PeKo Radio
    THE PROBLEM WITH MECHANICAL RADIO VIBRATORS

    The number one reason that vintage (mobile) tube equipment fails is the radio vibrator in the circuitry to generate high
    voltages needed for tubes to operate from low (DC) battery voltages.
    Radio vibrators are mechanical devices that were used in mobile tube equipment from the early 1930s up to about 1965.
    The mechanical contacts make them prone to failure due to aging with the newest vibrators being more than 50 years
    old! This happens regardless whether they were used or just stored (yes, the new-old-stock units fail as well).
RVB-2 Solid-State Radio Vibrator Overview
    HOW TO SOLVE IT?

    The solution is to replace the vibrator mechanics by a solid state version of the radio vibrator.
    PeKo’s RVB-2 Solid State Radio Vibrator provides the vibrator functionality in the form of a small electronics board that
    fits in existing vibrator housings.
    Several versions are available to cover practically every type of vibrator and tube equipment.
    This is what needs to be done:
  • Step 1
    Identify which version of the RVB-2 you need. See below and for more detailed information see page “RVB-2
    Capabilities”
  • Step 2
    Open the existing vibrator housing and remove the mechanical parts. See page “Assembly instructions” for
    recommendations on how to do that properly.
    Keep the base that holds the pins (the part that plugs into the socket in the equipment) and keep the housing.
  • Step 3
    Connect the RVB-2 board to the base terminals of the existing vibrator. See page “Connection instructions” on
    determining which connections to make.
  • Step 4
    WHO NEEDS IT?

    You would most likely be interested in using this solution if you are
  • Restoring vintage automobiles or providing vintage car radio restoration services.
  • A collector or are restoring all sorts of mobile tube equipment for collectors.
  • A radio amateur (ham) or CB operator with an interest in vintage tube radios.

    Examples of equipment in which radio vibrators were used:

    Consumer equipment:
  • Car radios (6V or 12V)
  • CB radios (6V or 12V)
  • Early ham radios (6V or 12V)
  • Some portable tube radios (mostly 2V)
  • Vintage farm radios (48V)
  • Specialty equipment like vintage camera flash, metal detectors and portable test equipment

    Commercial equipment:
  • Mobile radio telephones (6V, 12V or 24V)
  • Mobile public address amplifiers (6V, 12V or 24V)

    Military radio equipment:
  • HF transceivers  (6V, 12V or 24V)
  • VHF/UHF transceivers (6V, 12V or 24V)
  • Mobile & portable receivers (2V, 6V, 12V, 24V)
  • A special (input 100V nominal) for equipment like the R-174/GRR-5 receiver.
    WHICH VERSION DO I NEED?

    To accommodate the variety of vibrators and more importantly the variety of configurations in the equipment where it is
    used there are several versions and options possible.
    In the list below you can determine the proper part number for the RVB-2:
  • Does the equipment work on negative ground (most common) or positive ground?
    In practically all cases this can be determined by looking up the polarity of the battery voltage applied to the center tap of
    the primary winding of the transformer to which the vibrator is connected. If this is a positive terminal then it is negative
    ground and add the letter “A” to the part number (RVB-2A). If this is a negative terminal then it is positive ground and add
    “B” for positive ground (RVB-2B).
  • Which voltage range do you need based on the battery voltage value.
  • Battery voltages from 6V to 30V: The standard version (no letter added to the part number) can be used.
  • Battery voltages from 2V to 6V: Add the letters “LV” to the part number, e.g. RVB-2ALV.
  • Battery voltages from 24V to 60V: Add the letters “HV” to the part number, e.g. RVB-2AHV
  • Input voltage nominal 100V. This is a special that it is used in receivers like the R-174/GRR-5. The R-174 (also
    known as the R-174/URR) has two vibrators where one can be replaced by a standard RVB-2A but the other has
    to be able to handle a 100V input, for which we developed the RVB-2ASHV.
  • Does the vibrator have an enable input?
    If so, add the letters “EN” to the part number, e.g. RVB-2AEN. Most vibrators are supposed to be “always on” and should
    not have an enable input, since a vibrator with enable input would not operate when this input is not activated. Certain
    military radios have this enabling topology.
  • Determine if there are specialty settings or configurations needed.
    Our RVB-2 operates standard with a 115Hz switching frequency with an option to change that to 100Hz. This covers most
    of the vibrator equipment in existence, but we can program the RVB-2 for any frequency in the range 50Hz to 400Hz if
    needed.
    Please enter as special request when ordering in case you need this.

    The table below show versions available immediately and versions on request:
Part Number
 Ground Polarity
 Voltage Range
 Enable Input
 Availability
RVB-2A
 Negative
 6-30V
 Always On
 Yes
RVB-2ALV
 Negative
 2-6V
 Always On
 Yes
RVB-2ASHV
 Negative
 100V (for R-174/GRR-5)
 Always On
 Yes
RVB-2AHV
 Negative
 24-60V
 Always On
 On Request
RVB-2B
 Positive
 6-30V
 Always On
 Yes
RVB-2BLV
 Positive
 2-6V
 Always On
 Yes
RVB-2BHV
 Positive
 24-60V
 Always On
 On Request
RVB-2AEN
 Negative
 6-30V
 Enable Input
 Yes
RVB-2ALVEN
 Negative
 2-6V
 Enable Input
 Yes
RVB-2AHVEN
 Negative
 24-60V
 Enable Input
 On Request
RVB-2BEN
 Positive
 6-30V
 Enable Input
 Yes
RVB-2BHVEN
 Positive
 24-60V
 Enable Input
 On Request