14 May
2007
14 May
'07
3:32 p.m.
On Mon, 2007-05-14 at 09:32 -0500, Jules Richardson wrote:
The rest of the machine *looks* healthy enough; once
I've replaced the
electrolytics is there any good reason not to slowly run the system up on a
variac (rather than giving it full AC from the start)?
Yes, actually. By using a variac, you would not be eliminating
risks, you would be trading them. Any circuit which tries to produce a
specific power level or voltage would be forced to draw more current to
achieve that goal, thus risking burn-out of the active component or
components involved.
Rather than running it up slowly, I'd suggest using full power
through a circuit with a lower than suggested fuse. Be aware that this
call is of a theological rather than engineering nature. There are WAY
too many variables to be able to state that one way is better than
another with anything like assurance, unless you are speaking of
specific components whose behaviors are well known.
Peace,
Warren E. Wolfe
wizard at voyager.net