Old Muntz TV for sale Locally to me, Should I pick it up?

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

So, because of the low power factor of the unloaded transformer, the .40 Amp current draw does not appear to be excessive at all. Your transformer is behaving much the same as the known good transformer that I measured and is probably good.

jr

That's good to know and is basically what I was thinking.

So it definitely means that more than likely my problem lies with some bad paper caps in the TV that have shorted to ground more than likely.
Probably more than likely one of the paper caps that I have yet to replace.
Which I have already replaced almost half the capacitors in the set already, I have about 23 more capacitors to replace in this set yet (that includes some of the electrolytics that I haven't replaced yet in the set).

[Tube TV]

It's nice to see those reading off the transfomer. I was begining to wonder about a internal short as well.
Once those caps are changed it will make a big difference.
The heavy current load that was causing the rectifer to arc could have been partly due to some of the remainding old electrolytics trying to reform.
When they haven't had any voltage for long time they will pull a lot of current.

[Kevin Kuehn]

In the future it would be wise to power up a set like this with a dim bulb tester. That way you'll at least have a visual indication that there's excessive current being drawn before hitting the transformer with the whole shebang. Also make sure the set has the proper size fuse from the get go.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

In the future it would be wise to power up a set like this with a dim bulb tester. That way you'll at least have a visual indication that there's excessive current being drawn before hitting the transformer with the whole shebang. Also make sure the set has the proper size fuse from the get go.

Ok, will do.
What size of bulb should I use on something like this?
I know certain size incandescent bulbs are no longer available.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

Ok, will do.
What size of bulb should I use on something like this?
I know certain size incandescent bulbs are no longer available.

You're right that large wattage bulbs are getting harder to find. Two or three 60 watts in parallel should get you in the range. You can experiment with a properly working TV to find the sweet spot were the bulb is just starting to light.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

You're right that large wattage bulbs are getting harder to find. Two or three 60 watts in parallel should get you in the range. You can experiment with a properly working TV to find the sweet spot were the bulb is just starting to light.

If you go through to various thrift shops, you'll find all kinds of incandescent lamps of all wattages. Many people stocked on lamps and now they're getting rid of them for LED's.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

You're right that large wattage bulbs are getting harder to find. Two or three 60 watts in parallel should get you in the range. You can experiment with a properly working TV to find the sweet spot were the bulb is just starting to light.

I found at my local supermarket a 150 watt incandescent bulb, would that work?

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

If you go through to various thrift shops, you'll find all kinds of incandescent lamps of all wattages. Many people stocked on lamps and now they're getting rid of them for LED's.

Thanks, I checked all my thriftshops near me and the biggest bulbs they had were 60 watt bulbs.

[init4fun]

Guys , check the shelves of your local Home Depot . For real .

Last week I was at HD looking for a specific bulb when I happened across these two 150 Watt bulbs for a couple of Dollars a piece . There were two on the shelf , so I bought two . I'd have bought as many as they had , thinking I'd stepped through some kind of time warp or something , but when I asked the guy in the electrical department he said they are a regular item , being so called "utility" bulbs they aren't subject to any kinds of restrictions .

[init4fun]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

I found at my local supermarket a 150 watt incandescent bulb, would that work?

you posted while I was typing , and as per my post above sure the 150 Watt bulb you bought will be fine .

[old_coot88]

..Two or three 60 watts in parallel should get you in the range.

¡Aye caramba! That won't give a soft start. Start with a low wattage bulb first, then work up in stages. Say 15W, 40W, 60W, 100W.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by init4fun

Guys , check the shelves of your local Home Depot . For real .

Last week I was at HD looking for a specific bulb when I happened across these two 150 Watt bulbs for a couple of Dollars a piece . There were two on the shelf , so I bought two . I'd have bought as many as they had , thinking I'd stepped through some kind of time warp or something , but when I asked the guy in the electrical department he said they are a regular item , being so called "utility" bulbs they aren't subject to any kinds of restrictions .

I found 150 Watt Incandescent Bulbs at my local supermarket.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by old_coot88

¡Aye caramba! That won't give a soft start. Start with a low wattage bulb first, then work up in stages. Say 15W, 40W, 60W, 100W.

That's why I suggested testing different wattage's with a working TV a couple posts up. I suppose you could even use one of those 3 way switched bulbs for selecting different ranges. But I think a TV that uses 180 watts is going to drop too much voltage across a 15 watt

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

That's why I suggested testing different wattage's with a working TV a couple posts up. I suppose you could even use one of those 3 way switched bulbs for selecting different ranges.

I have a mogul base 3 way socket from an old floor lamp from the 1950s and a mogul base 3-way light bulb that's rated 100-200-300 watts, I could probably wire that up as a dim-bulb tester and just turn the 3 way socket on to the various wattages until the bulb dims when the set is on when it has been recapped, to check proper working order of the set.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

I have a mogul base 3 way socket from an old floor lamp from the 1950s and a mogul base 3-way light bulb that's rated 100-200-300 watts, I could probably wire that up as a dim-bulb tester and just turn the 3 way socket on to the various wattages until the bulb dims when the set is on when it has been recapped, to check proper working order of the set.

200-300 watts would be too much for your set. I wasn't really serious about the 3 way. Like OC suggested just try different wattage bulbs starting with a lower wattage. A lower wattage bulb will have higher resistance than a higher wattage, which is why it will drop more voltage and provide a softer start. But if it's too low it also won't allow the TV to get enough voltage.