Larry, you found what I would call the achille's heel of rebuilding the AC3. Although I prefer the nice engineering of the Heathkit shop rebuild, for an AC3 using Hayseed caps would IMO be better from a safety point of view.
Drake used heavy cardboard on the caps, so in theory something as simple as heavy cardboard over the PCB would work. Whatever you use, putting a cover on the AC3 HV points is a *very* good idea from a safety standpoint. 73 Ron WD8SBB --- On Thu, 2/9/12, Garey Barrell <k4...@mindspring.com> wrote: > From: Garey Barrell <k4...@mindspring.com> > Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-3 Covering > To: "Larry Sack" <n8...@yahoo.com> > Cc: "Drakelist@zerobeat.net" <Drakelist@zerobeat.net> > Date: Thursday, February 9, 2012, 10:31 PM > Larry - > > Perhaps I misunderstood your statement, but the AC-3 bolts > right in to the MS-4 speaker, just like the AC-4. > > That said, it IS a much better idea to put some sort of > protective cover over it, since fingers have a way of > finding themselves in contact with HV. > > The stuff known as 'cane metal' expanded aluminum from the > hardware store that can be cut with heavy scissors works > great, and as it 'could' be inside the MS-4 appearance isn't > mandatory. > > 73, Garey - K4OAH > Glen Allen, VA > > Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line > and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs > <www.k4oah.com> > > > Larry Sack wrote: > > As I was poking around my newly rebuilt AC-3 power > supply, I had a thought to create something to keep fingers, > wayward conductive tools, dropped objects, etc. from > entering the unholy high voltage regions of the AC-3. While > the bottom is securely fastened and not subject to the > above, the above board area concerns me. The AC-4, if > mounted in the MS-4 speaker, is nicely protected however > nothing exists for my lowly AC-3. > > I was thinking of heading to the nearest home > improvement store to obtain a sheet metal decorative screen > or even plain sheet metal (heat's an issue). Two quick > bends, a few holes for screws and some black (Drake blue?) > spray paint would make a nice U-shaped cover. I haven't > thought how to close up the ends although the transformer > end doesn't bother me as much as the high voltage/bright > sparking end. > > Has anyone else tried this? Thoughts? How do you > address the safety of the beast? > > Larry, N8QNM > > _______________________________________________ > Drakelist mailing list > Drakelist@zerobeat.net > http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist > _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
