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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 47 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2015 Posts: 47 | Hi Everyone,
I recently acquired an original 1954 radio and am beginning to look into the installation. When I looked at the installation manual, it calls for installation of numerous condensers, are these really necessary? The Truck will be 12V except for the radio.
Thanks!!! | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 | They supposedly were used for noise reduction/suppression.
They sometimes came with the radio, and sometimes they were added later, and sometimes they were not used.
In 1954, I think they came with the radio option/accessory.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,112 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,112 | I use one at the positive supply terminal on the coil and one on the GEN terminal on the regulator. In my case they make a big difference. This is because the AM band where I live is very weak and so the radio operates at near maximum gain. Under these conditions the electrical noise is a much greater factor. I use the same condenser as the one in the distributor. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 | On my orginial Zephyr they hung condensors on everything, even the oil pressure sender. I think trucknix is correct as RF coming from the ignition is the biggest problem but also such things are fans can be 'noisy'.
You live on flat ground in a very populated (in general) place. Propagation of the AM band is as good as it gets on flat ground as the low frequency of AM tends to follow the curvature of the earth. Problem is, there isn't much programming worth listening to now days. Everyone has gone "Bluetooth" and such.
Six volt guy living in a twelve volt world
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,675 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,675 | Condensers (capacitors) are electronic shock absorbers. The most important noise filter for an AM radio is the one for the generator armature, and it should be installed right at the ARM terminal of the generator. The other important source of RF noise is the ignition coil, and the condenser needs to be on the coil mounting bracket. Most original equipment coil brackets have a raised mounting point with a screw hole in it for that purpose. Make sure the noise filter condenser is connected to the (+) side of the coil. If it's attached to the (-) side it will cause metal transfer at the points, and it won't filter RF noise.
Jerry
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