[Boatanchors] Long-term AC voltage monitor

[Rick Poole WA1RKT]

Thanks, Rob.  Yup, I know.  Measuring filament voltage has the same problem as measuring AC voltage coming out of the wall... you only get the value that is present right then.  So I still need some kind of long-term monitor that doesn't break the bank (doesn't take much to break the bank, these days).

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob Atkinson" <ranchorobbo at gmail.com>
To: "Boat Anchors List" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, January 5, 2015 12:10:40 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Long-term AC voltage monitor

To test to see if you need to buck down the line v., put your vintage
gear directly on the line, fire it up and measure the filament v.
Sometimes you can get the 6.3 v. to test, on a line to a dial lamp, if
you are dealing with a receiver for example.  If you see much over 6.3
you need to buck it down.  In a lot of places the v. is seasonally
higher.  It can be lower in summer because all the A/C loads are on.
If you see 120 v. on the line and you have over 6.3 v. (or whatever
the filament is supposed to be) you need to get the line v. down
because it will probably go higher than 120 at some point.

This all assumes you don't want to have to buy new tubes every few
years.  Excessive filament v. is what kills tubes.

73

Rob
K5UJ