The AM Forum

I had to change the power cord on a radio because the old one was dry rotted. Used nice new zip cord and plug but for some reason every time I plug it in the lights in the room go out? Anyone have any idea why?

Its because the electrons are confused on which way to go.


KLC

Been told that it’s because I used a right handed wrap and if I wrap it in the other direction it will work.

Why do you think they call it "twisted pair" anyway.

Well, it is still April.

I actually prefer those three-pin plugs that will not fit into any of those two-slot receptacles in this old house.

But I have a few of those classic two-pin Heathkit fused plugs which would help you keep the lights on.

By the way, I love that four-cylinder flathead Hercules.  My five KW mil gen has a clanky OHV two-cylinder engine, at 3600 RPM.  1800 rules!  I looked for one like yours on the bay, but just found lots of parts for carbs, magnetos, starters, etc, at very high prices.  Your complete unit must be worth a mint now!

I was told by an electrician that twisted connections can't handle much juice.  

T

Looks like that wire came without enough white stuff. I'd take it back for a refund!

It looks like a pure case of HOMOTRONS, you know, alternative lifestyle electrons going around blowing one an others fuses...........

I would say that he'd had more juice than he could hold!

Can’t imagine why you had a problem. That technique always worked great for me in a pinch when I would burn out a tip on my old dropped-off-the-bench-too-many-times-to-count Weller slobbering iron.  For the record, I always use a clockwise twist when joining wires, since that’s how wire nuts tighten...as they say in the Navy with respect to valve operations- righty tighty, lefty loosie! 

That depends on which side of the equator your on.

--Shane
KD6VXI

Why is it that used Weller guns always have cracks and plastic case pieces missing at flea markets? Are they suicidal and just leap off the bench?   My other soldering stations never hit the floor.

But I've learned my lesson... when I  buy a new Weller gun, I immediately wrap electrical tape around it to hold it together for the inevidable plunges.  So there.


T

Some Wellers last a long time:

The new Weller’s, and I have one of them, appear to have cases
made of a much tougher plastic than the old ones.  Seems to be like what football helmets were made from when I was a kid, called Cycolac, maybe.  OTOH, they no longer have the threaded collar attachments for the tip, they just have junky tiny pot metal set screws that don’t appear to make very good contact with the tip metal, and easily have the hex head strip out with hardly any force.  I’m going to replace those set screws with stainless Phillips head machine screws, as I have always done for similar garbage stinger hex head set screws on Hamsticks.

On my first new school Weller gun, one of the screws had its thread gall in the barrel and then the head hex opening stripped out.  I pitched the damn thing against the floor in disgust.  At least the case didn’t break!

Early on I used them building Heathkit stuff and many burns later to the job and me, they took the low road! I think I had every size except the very large ones used to build oil tankers?