replacing a selenium rectifier with a silicon diode

This drawing of mine shows just the stuff going from the power supply > the selenium rectifier > to the tube. The arrival of the alternator in some automobiles was the result of compact. Manufacturer of Diode & Rectifiers Spares - Break Rectifier Solid State Rectifier, Selenium Rectifiers, Silicon Diodes and Molded Rectifiers IRI MT620. Here is a rough diagram showing the current circuit layout including the selenium rectifier. until they were superseded by silicon diode rectifiers in the late 1960s. I diagram that was provided by planet10 in the ' WHAT TYPE OF PART IS THIS?' thread was helpful and I think I understand it but want to make sure I got it right.

However, how is the proper way to replace the selenium rectifier with these? Bourns part number 3386C-1-503LF is for a 50k version of what I used.

It has 2圆L6GC and 2x5U4, and I have Russian wafer base 5881s in it for testing purposes. I have the recommended 1N4007s on hand and am ready to start. The setup is a standard adjustable bias I built on a small vulcanized fiber board I made using a 25k trimmer but I had to tweak the resistances a little. Here is my problem I know how to remove and replace all of the capacitors and resistors but am absolutely lost when it comes to selenium rectifiers. I hope to upgrade the electronics inside to make it sound better just for the fun of it.Īfter clearing some things off my desk I now have time to work on this project. Much better to save the cost of the bigger alternator by installing a full wave rectifier.In early May I asked questions at this forum in regard to my Pentron tube open reel stereo Hi-Fi system. Silicon controlled rectifier is unidirectional semiconductor machine, but unlike diode, it has three terminals Anode, Cathode & Gate. This would require a larger alternator to produce sufficient power to run the electrics. Assuming the same voltage, using a half wave rectifier would produce only half the current and therefore half the power. (Note: it looks like six coils but opposite pairs are connected together.)Īll of the rectifiers I have seen on old Hondas have been full wave bridge rectifiers. Normally only two of the three coils are used but three are used when the lights are on. I replaced the dissected unit with a modern silicon diode.

(The very early CB77s produced too much voltage for good battery health so the alternator rotors were changed to contain weaker magnets.) As mike in idaho pointed out above, the extra load of the lighting is accommodated by switching in one more set of coils. In days past, if youve ever experienced an overheated selenium rectifier, you will never. The stock generator systems are intentionally weak, probably to avoid the need for a regulator. Click to expand.The extra voltage, a problem for electronics, is in fact a benefit for these old bikes.

Replacing a selenium rectifier with a silicon diode