[Boatanchors] Article on changing from 2 to 3 wire power cords

[wb3fau55 at neo.rr.com]

All boatanchors here get hooked to earth ground before power is
applied. Russ

	-----------------------------------------From: "Glen Zook" 
To: "Eric", "Maury Guzick"
Cc: 
Sent: Wednesday August 7 2019 4:26:00PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Article on changing from 2 to 3 wire power
cords

With a 2-wire line cord and the AC line bypass capacitors, if the
chassis is not connected to a suitable ground, there will be a very
low current AC voltage equal to 1/2 of the AC line voltage on the
chassis. This is true of virtually all of the "boat anchor" units that
are transformer powered and have a 2-wire line cord. Such is because
the bypass capacitors actually pass a very small current AC voltage to
the chassis. Since both sides of the AC line are bypassed, the voltage
is divided and about 1/2 of the AC line voltage can be measured
between the chassis and a good ground. Also, if the chassis is not
grounded, you can often feel a little "tickle" when you touch the
cabinet.

 Remember, when the unit was new, the instructions said to connect an
adequate ground to the chassis before plugging the unit into the AC
mains. Adding the 3-wire line cord with the green wire connected
directly to the chassis gets the chassis grounded and there is not a
"tickle" when you touch the cabinet.
 When you start on the AC / DC receivers, let me know the model
numbers and I probably have schematics, etc., available and can tell
if the unit is a "hot chassis" or not. Also, I can usually tell you
the safest way to wire the 3-wire cord.
 Glen, K9STH 
 Website: https://k9sth.net [1] 

 On Wednesday, August 7, 2019, 09:08:51 AM CDT, Maury Guzick  wrote: 

 I appreciate all the replies. 

 I have been replacing worn out 2 wire power cords with newer 2 wire
cords of similar style on radios with one side grounded to the
chassis. 

 I am at the moment looking at bringing back to life a HT-32 I got for
$10. But the AC is or has been lifted off the chassis. There have been
a number of mods under the chassis. So I want to have a better
understanding of how to rewire the power cord. 

 I also am looking at some antique radios that are AC/DC types that
will need new cords, so this inquiry is multipurpose. 

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Links:
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[1] https://k9sth.net