O.K. this will sound really retarded, but I just got the Book By Thomas Mc Whorter called " The All American Five Radio" I know that I need a Isolation Transformer, and A Variac, but how do you test a radio plugged in? Thru a Isolation Tranformer? If so let me know.. And also how do you test a If ? Im still begining with this.. Help?

Here is what I know: With a Variac you plug the radio into the unit and the Variac into the wall plug. Turn the voltage to -0- and then go up slowly, 10V-20V-30V-40V-50V-60V. If nothing sounds bad go more. The normal radio should begin to play about 85 volts. Leave it there and see what happens for a while. Then as you please.

If you can get your hands on an isolation transformer, plug the isolation transformer into the wall outlet first and the variac into the isolation transformer output. The AA5 sets usually have one end of the power cord connected directly or coupled to the chassis and could be dangerous if you're not careful and happen to be touching ground at the same time.

:Here is what I know: With a Variac you plug the radio into the unit and the Variac into the wall plug. Turn the voltage to -0- and then go up slowly, 10V-20V-30V-40V-50V-60V. If nothing sounds bad go more. The normal radio should begin to play about 85 volts. Leave it there and see what happens for a while. Then as you please.

You don't need an isolation transformer to work on an AA5. What you do need to do is just use your brain (everyone has one) and remember not to touch the radio chassis and any other grounded object at the same time. Don't grab other electrical equipment, either.....especially another AA5 radio chassis.

If you're working on the radio and you're sitting on your living room carpet or hardwood, or you're sitting on your kitchen lenoleum, you'll be just fine. If you're sitting or standing on concrete, that's a different story.

I have never used an isolation transformer to work on an AA5 radio. I almost never receive shocks from AA5 radios because I simply work on insulated surfaces. If I was working, say, in my parents' basement, I'd be very careful not to touch the chassis while the radio was plugged in, unless I was sitting on an insulated surface (rubber or dry wooden/carpet mat).

It might be a good idea to install a GFCI outlet at a dedicated work area. A GFCI outlet will sense if current is leaking through you or something else if the radio is plugged into it. It isn't a sure bet, but usually GFCI outlets sense very small leakages.

If you really must have an isolation transformer, www.tubesandmore.com and www.radiodaze.com sell them, as far as I remember. I used to see them sold at those places, but I haven't checked in a while, so I don't know if they still do.

If you connect a piece of test equipment to an AA5, do not touch the radio and the equipment at the same time. You may get a shock. Do not use grounded cords on test equipment unless you operate the radio through an isolation transformer. If you ground the test equipment and you plug the radio directly into a wall socket, you will likely blow fuses/see sparks.

The variac is useful for bringing up the radio slowly so that you can see if it'll just play or if anything is wrong. Without a variac you can use your ohmmeter to test the B supply for shorts, etc. You can also use a series lightbulb. Increase wattage to increase current to radio. A bright bulb of 60 watts or more indicates a serious short. Even a 40 watt bulb should dim down after a moment or two.

Operate the radio sensibly. Electricity isn't going to jump out and get you (unless it's over 1000 volts). My grandfather taught that to me a long time ago. I was just as parinoid as everyone else from reading all of the modern day cautions and warnings. He showed me that you could take two wires and connect them to two other wires of a light socket, with nothing but a piece of wood between them to keep them separated, and nothing would happen except that the light would light (I stood in the other room with my fingers in my ears). I have learned how to respect and safely use electricity without all sorts of extra safety devices.

If you cannot find an isolation transformer and must have one, two places to look are Radio Shack or your local hardware store. Purchase two of Radio Shack's largest transformers (I believe they are 24 volt units), or purchase two heavy duty doorbell transformers from your hardware. Make sure that they are both rated for the same voltage. Connect the secondaries of each to the other. Plug one primary into the wall. The other primary will supply isolated (ungrounded) line voltage to whatever radio you happen to be working on. If the transformers are large enough, they should be able to power most AA5 radios.

DO NOT ground the output of your isolation transformer. If you ground it, you may as well just plug the radio directly into the wall socket. Being ungrounded is how the radio is isolated. Since no part of the power source to the radio is grounded, there is no possibility that any part of the radio can have a voltage potential with relation to ground. If you ground one side of the isolation transformer output and plug the radio into the transformer so that the chassis is on the ungrounded side of the output, the chassis will have a 120 volt AC potential between it and ground--the same as if it was plugged directly into a wall socket.

T.