Note the four mounting holes for attaching to the rear of the CB transceiver.

As far as Heathkit vibrator power supplies are concerned, the GWA-12-1 would probably be the least common. It was specifically designed for use with the GW-12A CB transceiver. There is very little information about it, and it was only whilst browsing through a sellers other items on eBay, was this example found and purchased.
 
 
 

The GWA-12-1 allows 6 or 12V operation of the GW-12A transceiver.

The GW-12A is a single channel CB transceiver from the early 1960's. The above advertisement is from the 1963 Heathkit catalog. Like many other Heathkit transceivers, it can operate from 117V mains, or with an optional vibrator unit, 6 or 12V DC. A multi pin plug is provided on the back of the set. Depending on the wiring of the associated line socket and power cable, the power supply circuit is configured automatically when the appropriate cable is plugged in.
The GWA-12-1 vibrator unit is designed to be screwed to the back of the transceiver, and is positioned so the plug and socket are in the correct position. In the case of the GW-12A, an 11 pin plug and socket is used. This differs from the ordinary octal type used on some other sets.

The Circuit.

Circuit of the GWA-12-1. Components to the right of the 11 pin plug and socket are in the GW-12A.

The design is completely standard, using a Mallory 1610 non-synchronous vibrator, driving a transformer with centre-tapped secondary for subsequent rectification with a 6X4 valve. The 1610 is a 6V shunt drive vibrator, but has the drive coil connected to the otherwise unused pin. By linking this pin to the "pull" contact, it works exactly like any other shunt drive vibrator; i.e., when the "pull" contacts make, the drive coil is short circuited, causing the reed the swing back to the "inertia" contact. And, the process repeats while ever power is applied.
However, if a 43R resistor is connected in series with the drive coil, the vibrator can be operated from 12V. The convenience of course, is that only one type of vibrator is required for both 6 and 12V.
Similarly, by providing the transformer with a tapped primary winding, both 6 and 12V operation can be accommodated.
This scheme has been described also in the Heathkit GP-11 power supply article.
The Heathkit VP-1-6 and VP-1-12 power supplies also allow 6 or 12V operation, and in fact the GWA-12-1 uses what appears to be virtually the same transformer. Unlike the GP-11, the transformers for these latter models have two separate tapped primary windings. For 12V they are connected as a single centre-tapped primary, as shown above. For 6V operation, the windings are connected in parallel (in phase), and the hitherto unused tappings become the 6V feed point. Of course, the 43R resistor also needs to be shorted out.
RF filtering is achieved with the 0.01uF ceramic capacitors across the vibrator contacts, as well as the pi filter in the supply line, consisting of a choke and two 0.5uF capacitors.
The timing capacitor is a 0.005uF 1600V across the full secondary. There is no damping resistor as per the VP-1-6 and VP-1-12.

Vibrator socket and 43R resistor are at right.

Unlike the GP-11, the GWA-12-1 uses the more conventional method of vibrator connection. That is, the transformer centre-tap is fed with 12V and the vibrator reed is earthed, rather than the other way round. Electrically, the two methods work identically.
Output of the GWA-12-1 is around 260V at 60mA. Rectification is achieved by the 6X4 inside the CB set. There is a 117V power transformer permanently mounted inside the set, and depending on the links in the 11 pin plug, either the AC transformer or the vibrator transformer secondary is connected to the 6X4 plates. Since the vibrator is a non-synchronous type, input polarity is not important. The black wire is connected to the vehicle chassis, and the red to the battery supply, regardless of whether this is positive or negative.

Timing capacitor is mounted on the output socket.

The on/off switch is connected between pins 6 and 7, so that on 117V it interrupts the supply to the power transformer primary, but when the GWA-12-1 is fitted, it instead switches the DC input. The valve heaters are also connected to the switch in this mode, by the link between pin 1 and 7. It is not known how the heater circuit in the transceiver is wired, and whether 6 or 12V operation is selected by links in the 11 pin plug. Ordinary 6.3V valves are used, which would be connected in series-parallel for 12V, and all in parallel for 6V.

The unit I have was wired for 12V. Seeing the vibrator was a Mallory, I wasn't surprised at the ease of getting it started after many years of disuse. The vibrator waveform was as expected. Since the timing capacitor is the original paper type, it should be replaced if this power supply is put into regular use.
I can't ever imagine acquiring the GW-12A CB radio, but the power supply could obviously be used for other applications. The 11 pin plug and socket is standard. However, if the power supply was connected to a receiver via a length of cable, there is the risk of RFI being radiated from the two active secondary leads.

From the Sams Photfact CB Radio Series CB-5 March 1964.(Available at www.worldradiohistory.com)
 

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