07-02-14 21:38 Holger Granholm wrote to Ed Vance about Re: Storage   
      
    HG> @MSGID: <53B53308.658.amtradio@capcity2.synchro.net>   
    HG> In a message dated 06-30-14, Ed Vance said to Holger Granholm:   
      
    HG> GE Ed,   
   GM Holger,   
      
    HG> It has been a busy day today so that's why I continue with echo   
    HG> mail now   
      
    HG> Also we had a taste of summer with 17. C so I made a 10 km   
    HG> scandinavian walk dressed in shorts and shortsleeved shirt.   
      
   Glad to hear the WX has improved in Your area.   
   WX here is in the 59F/15C to 79F/25C range today and expected to reach   
   88F/31C B4 Sunday Night when we have a chance of Rain.   
      
    HG> For tomorrow we have varying forecasts between 14. and 21. in   
    HG> the afternoon so the meteos have covered themselves, hi.   
      
   I think "the WXman makes a new forecast every hour".   
   But that's their job.   
      
    EV> I suppose I could give it a "Smoke Test" by loading it in the   
    EV> Heathkit Cantenna.   
      
    HG> Yeah, do that and you'll get back to the dawn of digital   
    HG> communications.   
      
    EV> While I was searching for the HEATHKIT Catalog I flipped the Power   
    EV> Switch and the Filament Switch on the TS-520S to ON.   
      
    EV> After finding that 1967 catalog I loaded up the XCVR to the   
    EV> Cantenna.   
      
    EV> It dipped to 200 ma CW in the IP Meter Position and I didn't SEE or   
    EV> SMELL any Smoke in the Ham Shack.   
      
    HG> To make the smoke test you don't even have to connect a dummy   
    HG> load. The HV is normally highest while the transceiver is   
    HG> idling because the HV is there all the time while the final   
    HG> tubes are only cut-off by the grid bias.   
      
    HG> You was lucky that no smoke emerged but don't feel safe yet. It   
    HG> may come next time you switch on the transceiver. Normally,   
    HG> starting up old tubes you should let only the filaments on (at   
    HG> reduced voltage ) fopr several hours to burn away the gases   
    HG> that have leaked in because the glass seals for the tube   
    HG> element wires are not air tight.   
      
   I was thumbing through those Heathkit Catalogs about 35 minutes before   
   I tuned up the rig.   
      
   I saw the comment You wrote to Tom about gases leaking into old tubes,   
   I never heard of that b4, Thanks for sharing that.   
      
    HG> Then switch on the HV while feeding a reduced (via a variac)   
    HG> mains voltage to the transmitter to let the electrolytics   
    HG> recover from a long hiatus. After that the mains supply voltage   
    HG> may be slowly increased while smelling for smoke or listening   
    HG> for arcing.   
      
   Yes, it is better to be safe than sorry.   
   I hadn't thought of starting out with a lower A.C. Voltage.   
   I may have a Variac, can't remember for sure, but think I got one at a   
   Ham Radio Flea Market a long time ago but never used it for anything.   
      
   ... A soldier surviving mustard gas is a seasoned veteran.   
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