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Vintage Asylum Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time. |
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Vintage Asylum Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time. |
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In Reply to: RE: The Monster Amp posted by dls123 on October 31, 2014 at 23:22:13:
Don... You wrote:- "All the old gear with unpolarized plugs had the death caps:) Sure it will will work no matter which way it is plugged in, but if you have a fault I certainly know which side I want fused in my amp:)"
Wrong Don, I am a retired tech guy. I don't know a whole lot but I do know a bit about electronics. Death caps..? Just where in the 517 is this 'death cap' Don..? As you seem to be such an expert perhaps you can refer to your schematic and point out to me the exact location of this 'death cap'. You can't do that can you Don because you don't have a schematic and there is no 'death cap'.
Now pay attention... This Sansui (along with millions of other items that have only 2-core mains cables) is double insulated. At no point does either of the two mains cables make any contact with earth/ground either inside or outside the amp. If this happened the person using it would be electrocuted. The 2-core mains cable enters the amp and goes via the On/Off switch straight to the primary of the mains transformer. Sometimes both wires go to the On/Off switch, sometimes only one wire is switched and the other is effectively direct to the transformer. Sometimes there are a few other components before the mains primary - but NEVER is it grounded. The mains voltage inside the amp is 'floating'. It does not care which way round it's connected. It goes into the primary winding of the mains transformer as mains AC volts. Then... out of the secondary winding is produced much lower AC volts, which is then rectified into a usable DC volts.
I do have a diagram for this, and many other vintage amps I've had the pleasure of knowing over the years. I can tell you specifically that the AC on the Sansui EXPORT model (Made for the US and other countries) has the On/Off with only one pole switched. Across the switch is a spark suppressor. The EXPORT model also has 3 non-polarized AC outlets on the rear panel (2 are permanently live, the other is switched). When the amp is switched-on the voltage from one pole is connected directly to one side of the transformer primary. The other pole goes via a fuse (7A for 100/120 volts or 3.5A for 220/240 volts) to the voltage selector switch. The position of the voltage selector switch determines which of the windings on the transformer primary that this other pole is connected to. The transformer secondary windings will then produce 35 volts AC on either side of a zero volts center tap. From there the AC volts is rectified to DC volts and then the nitty-gritty of amplification begins. I also checked out the other variants that Sansui made for Europe. I can tell you that the version supplied for the UK was essentially the same but without the 3 AC outlets on the rear, the voltage was switchable 220-240 volts, the fuse was 2.5A, both poles of the mains were switched and each side had its own separate spark suppressor.
Which way round the mains plug is connected will not make the slightest difference to the operation or safety of the amp or the user. These were made with a moulded 2-pin non-polarized mains plug. The manufacturer made no indication of which way round the plug should be inserted because is simply doesn't matter.
The Russian guy originally asked a very simple question: He basically asked which way round the 2-core mains cable should be connected to his mains outlet. The correct answer now - is the same as it was back in the 70's. "No, it doesn't matter which way round it's connected".
This Russian guy was most likely terrified with replies talking about "get it the wrong way and it could be dangerous", "need to understand a schematic to be safe", "smoke", "beer possibly spilled inside", "couldn't have been tested because no mains plug", "strange voltage from another part of the planet", "death capacitors", etc...etc. Well, maybe he's already visited his local Wal-Mart and bought some modern all-in-one crap in a plastic box with lots of flashing lights. If he has it's a real shame because the 517 is a beauty.
You also ended with:- "As for our argumentative idiot poster, thanks Dave for remaining a civil gentleman. The trolls are not welcome in the asylum...."
Don... I am not an idiot and I am not a troll. However I am old and grumpy so it's easy for me to be argumentative when I read people spouting rubbish. Now you have three choices. 1). Just ignore and pretend you never read this reply... or 2). apologize... or 3). Argue some more.
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Follow Ups
- RE: The Monster Amp - kendodsdadsdogsdead 01:21:58 11/07/14 (0)
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