Kennedy 9800 - Power-up tips?

[Robert]

I'm under caffeinated and not really with it yet, having recently gone semi
nocturnal, so you'll want to double check this with someone who's actually
awake.

That said, variacs aren't a universal panacea and can sometimes be harmful
rather than helpful.  My disorganized memory is offering TVs as an example,
but take that with a pinch of salt. I've only ever used them with tube
radios and amps, so have nothing further to offer,  save this caution.

-- 
Robert


On Thu, Apr 23, 2020, 10:59 AM Anders Nelson via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:

> Cool, thanks for your take. I found some articles:
>
>    -
>
> http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/funwithtubes/steps_to_first_power_on.html
>    - http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/funwithtubes/Restore_cap.html
>
> Given this unit doesn't have any tubes, I imagine the motor drivers/amps in
> this thing would simply go to zero output with shorted caps. The PSU might
> blow the fuse and/or rectifier with a shorted bulk output cap. This unit is
> very difficult to remove from the rack it's in so I'm trying to avoid
> preemptive repairs.
>
> I'm going to pick up a variac on Amazon when I finish up some other things:
>
> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076Y2XHRS/ref=twister_B07G5BHXYV
>
> Happy to hear any constructive criticism.
>
> --
> Anders Nelson
>
> +1 (517) 775-6129
>
> www.erogear.com
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 23, 2020 at 12:37 AM "Grif" w. keith griffith via cctalk <
> cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> >
> > At least in radio repair of old equipment,,,, old electrolytic caps
> > cause all sorts of issues. Most of the guys doing restoration do a total
> > remove/replace on them.  In my opinion,,, I think that's a little
> > extreme,,, but then having one fail after all the other work is done is
> > also a PITA.
> >
> >
> > On 4/20/20 11:15 AM, Anders Nelson via cctalk wrote:
> > > Hi friends,
> > >
> > > Now that I have enough hobby time having quit my job two weeks before
> the
> > > apocalypse, I'm interested in poking at my Kennedy 9800 tape controller
> > > project.
> > >
> > > I bought the tape unit in Q3 2017 and the seller said they had powered
> it
> > > up and nothing seemed awry. I have not powered it up and reading about
> > old
> > > electrolytic cap issues I'm curious if I should do anything beyond
> > replace
> > > any obviously leaking/ruptured capacitors.
> > >
> > > IIRC people have used a variac to gradually bring the power supply up
> to
> > > operating voltage and somewhat refresh the capacitors - is this a
> thing?
> > Is
> > > this advisable?
> > >
> > > Any help is appreciated!
> > > --
> > > Anders Nelson
> > >
> > > www.erogear.com
> >
> >
> >
>