[Premium-Rx] Racal RA6778C - Product Safety Advisory (Oh MY!!!)

[ToddRoberts2001 at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/28/2005 1:45:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
quixote2 at ix.netcom.com writes:
Greetings, Group.

I had a rather odd incident occur this week that I think I
should pass along to other owners of this rig. It COULD 
possibly be an operator safety or fire hazard issue.
I was taking the rig out of it's usual shack location to haul
it on a trip to visit another Premium Receiver fan. While it
was sitting on the floor, I decided I wanted to check what I
had programmed into the memories, and plugged it back in.
When I flipped the AC power switch, the shack's receiver
isolation transformer gave an alarming grunt from overloading,
and I saw the Premium Receiver Nut's Worst Nightmare; a BIG
puff of smoke rolled out of the back of the radio, and the 
isolation transformer's breaker tripped.
Quick investigation showed the radio's fuse to be OK, and the
proper rating. An ohmmeter across the plug showed open in both
AC switch positions.
Pop the dust covers and dig in deeper... The AC power switch is
DPDT, and it showed a DEAD SHORT across the AC line in both
positions!

Hi Tom,
       Thanks for letting us know about the problem you had with your RA6778C 
power switch. I checked the ALCOSWITCH website. (ALCO is now called 
ALCOSWITCH and is now owned by TYCO Electronics)  It looks like an almost identical 
match to the original ALCO part number MSTG225N is now ALCOSWITCH MTG226N . This 
has the identical small switch body size with 2PDT wire terminals ON-ON 
configuration and the large size .685" toggle handle and identical size mounting 
bushing. It is rated 6A AC. This is a current catalog item. Newark Electronics 
has the part no. in their catalog but they are not in stock and it shows a 91 
day lead time to order with price of around $10. You might check around on the 
internet to find another supplier that has them in stock or not sure if you can 
order directly from TYCO Electronics? Let us know if you find a supplier. I 
would like to order a couple of spares myself. If there is a minimum order 
perhaps several of us can combine to make the minimum order. In the meantime I 
will also check around for a supplier. 73 Todd WD4NGG