Life span of selenium rectifiers?

[Jeffhs]

I appreciate all the advice, but I'm not sure I want to try to replace parts under the chassis; I've only replaced a chassis component once in any of the old radios I've owned, and that was some 25 years ago or more. Besides, I don't know where I would get a 1N4007 diode, as the only Radio Shack store near here closed a few months ago and I don't know if there are others in this area. I think there is still a RS store about 20 miles from here, but since I don't drive, I don't know how I would get to it.

[MelodyMaster]

Originally Posted by Jeffhs

I appreciate all the advice, but I'm not sure I want to try to replace parts under the chassis; I've only replaced a chassis component once in any of the old radios I've owned, and that was some 25 years ago or more. Besides, I don't know where I would get a 1N4007 diode, as the only Radio Shack store near here closed a few months ago and I don't know if there are others in this area. I think there is still a RS store about 20 miles from here, but since I don't drive, I don't know how I would get to it.

Well you asked about how to take care of the radios. Replacing components comes with the territory. I personally have found selenium rectifiers to be pretty reliable, only one failure among many older units. Plus I'm fortunate to have a small crate load of NOS Seleniums if I want to do original parts replacements. But in general, for peace of mind, you should replace it with a Diode and resistor.

The 1N4007 is an extraordinarily common diode, look up on Google for an electronic components parts sales outlet near you, or order online.

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by MelodyMaster

Well you asked about how to take care of the radios. Replacing components comes with the territory. I personally have found selenium rectifiers to be pretty reliable, only one failure among many older units. Plus I'm fortunate to have a small crate load of NOS Seleniums if I want to do original parts replacements. But in general, for peace of mind, you should replace it with a Diode and resistor.

The 1N4007 is an extraordinarily common diode, look up on Google for an electronic components parts sales outlet near you, or order online.

I said what I said in my post for a reason. I cannot work on radios much anymore because I live in an apartment; it is for this reason that my Zenith MJ1035 sits in my bedroom, unusable because of a bad volume control, and why I really cannot do anything much about replacing components in it or in my other sets.

I understand what you are saying and I realize what's involved in replacing a selenium rectifier with a 1N4007 silicon diode and a dropping resistor, but again, my circumstances do not allow me to do much if any electronic service work anymore. It's been like that for me since I moved here nine years ago. You probably do not live in an apartment building; if you did, you would understand my situation.

You mention "look up on Google" for an electronics parts store near here; what keywords would I use? Second, as I mentioned in my post, there are no stores really "near" where I live--not anymore, anyway. There used to be a Radio Shack in the next town south of here, as I also mentioned, but it is closed and has been for months. (Radio Shack also does not stock much anymore as far as small electronic components are concerned, anyway; their focus over the last few years has been almost exclusively on home theater, high-definition television and computers.) I do not really know where the next nearest RS store is, as I am still not that familiar with this area--even after nine years (I don't get out that much because of an injury I sustained some five years ago that has left me afraid to walk anywhere for fear of getting hurt again, and I don't drive, so that limits me quite a bit as well).