[Amps] SB220 step start blows fuses

[Joe]

If you were to use this light bulb current limiter safety thing, but on 
a 220 variac, I assume you would have to put a light into each leg true?

Joe WB9SBD
Sig
The Original Rolling Ball Clock
Idle Tyme
Idle-Tyme.com
http://www.idle-tyme.com
On 7/10/2017 7:50 AM, donroden at hiwaay.net wrote:
> Agree with Gary !!
>
> Make a tester out of a garage light with a 300 or 500 watt halogen 
> element.
> ( or pair )   relatively inexpensive and I always need an extra light 
> when looking for things in my garage.
>
> Don W4DNR
>
>
>
> Quoting Gary Schafer <garyschafer at largeriver.net>:
>
>> 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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>
>
> DonR
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