[Amps] SB220 step start blows fuses

[Carl]

I use a pair of 300W stadium lights with sockets I found at a fleamarket 
decades ago. It makes the initial tests foolproof.

And the rest as Gary says.

Carl


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Schafer" <garyschafer at largeriver.net>
To: "'Warren Volz'" <warren at warrenvolz.com>; "'amps'" <amps at contesting.com>; 
<gudguyham at aol.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2017 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] SB220 step start blows fuses


> You don't have a big enough bulb.
>
> I use two 300 watt bulbs in parallel. 300 watt bulbs are about the largest
> you can find easily.
>
> I made up the bulb unit using a square electrical box and mounted two
> outdoor light sockets on it, an outlet and a regular house switch to short
> out the bulbs when I want to bypass the series bulbs.
> It works great for checking amps. It is really nice if you have an
> intermittent arc or want to let suspect capacitors cook for awhile with 
> the
> amp is in standby as no harm is done if something arcs, the bulbs just 
> light
> up bright.
>
> I sometimes plug the light bulb setup into a variac too.
>
> 73
>
> Gary  K4FMX
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Amps [mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Warren Volz
>> Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2017 9:53 PM
>> To: amps; gudguyham at aol.com
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] SB220 step start blows fuses
>>
>> I may shortly be looking to purchase a variac.
>>
>> After building a dim bulb tester this weekend I have a minor update.
>>
>> With 120V connected, the HV primary disconnected and one tube in a
>> socket (doesn't matter which I use) the 100W bulb in my tester lights up
>> bright. No fan and the meter lights aren't on. If I take out the tube
>> the fan and meter lights work. So I guess I have a shorted tube? Would
>> it be good to double check the DC/AC voltage on the filament supply with
>> the tubes plugged in? That would show any sags that might exist.
>>
>> -Warren
>>
>> > On Jul 7, 2017, at 12:58 PM, gudguyham--- via Amps
>> <amps at contesting.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > I know I sound like a broken record but yes, a Variac is the way to
>> go.  Especially with amps that can have power supply problems and gassy
>> tubes.  You will hear the plate transformer groan and won't see HV
>> climbing on the meter if there is a problem in the PS long before the
>> smoke Genie appears.  My Variac gets used daily several times after
>> doing ANY work on an amp.  It's saved me loads of time fixing blown
>> parts that would normally occur if I had just turned an amp on with
>> problems.  Best investment I ever made.  0-250 volts at 20 amps.
>> >
>> > Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
>> >
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: Bill Turner <dezrat at outlook.com>
>> > To: Amps group <amps at contesting.com>
>> > Sent: Fri, Jul 7, 2017 12:34 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Amps] SB220 step start blows fuses
>> >
>> >
>> > ------------ ORIGINAL MESSAGE ------------(may be snipped)
>> >
>> > On Fri, 7 Jul 2017 10:21:36 -0400, Mark B. wrote:
>> >
>> >> A variac varies voltage.   It is not designed to limit current.
>> >
>> > REPLY:
>> >
>> > At the very low end of its range, a Variac limits current just fine. I
>> > worked as a calibration technician at Tektronix for years, taking
>> > brand new scopes off the assembly line and powering them up for the
>> > first time. Believe me, a Variac is the only way to go with a unit
>> > which could have any number of problems at first. Over the years I
>> > powered up literally thousands of scopes this way and never a problem
>> > with current limiting.
>> >
>> > 73, Bill W6WRT
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> target="_blank">http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps</a>
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