To variac or not to variac?

[rca2000]

It will NOT hurt anything--epecially since an early-80's set is nearly sure to be HOT, but if the set worked ok when it was put away...and if it was stored in a climate-controlled environment...it might not need it.

I just grabbed a 1989 Sears-Sanyo set, that has NOT seen much use. (ONLY....because I worked on then when they were brand new, so I have a "soft spot" for them). jThis one is a COLD set, with an SMPS supply, and full A/V I/O . It worked PERFECT (BW snow, anyway), NO vertical problems I can see, tube seems perfect. I did not bring it up soft, I just "let it fly", where it was when I decided to take it.

SO--if you have a variac--go for it. Start at 75V, and see if the current is ok, AFTER it does degaussing. A set like that should not draw more than maybe 1.5 A, Maybe less, once everything is up. IF you see something like 2.5 to 3 a at 75 volts and it does NOT seem top drop if you got up just a tad....you DO have a problem.