[R-390] New 390A owner & fan

[Drew Papanek]

Andy Jackson wrote:

"Having recently realised a long ambition to own a R390A receiver I have
   become a subscriber to this list and I gather that you guys  like to know
   some details on "new found" sets."

Hello Andy,

Welcome to the fraternity of R-390A enthusiasts!  Yes, we do enjoy hearing 
about someone else's new acquisition, for me, I start thinking about what I 
would do if I were them!

On single fuse R-390A's, you can check r-390a.net, references, pearls of 
wisdom for horror stories relating to damage done when failures didn't blow 
that one fuse soon enough.  There was a field change to add 2 fuseholders so 
obviously the designers realized that there was a problem.

If you have an aversion to "drilling and blasting", and don't feelike adding 
in-line style fuse holders, you can add pigtail type leaded fuses.  A 
convenient place to do so would be under the audio module on unused 
terminals of the sockets for the plug-in electrolytic filter capacitors.  
Pulling audio module to replace fuses so installed would not be much 
hardship because blowing those fuses should be a rare event indeed.

A measure of added protection can also be realized by "downgrading" the main 
fuse to 2 amps for 110v AC line or 1 amp for 220v AC line.

Check also the aforementioned reference for information relating to the AC 
line filter.  That filter has paper capacitors and like the rest of those 
capacitors in the radio are a prime candidate for leaking or shorting with 
associated unpleasantries.  This is especially of concern to you on the 
other side of the pond with your 220 volt AC supply.

Drew

"Better living through modifying and repairing R-390a's vicariously via 
advice to others"

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