Summary
At the time, saturable reactors were the only way to maintain a constant output voltage of a power supply.
Saturable reactors are physically large, heavy, and expensive compared to the electronic power controllers available in the late part of the 20th Century. In the main, they have been replaced by thyristor dimmers using triacs or SCRs.
This item was removed from Unit 6 (Back Cabinet # 1).
The date range (1949-1964) is given to indicate that changes were made to the structure and circuitry over the period of CSIRAC's working life.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Frank Hirst - University of Melbourne (The), Mar 1965
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Commissioned By
Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 1949-1955
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User
University of Melbourne (The), Grattan Street, Parkville, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1955-1964
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Date Used
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Classification
Computing & calculating, Digital computing, Components & circuits
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Keywords
Computers, Computing, CSIRAC (Computer), Making History - CSIRAC
