalla4785]

Sorry, not to get off the subject, how where you treated as an American over there? Did they have any nick names for white Americans?

[@dojmike]

@@davidsymalla4785 I was only aged 13 through 16 in Japan so I was not mature enough to realize any animosity that might have existed. We lived on a military base about 20 miles West of Tokyo. I must say though that my experience was that, as a group, the Japanese people were the most gracious, polite, and generous people I have ever encountered - even to this day. This is quite remarkable since I was there less than 20 years since WWII ended. We heard of a few anti-American demonstrations and we received notices from the base Commander that USAF personnel and dependents should avoid these events. I never experienced any dissent or protests, and in the four years that I lived there, we heard only one person say "Yankee Go Home" one time; that's it. The only nick name that I was aware of was that we were sometimes referred to as Gaijin (外人) which means foreigner or alien. As with many Japanese words, there can be a myriad of meanings and I think the tone of voice when the word was uttered said a lot about the meaning. I think most of the time Gaijin was neutral and even a term of endearment. In short, living in Japan for four years was one of the most rewarding periods in my life and I loved every minute. I could spend hours describing my experiences there, but I must confine myself to a reasonable space in this off-topic KZbin comment. Cheers!

[@gadgetcrafters2868]

I really like the presentation style and general delivery of the content. I learn SO much from Mr. Carlson. Thanks for making such complicated electronics so much easier to understand and repair. You have been a huge help and inspiration in my study of electronica!

[@patprop74]

Fantastic for a Sunday! enjoy a nice coffee watching a informative video from Mr C :) it makes me happy.

[@mikemiller4838]

I forgot to mention I really enjoyed your Marco Reps like sarcasm. It was a fresh addition to your great videos. Thank you very much from a Patreon member

[@mikemiller4838]

@KiloSierraAlpha he did some cool stuff. He fixed a nixie tube voltmeter.

[@ElmerFuddGun]

A *22 minute* video from Mr. Carlson... _are you feeling alright Mr. C?_ ;-P

[@frantickoala994]

Honestly I feel like he's irritated and doesn't really want to make this video his speech has a little faster his hand gestures or a little bit more pronounced... and his infections are a little bit more solid if that makes sense

[@danielmelendrez1616]

@@frantickoala994 0_o

[@HighestRank]

The winter snow outside is taking just a little too long to melt after St. Patrick's and Easter.

[@jlucasound]

@@HighestRank Easter is in April.

[@jackallen6261]

"If this were a modern device there would be an alarm and it would have a switch on the cover to cut the line power and it would link to your Bluetooth and tell your entire family and it would tweet all your friends if you took the cover off" Classic and so so sadly true.

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Hahaha LOL loved it

[@glenngoodale1709]

I really enjoy your videos, they're so relaxing to watch. Thanks.

[@marcelpost4052]

Hi Paul, Thanks again for another one of your excellent videos. They are always such a pleasure to watch. I am so happy that your videos aren't spoiled by commercials, introduction logos and/or silly background music. Just pure electronics admiration and problem solving. To the point. Wonderful. Your audio setup is very good and produces a very clear sound. One can easily see that you are also paying a lot of attention to the overall presentation and lighting of whatever device is on your bench. Your enthusiasm for technology of days gone by is a joy to experience. Thank you.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thank you for your kind comment Marcel!

[@pgqneto]

Hello Mr. Carlson! I'm from Sao Paulo, Brazil. I'm an Electrical and electronic technician. I subscribed to your channel about 3 months ago. Your audio capture is so good. I've learned a lot with your videos. Thanks so much!

[@rebelba42]

Great highlight on an Sunday evening! I'm impressed of all the beautiful devices you shown over the years on your channel. I've never seen most of them before. Thx for the nice giggle, I really like that sarcastic part at 11:21 :) My guess on the question: To prevent the "dark effect" at the neons. Many thanks for sharing all this great content Paul!

[@trippbodenheimer4008]

Neon and most other gas based regulators require a higher voltage to start breakdown and begin conducting/regulating, and at times the striking voltage can be inconsistent. The addition of a light source nearby causes a photoelectric effect to make the striking voltage to drop and can help them start regulating. This is similar to how some radar tubes have uranium glass or thoriated, cobalt, or another radioactive source inside the tube to start the electron path.

[@CH_Pechiar]

Oh!! I was going to say I may be related to having a heat source for very cold operation conditions so the conduction could begin, but your answer is more appealing.. and most probably the correct one :)

[@makerspace533]

Many years ago I designed production test equipment for a calculator company. One calculator (I believe it was the SR-20) gave us fits. The device used a Panaplex display, which is a neon gas-discharge display. The setting of the operating voltages was was critical. The problem was, with the top case removed, the display may work perfectly, but as soon as the top, with its window, was installed, the display would have missing segments. Increasing the voltage would make it with with the top on, but when the top was removed, the segment would arc. In this type of display, the hysteresis between trigger voltage and operating voltage was used as a sort of memory. If it triggered on at 75V and would stay lite at 60V. You could bias the entire display at 60V, then hit segments with 75v to lite them up, or 50V to shut them off. Memory was very expensive back then.

[@josepheccles9341]

That is really neat. I never knew.

[@ricerob]

it;s a current regulator as the current increases up so dose the resistance limiting the current ( fulfillment resistance increases with temp )

[@Satchmoeddie]

That lamp does NOT need to be located next to the regulator tubes though. I have built several things that use incandescent lamps as current regulators. Many (most) of those are solid state. Gas regulator tubes do not regulate current so a lamp would be a good choice, but lamps were also used to kick start the arc in the tube too.

[@jazbell7]

I love that neon lamp and the way it's mounted and connected.

[@outthereassociates7155]

Very entertaining and informative. You make learning enjoyable.

[@tomkatt2321]

I just discovered your channel and wanted to say thanks for taking the time to make these videos and demonstrate your (rather impressive) collection - as an avid vintage electronics nut I love the way you go over the equipment and how it works. As much as modern technology is "neat", it doesn't have the "soul" and pride in how things used to be manufactured. I also believe the abundance of silicon makes many things almost too easy, and it's impressive how clever the designers of older equipment were. Again - thanks, and I look forward to your future videos!

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Thank you for your kind comment Tom!

[@tomschmidt381]

Brought back memories growing up. My uncle had a more basic model in Chicago in the 50s and 60s to compensate for low line voltage in his condo. Your Japanese one is pretty slick. Can't say as I ever saw one in Japan during business trips in the 1990s but by that time electronic power supplies had a much wider input voltage tolerance. Different trivia: much of Chicago started as DC. In the 1950s able to score vibrator based DC to AC inverters as they were removed from service and scraped.

[@garybevis8691]

Hi Paul, you have and amazing talent to find the most esoteric devises and make them utterly fascinating. Still looking forward to see how the Vedolyzer turns out. Thanks for sharing our talent and gear...the bulb is a fascinating tale, I read the comments and figured out the use. Very interesting.

[@SteadArcFab_Ministries]

Mr. Carlson, great video and piece of history, thank you!

[@icenesiswayons9962]

I agree with Jim Nugent on the jump starting theory. I used to operate a vintage video projector in a 1930's theater that had a similar startup circuit. A piece of nostalgia at it's best, that may never be designed or built again.

[@richardb1018]

Always love your videos :-) keep up the great work, thank you 😃

[@iskandertime747]

That thing is adorable! I like the trivia question idea.

[@msaradio7455]

I love the semantics about safety, lol! Great Paul, interesting piece.

[@1959Berre]

He forgot rubber boots and a helmet.

[@G60syncro]

@@1959Berre Elbow and knee pads too!!! Can't forget the bendy bits!!

[@ukfmcbradioservicingTango21]

Back in the 70's,there were still TV sets coming in for repair that had x-ray generating valves (U.S. tubes) in the EHT regulation department before triplers were widespread. One of our engineers took the back bulge off a scrap TV & attached lead sheet internally to it to protect his manhood...a lead lined jockstrap in effect! Richard (UK)

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

Excellent video Paul, thanks for sharing! That booster looks to be very well made and in equally nice shape! I'm glad my devices don't tweet the internet when I open the cases, but I'm an old fashioned guy.

[@jasontaranto6359]

Hi Paul, I really enjoyed this video. Great to see some more unique pieces of equipment on the bench. That question has me thinking. 🤔

[@chaddonschaddons7084]

@Trivia Question I think the lamp works in conjuction with a photoresistor so that if the vacuum tube fails that the lamp kicks in to turn on a nearby photoresistor to activate a certain circuit. I'll take this opportunity to say thanks for your regular videos, I enjoy this channel very much.

[@davidv1289]

Excellent video as always! If I were restoring that unit I would also replace the selenium rectifier - very toxic , especially when the magic smoke is released.

[@johnbellas490]

Hello Paul !! looks like that Takara booster could be a very handy device in the lab!! For the time this was built, it looks like they thought of most of the ELECTRICAL safety like the over voltage cutout and the buzzer and that nice neon indicator anyway. Thanks for another great video as always !!!!!! John Bellas 73's de KC2UVN

[@alainrouette8149]

Another very well made great video! Thanks Mr. C!

[@aheckers]

Flip it over and remark now or what it would do if updated version.... Nicely done and for what a great, jumping out at you roll of laughter! Thank you for that ~

[@michaelmurray3422]

I believe it is used as a exciter for the gas tubes. Some of the older telephone equipment used neon tubes for counting, and exciting the gas in the lamps made them more accurate and faster acting. Neon takes a bit to build up voltage to full power, and in a counting circuit you don't need missing digits. Again, this was a very interesting video. Thank you for spending your time showing us these interesting old equipment. Have a good day. Michael

[@johnschlesinger2009]

That's a really stylish little device, and the case is very attractive. I love your sarcastic comments on modern safety practice!

[@kennethhumphreys4126]

Hi Mr Carlson I have a trivia bit for you, I was stationed inLibya North Africa in the mid 60s for our off base personal living off base. I worked Part time at our Radio/TV station on Base. The AC power Downtown {Tripoli’s} AC power would about 120V but In the Morning and ad Dinner time the Voltage would drop to about 90 Volts, our BX sold the Boosters so the TV’s would be four screen, when the volt ego went back up the Buzzer would “sound off” . If it failed we could take back to the BX and get a new one. All this brings back many memories.

[@peanutbutter2597]

I don't know that much about electronics ?? But I enjoyed listening and learning about this subject from this fine young man and why would anyone give him a thumb down ??? He is without a doubt brilliant

[@ast1527]

Back in the days in your car manual they would teach you how to fine tune the engine, now they are telling you not to drink brake fluid. Great content, thank you for that👍

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

Welcome to 2021.

[@Indiskret1]

I love your safety rants on modern practices! :D

[@tookitogo]

Indiskret1 You mean “safety”, not “security”. (I know, in German they’re both “Sicherheit”, but in English they mean different things.)

[@Indiskret1]

​@@tookitogo Ah, of course! I'm Swedish, but belong to the same language group, Germanic. WIll change it!

[@jespercarlsson9239]

Came here for the name. Stayed, watched and subbed for the voice. (And the content)

[@JamesCutlervk2tim]

Good video as always Mr Carlson

[@ADR69]

We used to use indecent bulbs on tweeter installs in cars a long time ago. Great way to attenuate the output if they're too bright. Looks cool too ha

[@PaulinesPastimes]

How funny, I can imagine mother racing home from work with an ambulance in tow, after being tweeted that husband is about to change a fuse. Haha. This is a very pretty unit, even it you didn't use it for anything it would look cool just being switched on. The neon is lovely. Very Buck Rogers. And I mean that in a nice way!

[@rickolson9011]

Thanks, would have been interesting to see what switch position was required when input voltage was cut back to 70 Volts.

[@jcthe2nd]

love the humor in this video keep it up

[@DoctorCalabria]

I think the incandescent light is used to keep cockroaches out of the chassis:) Great episode, albeit short. Wish you would test it at 70v and also explain the theory of operation.

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

You certainly find a lot of unique devices to test and explain.

[@Lapeerphoto]

I'd like to have seen you lower the input voltage to see if the higher settings on the device would engage and continued to provide 110-120 VAC.

[@ryanmalin]

I wish you framed this differently. All your gear is sweet. But you are awesome too! I think most would agree, we’re here to see you, Mr. Carlson. Bring the camera in a little closer or zoom in some. Much thanks for all your efforts

[@jonjohnson1259]

Thats a really cool little machine I had a similar automatic vrrsion designed to give constant 220 volts from 170 to 250 input useful for running European kit here in the UK

[@michvod]

Here in Europe, we sometimes used voltage stabilizers to run the BW tube TVs. These stabilizers used Ferroresonant Transformer with a capacitor that self regulated the output voltage at 220V. The line voltage back in a day was not stable, especially in rural areas where there was one utility transformer feeding few houses or farms spaced few kilometres apart. So when the voltage dipped, the picture on TV would shrink, and so on. In old TVs the EHT (HV) can change as much as 15% for a 5% difference in line voltage. As the picture size is determined by the EHT, you get an idea what was happening.

[@hadireg]

loved that orange neon indicator! besides, my guess was ways off, thinking of some sort of protection against the filament flash in the regulator :) Thanks Paul!

[@billk5727]

Neat little unit ! Reminds me of equipment used in early 1950's science fiction movies. My guess is the incandescent bulb is for current limitations.

[@nfergus11]

You win a cookie. lol

[@agarguest]

Paul, the takara can use a poor japanese source as low as 70V AC. you didn't test it at that input voltage.

[@zaprodk]

I would like to see this as well. This would show the higher options on the switch actually working :)

[@agarguest]

@@zaprodk and also various loads too.

[@Digital-Dan]

Ditto. I'd have thought that a no-brainer -- to go all the way to "5", so to speak.

[@erikdenhouter]

@Conor Hanley the output Voltage of a transformer depends partly on its load. Paul didn't put a (large enough) load on it, so the output at the moment was more than the max. 120 Volts ever needed. Any position higher would give a Voltage out of range of any equipment, so the safety limit kicks in. Would Paul have put a load of (say) 150Wats on it, the output Voltage would drop, and the safety circuit would allow the switch to work in a higher position, thou still with the same max. of 120 Volts on the output. And second, if you would start using the device with an unstable low Voltage, and the Voltage suddenly rises, the output would suddenly rise too. The safety circuit would then demand a lower setting of the switch, so it would turn the device off to warn you. Third I forgot: lower input Voltages would also demand higher switch settings. All three points are to only allow a max. of 120 V out.

[@t-rodshader9593]

Someone has already answered this obviously but I can confirm that those are usually there for assisted conducting of tubes, and another cool,thing to nore is that there is a photelectric effect of neon bulbs that can change conducting voltages of neon bulbs themselves, its not brought up much because its not important in most applications unless there is barely enough striking voltage or you just like to mess with electronics and like to know cool facts because they are normaly just indicator bulbs and often used for some small lighting, in another scenario incandescent bulbs are wired in series as protection devices in some ectronics as well

[@fredbach6039]

Paul, re your stiff power cord. Most old plastics can be softened nicely by exposure to camphor fumes. The old roll-slide film was often made with acetate-based materials and if left exposed to the open air would turn very brittle and crumble when touched. Consequently the roll slide strips were stored in a metal canister with a screw-on lid. Inside the lid was glued a small piece of felt. The owner was supposed to put one drop of camphorated oil once a year onto the felt. This would keep the film supple and not brittle. Camphor was often used as a mold lubricant for making plastic combs and things. Now in my youth back in the 60's I tried camphor on all sorts of things plastic. Especially old open-reel tape. Works like magic. Same applies to very old open-reel films. As I recall they came in metal cans with felt too. For the old tapes most machines had provision for a cleaner pad that was part of one of the tape guides. A little camohorated oil on that pad worked well too. I would wipe the cord down with csmphorated oil and store tightly in a double plastic bag for 24 hours. I wouldn't be surprised if it came out softer.

[@MrCarlsonsLab]

I will have to try that. I will change the cord anyways as this one isn't polarized, but it would be a neat experiment. Thanks for your input!

[@Satoriga]

Notifications on, but haven't gotten one in 2 months. Got some catching up to do. Thanks for doing these.

[@stevefrank353]

Love the "Techcasim" (the use of irony, in a technical field, to mock or convey contempt). I have to smile when I picture one hundred years in the future when a techie fires up their Mr. Thorium home reactor, powers on their holo-converter, begins to watch the newly discovered Mr. Calrson's Lab vintage video archive as a hologram and reaches one of your stoic safety techcasims only to think; "OMG, I can't believe they were so lax with safety and regulation back in the day." (these are the same folks that will be searching thru barn rubble and antique shops trying to find a flux capacitor from the '80s [1980s])

[@robertcalkjr.8325]

Thanks Paul! After reading other comments I imagine that I am wrong. I don't know much about tube tech yet so my guess to using the incandescent bulb was an easy and inexpensive way to control the current through the regulator tube.

[@kossmonaut]

i really enjoy your videos, thx for the quality content. what is the rubbery surface on your benchtop?

[@kaybikerow]

Neon bulbs are photosensitive and the filament bulb provides stable illumination to regulate properly.

[@Tjousk]

Indeed

[@lelandclayton5462]

Yep, that is correct.

[@jacobdykstra8499]

I was going to guess to provide minimum load for the regulator but this makes more sense. If it was to provide a minimum load it would more likely be a resistor than an incandescent bulb. I didn’t know neon bulbs we’re photosensitive interesting answer.

[@Richardincancale]

I discovered that neon bulbs are photosensitive in a cheap motel one night. The light switch had an old neon indicator that flickered like crazy. I found that illuminating the indicator with my iPhone torch (lots of high energy blue photons) made the neon come on solidly with no flicker! You’ll see the same in some designs for nixie clocks that use neon tube ring counters - they add a blue LED to ensure reliable triggering.

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

@@jacobdykstra8499 have you ever noticed when a neon indicator is starting to go bad AKA failing and starts flickering if rooms completely dark sometimes it will affect the flickering of the neon bulb but when there's significant lights the rate at which it flickers changes?

[@Gordonseries385]

Time you went to Walgreens to buy this device and it told you how to do it. Yes a booster you plugged in line of the picture tube of your tv. Those were the days, and yes most of the time when they heard someone yelling they would sometime say its someone working on their tv set. Enjoy your video

[@garbleduser]

As for your question on neon lamps: I have found that older neon lights will flicker or not illuminate at all without a nearby light source. It reminds me of the triggering of a diac. It seems like the light energy hitting the neon causes a reduction of the energy used to illuminate them, and therefore reducing the power required to drive them. It seems like this would extend the lifespan of the component. Can't a neon lamp be used as a diac?

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

I guess I grew up technical... Dad configured a 10 amp variac with AC volt meter to correct line voltage for the big Zenith and the old Admiral TV when we moved out of the city.. In my pile of stuff that I will not live long enough to restore is an automated AC line voltage corrector that consists of 2 rack mounted chassis.. a vacuum tube based controller, and a motor driven very large variac. This thing you have here is a pretty neat little device.. definite cool factor. Harkens back to a time when the AC was all over the map... it may have been low voltage as you got farther from a generator, but at least it looked like a sine wave then... Todays wave form is a broad band mess.

[@matambale]

Thank you for the tilt @15:43.

[@mikemiller4838]

Great video.nice piece of equipment. My guess is as a current limiter. Or wien bridge oscillator?

[@bucyruserie1211]

That is a neat little unit... I was hoping you would lower the input voltage to 65-70 Volts to see if the selector would work on the 3 or 4 setting.. Cool video

[@SuspiciousAra]

was thinking the exact same thing. would be nice to see the next positions of the switch working

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Also I would like to know how they detected the voltage in excess of 120 or so maybe neon bulb and a proper resistor? Or give you one of those voltage reference or regulator a neon bulb style tubes? Properly loaded and resistor to get an accurate voltage trigger. Also some people were saying about the meter be able to register line voltage but not really any it or practical including in the video? One thing they could have done with a digital pulse on the switch but it would be more expensive and taking up more room. Would have been to put an extra pole on the switch and either have an off monitor on switch contacts or something like that. And possibly win the unit was off but in another position the meter would register line voltage. Maybe a second indicator and well? But that's just an idea and maybe it was considered who knows.

[@wayneparris3439]

My guess on the bulb, it is a auto adjusting "resistor" to help regulate the voltage. As the bulb heats up the resistance changes. It could also be there as a snubber so the inrush is throttled a little to ease the shock on the tube heaters. Other than that, I also LOVE that neon bulb! AND I think screwing the vibrator in to keep it quiet was the right move! :D

[@Lu_Woods]

Thanks for another great video, I always learn something. Can I ask what microphone you are using? The audio is rich and deep ;)

[@erikdenhouter]

The orange light reminds very strong of a just fully heated car cigarette lighter.

[@jp040759]

Whats a cigar lighter? LOL. Those were fun to play with. I got burned many times by them.

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

@@jp040759 Yes, I used to heat it up and then show it to people and then once it had cooled ask them if they were willing to bet me to stick my fingers in the socket! I won every time - only 12V!

[@cprossu]

I remember reading an old tube application manual for a old military voltage regulator tube, and they had stated that they included some radioactive elements (including but not limited to Krypton 85) to provide the means of ionizing the gas inside the tube. Other tubes had to wait for say a cosmic ray or another means to ionize the gas inside the tube. I am fairly sure that the purpose of an incandescent bulb would be in this case, provide heat, radiation, or other stimulus that would help initially ionize the gas in the tube meant to work as a regulator.

[@SaNjA2659]

My guesses on the trivia question: 1) Could be that the heat from the incandescent lamp would help to initiate the discharge in the regulator tube when used in cold climate. 2) Could be that it was really just an indicator lamp for someone who went in to replace the regulator tube. For example, maybe if the regulator tube fails short, it would shunt the transformer and the filament voltage would possibly drop enough to cause the lamp to glow dimmer or not light up at all. Or, if one finds a regulator tube that has failed open, and the filament lamp still lights up, that means you now have to replace all the other tubes as they have been running on a very high anode voltage for quite some time. Also, is there a chance that the buzzer is a part of overcurrent/overpower protection rather than an additional indicator for overvoltage protection, and by adjusting the screw you choose its threshold?

[@BillyLapTop]

Interesting device. It comes from the era when Japan had 50 cycle line voltage at 100 volts. My friend was an engineer for IT&T back in the '60s and was in Japan for 2 years creating satellite communication systems. He bought a Goto refractor telescope with the electric drive and would watch the heavens with it. When he came back to the US, he was not able to use it in that normal capacity due to our line voltage being ~ 115 volts at 60 cycles. His easy work around was to use an HP lab power supply and dial in the working parameters to synchronize the motor to the proper rotation speed. I guess it is all Tesla's fault, Hi Hi. Good video. That unit looked so good that I could not even smell it. As you know, the old stuff has its aromas. I consider that a museum piece. Job well done!

[@drmr4613]

_"from the era when Japan had 50 cycle line voltage at 100 volts"_ We are still in this "era", though. While all of Japan runs on 100V, eastern Japan (including Tokyo) runs on 50Hz, while western Japan (from Nagoya on westwards) runs on 60Hz. And while they occasionally talk about unification, it's not going to happen anytime soon. Other than immediately after disasters, or when buying a microwave oven, you are rarely confronted with the implications of differing frequencies.

[@panthony1525]

Keep going, I love your videos

[@fullwaverecked]

Sort of "Build it (your reputation) and they will bring it"? Always great videos btw.

[@alwayscrabby7871]

Thanks for the video.

[@noakeswalker]

Worth it just to see that neon light up - they don't make 'em like that any more ! I wonder how they detect the over voltage - just the relay pull - in point perhaps ? So I suppose with a large load, the lower tx output might enable you to switch to positions 3,4 and 5 without tripping - would need some nifty wiring to make that work :o) That box and nice meter/neon is asking to be re-purposed. The trivia q.- I like the idea suggested by one or two folks that the bulb's photons not only ensure that the neon fires up, but might also be a crude constant current source for the neon too ? Never met this in valve equipment I've poked at.

[@catcattekat]

In india we call this as voltage stabilizer which can be use for multi purpose devices. We even have wide range stabilizer which ranges from 60V AC to 500V ac input, and output from 220v to 240 v AC. anyway nice to see a small stabilizer with a small range

[@cpopte]

Every time I see the intro I am really worried that some heavy equipment like those Tek scopes will fall on Mister Carlson, that shelf behind him made out of wood doesn't feel that strong. Those things weigh a TON and there are so many stacked one on top of the other. Pleas re-check those shelfs and tilt those Tek scopes on your left upright a bit. Makes me nervous !!!

[@graemebrumfitt6668]

Paul, were do you find these beautiful things, love that buzz. TFS G :) Keep em coming.

[@jimgiordano8218]

You had me laughing about the power interlock, but you did forget to mention about wearing your Arc Flash PPE. LOL!

[@pixelpatter01]

When I was a kid we lived on an Air Force base in Germany and the line voltage there was 220. I didn't realize the frequency was different too. We had all sorts of transformers, the biggest being a 2000 watt behemoth with handles on both sides. There were no voltage cutouts or other safety devices other than a fuse.

[@SuperMeganw]

very good video from Gary in the UK.

[@borayurt66]

In late 60's and early 70's, when when regular TV broadcasting was in its early stages and television sets were becoming a common addition to every home in Turkey, these things were almost a must with every set. The line voltage in those days were pretty bad, it was supposed to be 220V but almost never went over 200V and fluctuated a lot, sometimes going as low as 170V. TV's were expensive and nobody wanted to expose them to a fluctuating mains voltage. I remember quite vividly that near every TV set there was a "regulator" which was actually a booster like this one to get a reasonably steady 220V.

[@ndroughrider1564]

I have one of those double rod neon bulbs, forgot what I "rescued" it out of though! LOL :--) I think the incandescent bulb is used to either kick start the other bulb or to limit the sudden in-rush of current in a cold bulb & filament.

[@TheAlfieobanz]

Mr. C is the best!

[@coldfinger459sub0]

The incandesce lightbulb is being used as a voltage drop in series for one of the vacuum tube ?

[@woodywoodlstein9519]

Well how did I miss this one ? Yay. Hahaaaa. Pretty funny in this video Paul. Lol. Some rare subtle Humor. Lol. Love it.

[@Equiluxe1]

My late father was a profesional photographer, he had somethink akin to that box to regulate the power in his studio. It was rather more sophisticated though, it had a large motor driven variac that was controled by and driven by valves/tubes the device was rated at six killowats. He only sold it a few years ago just before he move to a retirment complex. On another note I had a 90 KVA skiacky spot welder where the timing was done by neon tubes and voltage regulator tubes with relays firing two water cooled ignotrons.

[@krz8888888]

That would be good to modify if you want to run an old tube device at reduced line voltage

[@urdnal]

I'm sure he's got a variac or two already. In fact, he used one to feed this thing its reduced line voltage.

[@jordanch68]

You can restore old plastic or rubber power cords with spray silicone. Just saturate a paper towel and work a section of the cord at a time. Works on rubber grommets or bushings as well. As long as it's just age and not physically damaged it usually works quite well.

[@mUbase]

Great Vid Paul. I'm not THAT knowledgable but i suspect the lamp is some sort of regulator?? But like I say I'm not THAT knowledgable . lol. I loved the part where you mentioned what would be included in a modern device.. bluetooth, wifi, twitter etc etc. ;) . Love your videos. I learn SO much! Thankyou. x

[@arthurdent8091]

Hi Mister Carlson. Nice presentation. My guess with the trivia question is that the bulb is putting some sort of reference load on the circuit in question to keep it operating at the design limits of the circuit in question. Well, that's my $0.02 worth. Stay well.

[@albertolenzi5562]

Very cool. The bulb is used as Amperite does, constant current regulator

[@nyirimate4202]

incandescent bulbs probably used for stabilising the heater supply, like a ptc thermistor. if i remember correct, they use iron filament, because its low thermal capacity and hidrogen because its high thermal resistance for faster response to voltage rings.

[@gadgetcrafters2868]

In regards to the Trivia question. I would say the purpose of that bulb is an indicator to power flowing through that circuit. It's there, probably wired in series, to let you know that specific circuit is complete and has power flowing through it and is most likely operational. My grandfather's desiel tractor had a bulb in line with the glow plug circuit. If that bulb lit up, you knew that your glow plugs had power to them and they were warming up!

[@KenWPeek]

The incandescent bulb acts as a constant current source for the regulator tube (or neon bulb).

[@hellchallenger7221]

O boi you are fast. I thought about the same thing.

[@stevefoudray487]

This answer gets my vote.

[@aaronbrandenburg2441]

Nope.

[@dtiydr]

16:12 Very old meets very new, love it.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Mr Carlsons lab your takara booster 200 A is awesome

[@davidnuckols8151]

The incandescent bulb acts as a voltage ramp. It causes the voltage to come on small to full on in several milliseconds, instead of the full voltage all at once. This allows the bulbs to last longer by not being hit with full voltage immediately. Interesting video. I've never seen one of those.

[@ProfessorFartsalot]

I suspect that bulb is used either to limit in-rush current, to source current to the tube's filament line, or to heat the tube.

[@KeritechElectronics]

And I thought that the buzzer was a bimetallic contact that cut the power off in case the transformer overheats... :D Anything said here about safety is sooooo true... seeing uninsulated live parts so close to the ungrounded metal enclosure makes me almost tremble in fear, more for the user's safety than technician's. I've been doing electronics since my teen age in late 1990s (and got zapped just a handful of times), occassionally working on a scope or a tube amp with B+ as high as 750V, and I'm still alive and kicking, so... :) The neon bulb and meter look absolutely beautiful!

[@willykanos1044]

Japan also runs its AC at 50 hertz. When we lived there they had converters to change 50 hz current to 60 hz.

[@albi2k88]

To mid 90' in poland that kind devices was popular on suburbs and villages. Where electrical network was insufficient to load and voltage was to low for more advance devices. I remember last of this devices has automatic output volatege control.

[@johnwest7993]

I used to use relays as buzzers, and DPDT relays as vibrators all the time in my youth. Then I used transistors. Then I used 555 timers. Now I use microcontrollers. It will be interesting to see if there is ever something else to get such cyclical outputs in the future. As for the trivia question I figure the light-bulb acted as a minimum load to ensure the regulator stayed in regulation. I think I had a Heathkit bench power supply with one. I could ask my partner. He used to be a Heathkit engineer designing their power supplies.