RE: IML: EL Powerpacks

[RandalPark@xxxxxxx]

As much as I enjoy a challenge, the last time I needed one, Jeff Carter was selling rebuilt ones for $125.00 with an exchange. For that price it was hardly worth the trouble for me to figure it out and/or hunt down the parts. As for Radio Shack, they can get pretty much anything you want (including obsolete radio tubes). The trick is finding a salesman that knows the difference between a resistor and a transistor. You're right, they mainly don't care about anything but cell phones and batteries for smoke alarms.

Paul

In a message dated 9/24/2004 4:29:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time, "Rob P" <fristpenny@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

>I'm glad to see this isn't that hard. ?I saw that Year One offered a EL 
>rebuild in their B/E body catalog (for the Chargers) $1,700!. ?I spit coffee 
>all over the table, but that's more than I usually pay for my cars.
>
>>From: "Eric" <gearhead@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>Subject: IML: EL Powerpacks
>>Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2004 12:19:20 -0700
>>
>>Mike,
>>Thanks much for posting this info. I did a successful resusitation of an EL 
>>powerpack with new parts (until I fried a small wire that went deep into 
>>the coil pack with an unsuitable soldering device) and can attest to the 
>>fact that this is not that big of job. I found the parts at Fry's 
>>Electronics, and Radio Shack also had a couple of them. At Radio Shack, the 
>>kids there just look at you funny when you give them the part specifics. 
>>Just ask them to direct you to their electronics components drawers. The 
>>clerks will point you in the right direction and then will quickly 
>>disappear to make a cell phone or RC car sale, just as described in the 
>>text below.
>>
>>There can be some variations in the manner in which the powerpack operates 
>>depending on the resistors used, having these exact replacement parts is 
>>convenient. Sometimes the powerpacks will get noisy or won't work when 
>>really cold out depending on the resistor/transistor/capacitor combo.
>>
>>There is a thorough discussion on this topic at 
>>http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Electrical/EL.htm
>>and an abbreviated description w/most the same info at 
>>http://teamchicago.com/imperial/imp-el.htm
>>
>>Eric
>>'63 Crown Four-Door
>>'72 Newport Custom sedan
>>
>>
>>From: "mike sutton" <mikanlin62@xxxxxxxxxx>
>>Subject: IML: alternative sources for EL power pack parts
>>Date: Wed, 22 Sep 2004 22:54:00 -0700
>>Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>As many of you probably know, the 66-67 Charger uses an electroluminescent
>>power pack lighting system that is electrically and functionally identical
>>to the ones in the Imperials that uses EL lighting, ?as far as the power
>>pack goes. ? Today on the Charger list a member posted some information
>>regarding parts suitable to repair faulty components in an EL power pack.
>>
>>I know Dick Benjamin did an excellent job with a schematic of these units
>>and from experience I know they are not difficult to work with as long as
>>the transformer is good. ?Many people have used Radio Shack for a parts
>>source , but I have found that often the local store just gives me a blank
>>look when I want ?a particular component other than a RC car of cell phone.
>>
>>The following excerpt from the Charger list post gives a very good supplier
>>of electronic parts, I have used this company for work related items for
>>several years now doing avionics projects. ?I hope it will be useful to
>>someone. The rest of this post is copied from the posting on the Charger
>>list.
>>
>>Mikey
>>62 Crown Coupe
>>
>>My source is Newark Electronics (http://newarkinone.com
>><http://newarkinone.com/> )
>>
>>I found a capacitor that very closely resembles the original in physical
>>and electrical characteristics. ? The original was rated for
>>0.05microfarad [mfd] @ 330VAC and the replacement I found is 0.047mfd @
>>630VAC (2000Vdc) but that's close enough. ?Higher voltage tolerance is
>>always better in a capacitor. ?It's Newark stock #48F3940.
>>It's round with axial leads and almost the exact physical dimensions.
>>Very pricey for a capacitor @ $2.29 each.
>>Our caps measure L=1.438 & d=0.532. ?The replacement I found is L=1.339
>>& d=0.591.
>>It's also a film cap like the originals but in a more modern casing
>>without the wax.
>>
>>I also found two types of replacements for the transistor. ?One is
>>virtually an exact replacement in physical and electrical
>>characteristics but rather expensive at about $15 each. ?It's a true
>>Germanium PNP transistor like the original.
>>(NTE121 - Newark Stock #29C4423)
>>The other also has the correct physical characteristics but the
>>electrical characteristics are slightly different. ?It's still a PNP but
>>is a cheaper silicone transistor. ?It will function perfectly well and
>>is about $5 each. ?(NTE219 -Newark stock #29C8652)
>>I prefer the NTE121. ?The 219 has a lower current gain than the 121 and
>>some of the voltage parameters on the 121 are more robust.
>>
>>
>>
>>The following are replacement resistors that most closely resembled the
>>originals in style, color, physical dimensions, and electrical
>>characteristics. ?A resistor is a resistor, so Radio Shack and other
>>electronics outlets (even Newark) will most likely have perfectly
>>acceptable replacements for less money. ?Just give them the resistance
>>and wattage and take your pick. ?As I said, this info is primarily for
>>the purists.
>>Even though resistors seldom go bad, at 35 year old it's very likely
>>they shifted values somewhat. ?If I have to repair a power pack, I also
>>replace the resistors just so I don't have to worry about it later.
>>
>>For the 1.5ohm @ 5 watt resistor I found an exact replacement in
>>physical as well as electrical characteristics. ?It is a true wire-wound
>>resistor in a white ceramic fire proof rectangular case, just like the
>>originals. ?There are many other perfectly functional styles of fire
>>proof resistors but they do not have the same "look".
>>It is Newark stock #33C8895 and sells for $.040 each (expensive for a
>>resistor).
>>
>>For the 1.5K ohm ½ watt resistor I found Newark stock #84N2195 @ $0.07
>>each. ?It is slightly smaller than the original but is a carbon resistor
>>like the original. ?It also has the resistance code bands like the
>>original. ?Many of the newer resistor styles do not have the bands and
>>are not carbon.
>>
>>Finally, for the 50 ohm one watt wire-wound resistor I found Newark
>>stock #02F1195 @ $1.31 each. ?Definitely expensive for a power resistor,
>>but this one closely resembles the original in physical dimensions. ?It
>>does not have the exposed wires like the original but it is a true
>>wire-wound (with a brown ceramic coating) and it's the closest I could
>>find.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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