[Johnson] Ranger fuse -- where?
K6JEK
k6jek at comcast.net
Thu Jun 29 13:45:30 EDT 2006
Where do you put the fuse in a Ranger? That's the question I've asked
at the end of the periodic discussions on this forum about the dangers
of the two-fuse plugs on Rangers. I've been convinced for a long time
that safety trumps authenticity and have intended to replace the
dangerous two wire, two fuse AC mains connection with a three wire
cord. But where to put the fuse if not in the plug? No one ever
answered that for me.
Procrastination was finally ended when working on a stubborn hum on the
RF problem (not from the modulator!) I noticed in my repeated plugging
in and unplugging that the cord was coming out of the plug. It was
time to replace the cord. The fuse question could wait no longer.
Here's the answer, at least my answer. Put the fuse holder where the
AC cord comes in. Move the cord next to the relay socket on cabinet
side. Move the solder lugs that were there over to the other side
under the nuts holding the terminal strip on that side.
The hole formerly for the AC cord now for the fuse holder must be
slightly enlarged to 1/2" and a new hole must be drilled for the cord.
I put this hole level with the screw for the relay socket midway
between the socket and the edge of the cabinet cutout. I'd penciled
the location of the cutout on the chassis when the Ranger was still in
the cabinet. I used a circular Heyco strain relief that required a
smaller hole that the more familiar clamping Heyco. I was careful
to miss the relay socket. If I were doing it again, I'd move the hole
a little farther away from the relay socket to miss that socket by a
little bit more.
The solder lugs are removed from the nearby hole and moved across the
way to the terminal strip that hosts the RF chokes leading to the AUX
socket. The bypass caps were clipped out and replaced with AC rated
X1/Y2 caps, Vishay/Roederstein WYO series ceramic disc suppression
caps.
It's in. It's neat. I did drill a hole. In this former basket case
Ranger, museum quality isn't a possibility, originality not an issue.
I do have a nearly pristine Ranger II. Since I use these things and
like staying alive, I plan to do exactly the same thing to it.
Jon, K6JEK
PS: Changing the power cord didn't fix the original hum issue.
Shucks.
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