[Johnson] Fused Plugs

[Robert Nickels]

Not long ago Roy Morgan posted some excellent information designed to keep
us from prematurely joining the ranks of Silent Keys by relying on the fused
plugs commonly used on Johnson and Heath gear.    Thanks, Roy for explaining
the potentially lethal safety problems caused by fused plugs, and the need
to replace them with properly fused 3-wire cords.

A good source of replacement 3-wire power cords are those used by computers
and periperals, but most of them use the European color designations   For
years, the colors of individual conductors in cords for use in North America
have been black for line, white for neutral, and green for earth (ground).
But in order to harmonize worldwide standards,  two major UL equipment
standards, UL 1950, Information Technology Equipment, and UL 2601, Medical
and Dental Equipment, started several years ago to require the more
traditional European conductor color coding: brown for line, light blue for
neutral, and a  combination of green and yellow for ground.

The color conversion is as follows:

LINE            (US) Black  =  (EU)  Brown
COMMON   (US)White  =  (EU)  Blue
GROUND    (US) Green     (EU)  Green/Yellow

"Switch to Safety" was a good motto when our boatanchor radios were new, and
still is today.  I replaced the cord on my DX-100 today and urge others to
do the same.   Before rewiring your gear, please check a website like
http://www.sherline.com/powrcord.htm to make absolutely sure you wire things
up right, and play it safe!

73, Bob W9RAN