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Siemens Polar relays →
Polar relay tester
9.T.mse.190a, abbreviated T-109, 1 is a relay tester (German: Relaisprüfer)
with built-in CRT, introduced around 1961 by
Siemens & Halske in München (Germany). It is suitable
for testing and aligning most popular Siemens
polar relays that were manufactured between 1930 and 1980.
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Once the relay under test and the correct plug-in resistor have
been installed, the device can be switched on. The relay will be tested with a
switching frequency of 25 Hz (half the 50Hz of the AC mains network),
and the result is shown on the circular cathode ray tube (CRT) at the top left.
The display simultaneously shows the relay's transition time, the
distortion and the contact bounce. 2
By reversing the polarity (Umpolung) it is possible to check the symmetry
of the relay under test.
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Also known as Kathodenstrahl-Relaisprüfer 109 (cathode ray tube relay tester 109).
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In German specified as: Umschlagzeit, Neutralverzerrung und Prellung.
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The image below shows the control panel of the T-109, which is located at the
top of the device. All controls and connections are on this panel. Before
using the device, it's important to check the setting of the mains voltage
selector at the bottom right. For continental Europe, it should be set to
240V. Next, the correct plug-in for the relay under test should
be installed in the socket
marked Vorsteckwiderstand. If this
plug-in is missing, it can easily be created as described below.
At the bottom are two different sockets, one of which should be
suitable for the relay under test. Old polar relay
types with eight 4 mm pins at the bottom, such as the
Trls-43a, can be installed
in the rightmost socket. 1 Modern relays, like the
Trls-63a, are installed
in the leftmost one.
When testing a relay, the display shows the voltage on the central
contact of the relay's SPDT switch whilst it toggles between
MARK (-30V) and SPACE (+30V) at 25 Hz. For clarity, we have shown
the MARK signal in blue and the SPACE signal in red, in the diagram above.
In reality the display shows them as two alternating green lines.
If you only want to see only one of the two signals, set the switch
Verzerrung to the upper position (SPACE) or the lower position (MARK).
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Note that the 8-pin socket for the older relay types might be missing
from certain versions of the device, such as the English labelled variant
of the 5634/10-V.
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For each type of polar relay, a matching plug-in should
be installed in the socket marked Vorsteckwiderstand, at the upper
edge of the control panel. The plug-in consists of a power
resistor, that is housed inside a Siemens TF-plug (German: TF-Stecker),
as shown below.
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One side of the plug shows the ordering number (e.g. 9T Bv 39/2406), whilst
the other one shows the type of relay it should be paired with — for example:
T.rls.64.
The plug has three pins, but only two are used. These are the two adjacent
pins with the largest spacing. The third pin is not connected and is used
as a mounting stub only.
The plug contains a power resistor
of a specific value, that is connected
in series with the coil of the relay under test. Without the plug-in,
it will not work, as there will be no current flowing through the relay
(see the circuit diagram).
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If a suitable plug-in is missing, it can easily be created from
an old TF-plug in which a resistor is soldered across the two pins with the
largest spacing, using the drawing and the table below as a guide.
As TF-plugs are hard to find these days, it can be replaced by two
regular banana plugs.
The diagram above shows the internal construction of a plug-in. It bascially
contains a single resistor (R) that is connected to the rightmost two pins.
However, as the required value has to be met relatively accurately, it is
in most cases constructed from two resistors (R1 and R2) that are connected
in series. As the leftmost contact is unused — it is not wired inside the
T-109 — it is used as a mounting stub for both resistors. The table below
shows the known plug-ins with the value of the resistors (R = R1 + R2).
The value of R1 is ±0.2%, whilst the value of R2 is ±0.5%.
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Old relay types are usually beyond repair. This is caused by ageing and
loss of pre-magnetisation. Although it is possible to re-adjust them
within the specified boundaries, they will usually lose
their alignment within days or even hours. In such cases it is
recommended to replace the relay with a solid state alternative, such as the
one described here.
➤ Solid state replacement for the Trls-43a
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Below is a simplified circuit diagram of the T-109. At the left is
the mains power transformer, which as three secondary windings —
one for each of the sub-circuits. The first sub-circuit is the
f → f/2 converter that provides the 25 Hz switching frequency.
This is done by dividing the 50 Hz mains frequency by two, by means
of an internal polar relay. The 25 Hz voltage is
filtered and then fed — via plug-in resistor (Rp) — to the coil
of the relay under test, at the far right.
The second sub-circuit is a power supply unit (PSU) that provides
the +/- voltages for the vertical deflection of the oscilloscope.
It is passed through the single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch of
the relay under test. As the relay's coil is driven at 25 Hz,
the switch alternates at 25 Hz as well.
The third sub-circuit controls the horizontal deflection of the
oscilloscope (Vx). It determines the phase reference for the test. A full
description of the sub-circuits is beyond the scope of this web page. It
can be found in the manuals [A][B].
Note that apart from the CRT and several diodes, the device is entirely
built with passive components — there are no valves (tubes) or transistors.
➤ German manual
➤ English manual
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This short video clip shows what a good polar relay should look like
on the Siemens T-109 relay tester. In this case, the curve is perfect
and almost symmetric. This relay is suitable for use in teleprinters and
other telegraphic equipment.
Source
Crypto Museum
Date
16 September 2024
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This short video clip shows what a dodgy polar relay looks like
on the Siemens T-109 relay tester. In this case, the relay is far
from symmetric, and one of the contact bounces heavily.
It might not be good enough for use in teleprinters and teleprinter
connection devices.
Source
Crypto Museum
Date
16 September 2024
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This short video clip shows the behaviour of an old Siemens T.rls.43a relay,
taken from a T-52 (Geheimschreiber).
In this case, the relay is so bad that is is unusable. T.rls.43a relays are known
to behave badly after so many years. They are notorious for problems with
teleprinters like the T-36 and cipher machines like the
T-52.
Source
Crypto Museum
Date
16 September 2024
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In this YouTube clip, Thomes Scherrer (OZ2CPU) does a teardown of the
T-109 in his collection. This variant of type 5634/10-V, has English
and German labelling, but is suitable for the newer relay types only.
The 8-pin socket for the older relay types is omitted.
Source
YouTube, Thomas Scherrer (OZ2CPU)
Date
25 September 2023
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The interior of the T-109 can be accessed by removing the four screws
from the corners of the control panel, after which the case shell can be
removed. All parts are fitted to a sub-frame that is mounted to the control
panel. The images below show the interior from all directions.
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The leftmost socket at the front panel is intended for the newer type
of Siemens polar relays.
At the left are two holes for the guide pins
of the relay. The SPDT switch is connected to pins T, A and Z.
Regardless the configuration of the coils, only the two primary coils
are used. These are connected to pins 1,4 and 5,8 respectively.
Below is the pinout when looking into the socket.
Note that the socket has bridges between pins 2 and 3, and between
pins 4 and 5.
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1
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Coil (with 4)
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w1a
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2
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Bridge to 3
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3
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Bridge to 2
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4
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Coil (with 1)
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w1b
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5
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Coil (with 8)
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w2a
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8
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Coil (with 5)
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w2b
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Z
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Zeichen
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MARK (M)
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A
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Allgemein
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Common (C)
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T
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Trennung
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SPACE (S)
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The rightmost socket (when present) is intended for the older types of
Siemens polar relays, manufacturered from 1930 onwards.
Below is the pinout when looking into the socket.
Note that the socket has a bridge between pins 1 and 2.
This means that the two coils are series connected.
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1
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Bridge to 2
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w1b
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2
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Bridge to 1
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w2a
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3
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Unused
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n.c.
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4
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Allgemein (A)
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Common (C)
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5
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Coil (with 1)
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w1a
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6
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Coil (with 2)
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w2b
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7
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Zeichen (Z)
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MARK (M)
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8
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Trennung (T)
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SPACE (S)
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Device Relay tester Purpose Testing of Siemens polar relays (old and new type) Model 9.T.mse.109a (T-109) Manufacturer Siemens & Halske Country Germany Year 1961 Designator Fs Sk 5634/10-III Users German Post Office, German Army, US Army CRT Siemens DG7-6 Power 110/125/150/220/240V AC Colour Grey, black Dimensions 180 × 265 × 190 (HWD) Weight 7.3 kg
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5634/10-III German labelling, both relay types 5634/10-IV German labelling, both relay types 5634/10-V English and German labelling, new model relays only
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T.rls.43 Older type, known as Flachrelais (flattened relay) T.rls.63/64 Newer type, many versions and variants
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- 9.T.mse.109a
- T-109
- Kathodenstrahl-Relaisprüfer 109
- 5634/10
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- Dr.-Ing. Fritz Schiweck, Fernschreibtechnik
Lehrbücher der Feinwerktechnik, Band 9.
CFW Leipzig (Germany), 1942.
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Document obtained from Oscilloscope Museum,
Berkshires, (MA, USA).
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Document kindly provided by Heinz Blumberg [1].
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- Heinz Blumberg, T-109 relay tester - THANKS !
Museum der Sammlungen. Germany, April 2023.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Thursday 12 September 2024. Last changed: Thursday, 26 September 2024 - 15:41 CET.
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