AC power input to Heath gear.

[John Hutchins]

The capacitors across the line to neutral,line to ground, etc need to be 
safety capacitors.(Particularly any classics without power 
transformers.) These caps had not been invented when the tube rigs were 
built. There is a good article at www.justradios.com on this subject . 
Look for type X1/Y2 or Y2 caps.
 The article describes the application better than I can.
Hope this helps.
73,
John WB4NNY


Donley wrote:
> This is a general request to the experts on the list.
>
> Many Heath transmitters and receivers (SB-300 and 400 Series included) 
> have two-wire power cords as do many other vintage sets from the tube 
> era. It is my plan to replace those with a three-wire grounded power 
> cord. I guess I am not concerned about lowering the value of the 
> equipment but more interested in safety. On the Heath equipment, would 
> you replace the cheater-cord style connection with a three-wire plug 
> or would you leave it there and just add another hole for a new power 
> cord? On the Hallicrafters equipment, I can just replace the cord.
>
> Secondly, there is typically a capacitor connected from each side of 
> the line cord to ground. These capacitors very typically from 0.001 to 
> 0.047 microfarads. I have never failed to receive a slight "bite" 
> every time I get between this type of system and any other system that 
> is grounded. I know that these capacitors should have a high 
> capacitive reactance (and very low leakage) at 60 Hertz, but what 
> other purpose do they serve and why the large discrepancy in value? I 
> have seen a few systems that eliminate the caps altogether and have 
> read some restorers accounts where the first thing they do is remove 
> them. What are the recommendations?
>
> Dick
> KC9UB
>
>
>
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> Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 3:00 AM
> Subject: HEATH Digest - 3 Apr 2006 to 4 Apr 2006 (#2006-89)
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