Tech Tips fom M. W. Persons

Retired after 40 years in business
and 60+ years of broadcast engineering

Home

About

Used Equipment

Articles Written

Speeches Given

Tech Tips

Web Links

Radio History

Terms of Use & Disclaimer

Technical Tips from Mark W. Persons
New Meter for a BE FX-30 FM Exciter

Monday, April 23, 2012: This is a story about the repair of a Broadcast Electronics FX-30 FM Exciter.

The most difficult part was replacing the analog meter on the front panel.

When the exciter arrived for repair, the meter had been removed and was completely missing.

A check with Broadcast Electronics revealed that the meter (part number 310-0005-1) was no longer available.

Fortunately there was another FX-30 FM Exciter in the shop at the same time awaiting repair.

The meter scale from that meter was removed it's scale was put on a flat-bed scanner.

Then a new scale was printed on photo paper.

The new photo paper faceplate was put on this used RCA power meter, salvaged from a transmitter which had been scrapped.

The meter has a 20 u.a. movement. To make it 1 m.a. full scale, you need to put a shunt resistor across the meter terminals.

It also took custom brackets to secure the meter in place of the original meter in the exciter.

In place and working in the exciter, it was a job with a good ending and a lot of satisfaction.

The stories go on and on. Stop in again sometime. I'll leave the soldering iron on for you.
Mark W. Persons ham W0MH

Questions? Email Mark Persons: teki@mwpersons.com