I'm under caffeinated and not really with it yet, having recently gone semi nocturnal, so you'll want to double check this with someone who's actually awake.
That said, variacs aren't a universal panacea and can sometimes be harmful rather than helpful. My disorganized memory is offering TVs as an example, but take that with a pinch of salt. I've only ever used them with tube radios and amps, so have nothing further to offer, save this caution. -- Robert On Thu, Apr 23, 2020, 10:59 AM Anders Nelson via cctalk < [email protected]> wrote: > Cool, thanks for your take. I found some articles: > > - > > http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/funwithtubes/steps_to_first_power_on.html > - http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/funwithtubes/Restore_cap.html > > Given this unit doesn't have any tubes, I imagine the motor drivers/amps in > this thing would simply go to zero output with shorted caps. The PSU might > blow the fuse and/or rectifier with a shorted bulk output cap. This unit is > very difficult to remove from the rack it's in so I'm trying to avoid > preemptive repairs. > > I'm going to pick up a variac on Amazon when I finish up some other things: > > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076Y2XHRS/ref=twister_B07G5BHXYV > > Happy to hear any constructive criticism. > > -- > Anders Nelson > > +1 (517) 775-6129 > > www.erogear.com > > > On Thu, Apr 23, 2020 at 12:37 AM "Grif" w. keith griffith via cctalk < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > > > At least in radio repair of old equipment,,,, old electrolytic caps > > cause all sorts of issues. Most of the guys doing restoration do a total > > remove/replace on them. In my opinion,,, I think that's a little > > extreme,,, but then having one fail after all the other work is done is > > also a PITA. > > > > > > On 4/20/20 11:15 AM, Anders Nelson via cctalk wrote: > > > Hi friends, > > > > > > Now that I have enough hobby time having quit my job two weeks before > the > > > apocalypse, I'm interested in poking at my Kennedy 9800 tape controller > > > project. > > > > > > I bought the tape unit in Q3 2017 and the seller said they had powered > it > > > up and nothing seemed awry. I have not powered it up and reading about > > old > > > electrolytic cap issues I'm curious if I should do anything beyond > > replace > > > any obviously leaking/ruptured capacitors. > > > > > > IIRC people have used a variac to gradually bring the power supply up > to > > > operating voltage and somewhat refresh the capacitors - is this a > thing? > > Is > > > this advisable? > > > > > > Any help is appreciated! > > > -- > > > Anders Nelson > > > > > > www.erogear.com > > > > > > >
