Type SCR-54 Set.
Circuit Diagram of
SCR-54A Radio Telegraph Receiving Set
The type SCR-54 set is very similar to the French type A-1 receiving set. The SCR 54-A set is an improved American product, designed along the same general lines as the type SCR-54 but differing in some respects, both mechanical and electrical, to improve the operating characteristics. The type A-2 and A-2-B antennae are fully described in Radio Pamphlet No. 2. With their use the receiving sets have a wave length range of approximately from 150 to 650 meters. If properly operated, they afford quite sharp tuning. This feature and their compact, rugged and simple construction have made them of very considerable value on the Western Front.
As shown in the wiring diagram, Fig. 1, the type SCR-54A receiving set comprises a primary (antenna) circuit and a secondary circuit, both of which may be tuned by means of the variable capacitance and variable inductance comprised in both circuits. The secondary circuit may also be made aperiodic by placing the switch M on the position marked “AP.” This connects the condenser in or disconnects it from the circuit. A separate buzzer circuit is installed in the cover of the box to excite the set when adjusting the crystal detector.
The adjustable capacitance in each circuit is a variable air condenser which is adjusted by means of an insulating handle, marked “Primary” or “Secondary,” mounted directly on the rotating shaft of the condenser. The relative amount of capacitance in the circuit, corresponding to the various positions of these handles, is indicated by a pointer fastened to the shaft, which moves over a dial graduated from 0 to 90. The position 0 corresponds to the minimum and the position 90 to the maximum capacitance of the condenser. The two condensers are identical in design, and have a maximum capacitance of 500 micro-mfd.
The primary and secondary inductances are varied by means of two dial switches marked “P” and “S,” respectively. The primary inductance comprises 60 turns of wire divided into six steps of 10 turns each, while the secondary inductance comprises 60 turns divided into four steps of 15 turns each. These two inductance coils are wound on separate wooden cylinders so arranged that their relative positions may be readily varied. The coupling of the two circuits, which is accomplished by the mutual induction effect of these two coils, is varied by changing the relative mechanical positions of the coils. The secondary coil may be rotated by means of a handle marked “Coupling,” and a pointer moving over a scale graduated from 0 to 90 indicates its position. When in the 0 position the axes of the two coils are at right angles to each other, and the degree of coupling is 0. When in the position “90” the axes are parallel, and the coupling is a maximum.
The telephone and detector circuit shunts the secondary condenser. This circuit consists of a crystal detector connected in series with the telephone receiver which are shunted by so-called stopping condensers. The latter is a .002 mfd. mica condenser. Two crystal detectors are furnished with a set; one of them is enclosed in a glass tube, which protects the crystal from dust or dirt. The other is open, having no such protecting casing. Either one may be used by screwing it to the two binding posts of the set marked “Detector.”
The buzzer is mounted in a compartment of set box cover, and consists of a small buzzer connected in series with a dry battery type BA-4, and a switch. The buzzer is energized when this switch is closed. A spare dry for the buzzer, a screwdriver, the enclosed detector, some spare wire and spare crystals are normally stored in compartments or metal clips in the cover. Two type P-11 telephone head sets are kept in a special compartment in the box. This set box when closed may be carried by a leather strap attached to it.