Punch for Portables Give your transistor vadio the power of a table model with this add-on amplifier and speaker By Arthur Kennedy OCKET-SIZETRANSISTOR RADIOS are marvelous inventions, Ask any teenager! They are small enough to slip into anybody's pocket and they do bring in the stations. But they have one severe limitation—power. They are fine for per- sonal listening and almost useless for any- thing else. A pocket transistor radio just can't be loud. The maximum audio output of the average set is a fifth of a watt. For more power and louder sound—table-radio use, patio dance parties, on the beach—an ad- ditional outboard speaker with its own PLUG-IN connecting cord coupler the speaker to the amplifier. Then turn on the power, tune in a sta- tion and supply @ party 196 self-contained transistor power amplifier is a must. Here is just such an accessory. The two- transistor amplifier is built right into the speaker case and delivers up to 10 watts ‘of audio power. The amplifier is driven by ‘the signal from the pocket radio by plug- ging a modified earphone cord into the radio and speaker. To make my transistor-radio power booster, I started with a Sound Piper Port- able Patio Speaker. It is weatherproof, has an aluminum ease and is not expen- sive. Similar units can also be used. But POPULAR MECHANICSfor simple wiring, a compact speaker that has a metal case is a big help. Before starting on the amplifier, remove the speaker from the enclosure and put it aside. Drill holes for the power-transistor leads and mount the transistors on the outside back of the metal enclosure with their leads projecting through the holes into the case. Be sure the leads or the clips that will attach to them do not touch the case. Mount Transformers Next mount input and output trans- formers Tl and T2 to the inside rear of the enclosure. Place a ground lug over one of Tl’s mounting screws and secure the mounting screw with a locking nut. As strange as it seems, there is no read- ily available power transistor socket. So to make a connection to the base and emitter leads of each transistor you'll have to use clips obtained from a 7-pin miniature tube socket. Use a wafer-type soeket and drill out the center rivet. Then separate the plastic halves of the socket and carefully remove four of the tube BATTERY for the outboard amplifier (above, right) slips into sheet-matol bracket on rear of om eats. Below right: Cireuit of the two-tronsistor booster amplifier is uncomplicated end quick to assemble JANUARY 1964 TO 9-voUr Bart sPKe 1972 -TO SPEAKER- a USING the pictorial diagram (left) and the schematic on the previous pot ‘you should have litle trouble assembling the emplifier. This i view. Transistors and battery clip are mounted ovtside the cose. At right TBEND AT ALL! HOorTED LINES! BATTERY CLAMP an ins layout for the battery clip. You'll need a 2 x 2'inch piece of sheet metal prong clips. After they are wired into the circuit, push them on over the proper transistor base pins. The transistor col- lectors are automatically connected when the transistors are fastened down to the metal case—the collectors are connected internally to the transistor cases. Next mount the toggle switch inside the speaker case with its handle projecting out the top. Now push the leads from the battery cable through a hole on the case and con- nect the red lead to one terminal of the toggle switch. Connect the other lead (the black one) to the ground lug on trans- former TI's mounting screws. Then fol- lowing the schematic and pictorial diagram finish wiring the amplifier, Finally, the Battery Clip The last bit of construction is mechani- cal—making the clip that holds the bat~ tery for the booster amplifier. It is made from a piece of scrap sheet metal follow- ing the pattern shown in the drawing at the top of this page. The finished clip is attached to the speaker when it is reassembled. It is held in place by the same single screw that holds the speaker case together. If you don't use the specified speaker, bolt the clip to the rear of the unit you do use, Self-tapping screws will hold it securely. 198 To get the signal out of radio and into the booster amplifier, use the earphone cord that came with your transistor radio. The only change is to remove the ear- phone and attach in its place the minia- ture phone plug that comes with the MS-370 jack, ‘Now use this cord to connect the radio to the booster. Turn on the amplifier and radio, tune in a station and you're in business. wk PARTS LIST Portoble Patio Speaker, Sound Piper Medel 81 PO67 Transistor Battery, 9 volts, Evereedy No. 216 Battery Clip and Coble Miniature Phone Jock ond Plug Transistor Output Transformer, Argonne AR-503 (rR2) Transistor Quiput Transformer, Lofoyette TRS a Spit Toggle Switch Medium Power p:n-p Tronsistors, 2N255, 2N3O1, ete. (QI, Q2) 3-lug Corben, 56 ohms, \4 watt Carbon, 3300 ohms, % weit Ground lug Sheet Metal, 2 x 2% inches Tube Socket, Z-pin miniature, water type ‘Machine Screws, 4xinch x 8:32 (6) with matching nuts (7) ‘Machine Screws, nuts (3) inch x 8:40 (2) with motching POPULAR MECHANICS