Wireless Set No. 52 Canadian - Project

[David Dunlop]

Hello Mike.

Interesting you should ask.

About 30 years ago, I ran across a Solar Manufacturing Corporation, Model CF CAPACITOR EXAM-ETER, with its matching calibrated manual that was headed to the Landfill. It was missing its test leads, which turned out to be critical for the proper operation of the instrument and it was not until 2019 that I ran across a chap in the States who also had this kit with leads. He gave me the specifications for the leads and I was able to fabricate a set.

The tester was made in 1946, vacuum tube driven and is capable of testing for Capacitance, Electrolytic Capacitor Leakage, Insulation Resistance, Resistance, DC Voltage up to 600 Volts and AC Voltages from 5 to 50 Volts.

The claim to fame for this tester back in its day was the ability to test capacitors in situ reliably, without having to disconnect them from their circuits to avoid biased readings from the related circuitry. I hope to be able to finally check out its capacitor capabilities with the 52-Set Project.

Currently, I have a basic multimeter able to provide capacitance readings and recently bought a Proster DIGITAL LCR TESTER Model BM-4070 to see what it can do. So far so good although in tight spaces, I find its probe heads much too large and clumsy to work with. I am interested to see how the Solar tester will compare to the modern kit when I really get into it.

David