You sure are getting into radio as a hobby. It can be very rewarding. There are fewer old timers still around. The hobby needs younger collectors to keep it going.
A variac is useful bringing voltage up slowly on a radio. If there is a short you can back the variac off without damage. They do show up at flea markets, sometimes for very little.
There will always be someone who wants to sell you an item.. The question being do you want to buy it at that price?
Variac's come in different current ratings. 3 amp is large enough for radios. There are nice 10 amp variacs with built in meters. One of these would be worth $39.
Add a current meter in series with your variac. You can tell at a glance if there is a problem. Most radios draw less than an amp. A shorted radio will go way above this.
Norm
:I know what a variac does, but if I am getting into antique radios as a hobby, should I get a variac to power up these radios....someone wants to sell me one for 39 dollars
::I carried my first radio home on a train(FOR 3 DAYS) when I found it in california(at an antique shop) visiting my parents! Younger..yup 34 yrs old goin on 2 when it comes to radios
::
::I'll have to ask the guy about the variac then. He seems reliabe since I bought my tube testers from him on yahoo auctions.
::
::I just realized that I am only 1 hours drive from "play things of the past!" no more ordering from AES if gary has it
::Hi Sean
::
:: You sure are getting into radio as a hobby. It can be very rewarding. There are fewer old timers still around. The hobby needs younger collectors to keep it going.
::
:: A variac is useful bringing voltage up slowly on a radio. If there is a short you can back the variac off without damage. They do show up at flea markets, sometimes for very little.
::
:: There will always be someone who wants to sell you an item.. The question being do you want to buy it at that price?
::
:: Variac's come in different current ratings. 3 amp is large enough for radios. There are nice 10 amp variacs with built in meters. One of these would be worth $39.
::
:: Add a current meter in series with your variac. You can tell at a glance if there is a problem. Most radios draw less than an amp. A shorted radio will go way above this.
::
::Norm
::
:::I know what a variac does, but if I am getting into antique radios as a hobby, should I get a variac to power up these radios....someone wants to sell me one for 39 dollars
Here is what I use to indicate AC current. Add a bridge rectifier in series with the line. Between the DC (+&-) terminals connect a low resistance resistor, 1 ohm will work. Measure voltage across this resistor with a DC meter. If you read around 1 volt a radio will be drawing 1 amp. You don't need to know the exact current. Radio with a short will draw much greater current.
You can use just about any meter with this method. Adjust the resistor for a reasonable reading.
Norm
:Hello All,
: Norm I have a Labvolt variac with no meter, how do I go about attaching a current meter to monitor what is happening?(I can tell that something is amiss at 25 percent of total voltage due to the vibration thru the case it emits)
:
:::I carried my first radio home on a train(FOR 3 DAYS) when I found it in california(at an antique shop) visiting my parents! Younger..yup 34 yrs old goin on 2 when it comes to radios
:::
:::I'll have to ask the guy about the variac then. He seems reliabe since I bought my tube testers from him on yahoo auctions.
:::
:::I just realized that I am only 1 hours drive from "play things of the past!" no more ordering from AES if gary has it
:::Hi Sean
:::
::: You sure are getting into radio as a hobby. It can be very rewarding. There are fewer old timers still around. The hobby needs younger collectors to keep it going.
:::
::: A variac is useful bringing voltage up slowly on a radio. If there is a short you can back the variac off without damage. They do show up at flea markets, sometimes for very little.
:::
::: There will always be someone who wants to sell you an item.. The question being do you want to buy it at that price?
:::
::: Variac's come in different current ratings. 3 amp is large enough for radios. There are nice 10 amp variacs with built in meters. One of these would be worth $39.
:::
::: Add a current meter in series with your variac. You can tell at a glance if there is a problem. Most radios draw less than an amp. A shorted radio will go way above this.
:::
:::Norm
:::
::::I know what a variac does, but if I am getting into antique radios as a hobby, should I get a variac to power up these radios....someone wants to sell me one for 39 dollars
Using a variac, with current meter, will allow you to turn up voltage slowly. If current is excessive you can back off a variac before the transformers burns up.
Norm
:I've heard these are used to turn up the line voltage slowly so you wont damage the radio?...if a radio was gonna blow, what good would a variac do
::
::I know what a variac does, but if I am getting into antique radios as a hobby, should I get a variac to power up these radios....someone wants to sell me one for 39 dollars