So I am over thinking again and making myself crazy. Do you really need a polorized plug on a all american five? I have Philco PT-30 and it works either way with a non polorized plug. It did not make the chassie hot when I tried it. So..
Do you really need a polorized plug on this radio?
Do you need an in line fuse?
If so which side you would put the fuse, between the line and the direct connection to 35Z3 right?
Like I said, I have confused myself because I flipped the plug and all remains the same. Thanks for your help. Joe

:So I am over thinking again and making myself crazy. Do you really need a polorized plug on a all american five? I have Philco PT-30 and it works either way with a non polorized plug. It did not make the chassie hot when I tried it. So..
:Do you really need a polorized plug on this radio?
:Do you need an in line fuse?
:If so which side you would put the fuse, between the line and the direct connection to 35Z3 right?
:Like I said, I have confused myself because I flipped the plug and all remains the same. Thanks for your help. Joe

yes it worked both ways. Chassie ground was not reversed. Was radio designed to work like this?

Hi

It's not that a polarized plug or fuse is needed. Original radios didn't have these things.

It's more of a safety issue. You can get a shock depending on which direction the plug is inserted and if you are grounded. This isn't a problem when the radio is in an insulated cabinet unless someone starts playing around in the back?

A fuse protects the radio. When a fuse blows something is wrong anyway and the radio needs work. A fuse should blow before something goes up in smoke. It should be in the hot AC line. With a polarized plug this is the lead going to your 35Z3. Without a polarized plug you can't determine which side gets fused.

Norm

::So I am over thinking again and making myself crazy. Do you really need a polorized plug on a all american five? I have Philco PT-30 and it works either way with a non polorized plug. It did not make the chassie hot when I tried it. So..
::Do you really need a polorized plug on this radio?
::Do you need an in line fuse?
::If so which side you would put the fuse, between the line and the direct connection to 35Z3 right?
::Like I said, I have confused myself because I flipped the plug and all remains the same. Thanks for your help. Joe
:
:yes it worked both ways. Chassie ground was not reversed. Was radio designed to work like this?

When working with an AC/DC radio that has a hot chassis,it is probably best to fuse the chassis side of the line cord. That way you will not only be protected from internal shorts, but also a short that might occur between the chassis and some grounded object.

T.

:Hi
:
: It's not that a polarized plug or fuse is needed. Original radios didn't have these things.
:
: It's more of a safety issue. You can get a shock depending on which direction the plug is inserted and if you are grounded. This isn't a problem when the radio is in an insulated cabinet unless someone starts playing around in the back?
:
: A fuse protects the radio. When a fuse blows something is wrong anyway and the radio needs work. A fuse should blow before something goes up in smoke. It should be in the hot AC line. With a polarized plug this is the lead going to your 35Z3. Without a polarized plug you can't determine which side gets fused.
:
:Norm
:
:::So I am over thinking again and making myself crazy. Do you really need a polorized plug on a all american five? I have Philco PT-30 and it works either way with a non polorized plug. It did not make the chassie hot when I tried it. So..
:::Do you really need a polorized plug on this radio?
:::Do you need an in line fuse?
:::If so which side you would put the fuse, between the line and the direct connection to 35Z3 right?
:::Like I said, I have confused myself because I flipped the plug and all remains the same. Thanks for your help. Joe
::
::yes it worked both ways. Chassie ground was not reversed. Was radio designed to work like this?

::: Hi there! Doug has a great explanation concerning polarized plugs in AC/DC radios on his website:

http://www.enginova.com/Antique_Radios.htm

Basically, Doug if I may, in AC/DC radios one power leg is connected to the chassis through a capacitor or resistor used for isolating the line voltage from the chassis. If the isolation device should short, and depending upon which way the plug has been inserted, full voltage could appear on the chassis. If you are going to replace the plug, you should also replace the isolation capacitor with a modern safety capacitor, as the vintage ones don't meet today's safety specs. I just went through this entire scenario myself, so I readily knew where to find the answer to this one...hey, I've got to contribute somehow other than where the -ola suffix on Radiola comes from, and that's only my best guess. I'm new at this stuff myself. (grin)

thanks everyone for your input. I plan on putting in a polorized plug. I wired the fuse to the wrong leg so I have to undo my work tonight. FUn fun fun. Good news is the radio works really well. Now just have to make it safe. The volume pot on off switch was stuck and was giving me trouble last night and made me second guess everything. Must only work on radios when well rested . thanks again everyone. Joe