Power transformer replacement??

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by Tubejunke

What I did was remove the rectifier. That its self deisconnects 3 leads. Then I removed the two leads going to the small strip with a B+ fuse (I thiink). I removed a lead that goes to one of the filters and I think one that supplies the heater string. I also disconnected the ground side if the line filters. This should have eliminated the short if it were in any of those circuits. I applied AC from the wall and still have a heavy current draw. The transformer hums like it is working its a** off what little time I can leave it on, which is a matter of seconds. The line chord will get hot and there has been a burning smell. I have nearly every indication that the trans is bad.

My next step would be to remove the power transformer from the set (but keep track of what lead went where, especially the primary). Once the transformer is removed, I'd try applying line voltage to the primary briefly again to see if the short is still there. Check the insulation of the wire leads; if it looks brittle and crumbly, the short might be there. Carefully remove the end bell the wire leads come from (if you didn't already do that to remove it from the set) and check further, and slip heat shrink insulation on the problem leads. Of course, if the transformer smells like toast, it might be toast, but don't give up easy on it.

If the transformer in the set is drawing so much current that it makes the line cord get hot, I'd wonder about the circuit breakers or fuses in the house. Check that nobody stuck pennies behind the fuses....