[GreenKeys] Off topic: variable transformer

[Richard Knoppow]

    I think he meant _pardon me please_ thinking his question was off 
topic. It really isn't. It would be helpful to know from him what he is 
working on.  One way to avoid burning things up is to use a "dim bulb" 
tester, a light bulb in series with the power cord. If it lights 
brightly it indicates something is drawing a lot of current and one 
should shut it down right away.  A Variac with meters on it is helpful 
but the lamp acts as a current limiter which a variable transformer does 
not.  There are other approaches if you think something likely has a 
power supply problem such as using an external source of DC to test the 
filter caps. I agree that in general bringing voltage up slowly with a 
variable transformer is not very helpful.

On 7/28/2016 12:18 AM, drlegendre . wrote:
> Wasn't the phrase "Person me please" a request for personal, off-list
> responses?
>
> I sent one myself.. off-list. Did I misinterpret the request?
>
> On Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 12:50 AM, Craig Sawyers
> <c.sawyers at tech-enterprise.com <mailto:c.sawyers at tech-enterprise.com>>
> wrote:
>
>     > What if, what if what if.... All the hand wringing in the world is NO substitute for proper
>     diagnosis and
>     > troubleshooting.
>
>     You won't even know that any troubleshooting is needed unless you
>     turn it on.  It depends on what
>     I'm working on, but number one is off with the covers and a detailed
>     physical examination before
>     anything to do with applying power.
>
>     But before we continue with an almost philosophical discussion about
>     how to power up an unknown
>     piece of gear, lets wait until we hear from the original poster
>     about what he wants to work on.
>
>
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-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL