Repair Right II: Antique Transformer Radios (JUNE)

Minnesota, being a right-to-repair state, enables individuals to take charge of fixing their electronics. The Pavek Museum is delighted to introduce "Repair Right," an electronics repair course designed to empower participants. The course is structured in three phases - I, II, and III - aligning with beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, respectively.

In 2024, Repair Right's focus is on antique transformer radios manufactured between 1930 and 1947. Participants will have the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of repairing and restoring these historical electronic gems.

This registration is specifically for the June dates of Phase II, the intermediate level course. It consists of two, two-and-half-hour sessions that take place over the course of two consecutive Saturdays. Each session will begin with a lecture and end with a lab in the Raymer Workshop.

There are two June date/time options to choose from:

· June 15 & 22 Morning Sessions: 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

· June 15 & 22 Afternoon Sessions: 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The lecture portions of Phase II will cover the following topics:

• Safety in electronics repair

• Skill assessment

• Advanced troubleshooting and signal tracing

• Demonstration of a signal generator

• Speaker repair
• Safety and repair considerations for on/off switches
• Introduction to the concept of alignment and frequency generation

In the lab portions of Phase II, students will work on:

• Assessing their radios

• Identifying safety hazards

• Conducting tube testing as necessary

• Replacing components such as resistors, antenna, choke coils, on/off switches, and coil resistors.

By the end of this course, students will have gained proficiency in advanced troubleshooting techniques and developed confidence in addressing more uncommon repairs. Additionally, students should have a functioning and reliable radio.

For this course, students must complete certain prerequisites before attending. Prior to the course, students are required to replace the power cord and electrolytic capacitors on their radios. Additionally, students should be familiar with testing tubes and assessing their own radios for fixability. If a student does not possess these skills, they are required to complete Repair Right I first before enrolling in this course.

If you already have the necessary skills and knowledge for the advanced troubleshooting listed above, along with the ability to replace most components, we recommend registering for Repair Right III. Repair Right III will delve into more advanced repair techniques, including alignment and frequency generation, and provide students with additional instructor-supervised lab time. Registration for Repair Right III will open in June 2024.

When you enroll in one Repair Right course, you will be eligible for a discount for registering for additional Repair Right courses.