Safe to apply mains? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

19Seventy7 · 18th May 2020, 10:15 pm

That's what I did originally think, but then I have also seen that others have just applied power, although possibly on newer sets, with more reliable components. I've even seen a case where they powered up for a few seconds, switched off, waited a while, power up for a few more seconds, and so on, as to reform the caps.

I have done a visual inspection, and no components are visibly stressed, which I understand is only a tiny segment of fault finding, and doesn't show all. I wouldn't have considered it if there were any visibly stressed components.

I did only really ask as I saw on the other current GEC BT302 thread, that that set had also been powered up momentarily prior to a restoration, so saw it's possible, but didn't want to just plug it in and do more harm than good.

Perhaps slightly OT, does anyone know the chances of the original GEC 7XXXX tube still having a reasonable amount of emission left, in that case?

Thanks
'77

18th May 2020, 10:15 pm	#1
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: Safe to apply mains? That's what I did originally think, but then I have also seen that others have just applied power, although possibly on newer sets, with more reliable components. I've even seen a case where they powered up for a few seconds, switched off, waited a while, power up for a few more seconds, and so on, as to reform the caps. I have done a visual inspection, and no components are visibly stressed, which I understand is only a tiny segment of fault finding, and doesn't show all. I wouldn't have considered it if there were any visibly stressed components. I did only really ask as I saw on the other current GEC BT302 thread, that that set had also been powered up momentarily prior to a restoration, so saw it's possible, but didn't want to just plug it in and do more harm than good. Perhaps slightly OT, does anyone know the chances of the original GEC 7XXXX tube still having a reasonable amount of emission left, in that case? Thanks '77