Silvertone Meteor 1430 Amp

[angelodp]

Understood and thanks. Would you stick with 5W type or would 2W or 3W be ok.

[angelodp]

OK, at 120V on Variac (BTW passed the bulb limiter test), I drop 15.2V on the 100ohm resistor. I added another 100ohm resister down the line to affect that. I went directly to pin 4 from the first 100ohm resistor. Its quiet as a mouse and has a sweet tone, ala, 50's practice amp...sweet. Thanks Steve and Martin for helping out.

Best Ange

[angelodp]

Here is this little gem of a package from Joe. For those looking to rehab this type of amp, I do recommend mounting to the chassis, along with a little framework for support. BTW I made a new handle for the amp.

[FUCHSAUDIO]

I found this on a site.

You can make the Widowmaker safer (but not completely safe), by installing a 3-conductor power cord with ground to chassis, and utilize the death cap and current return resistor of the original design. (You should absolutely replace the “Death Cap” with a Class Y Safety Capacitor. The Class Y cap is designed to fail open). Here is a Class Y capacitor:

This modification does two things: first, it fixes the polarity of the line cord, so the neutral is always incorporated into the chassis ground, and second, it keeps the functionality of the AC capacitor and current return resistor, in the event of a line-to-ground fault, limiting the current just as it was designed to do in the original circuit. If the Class Y capacitor should fail, it will fail open, keeping full AC off the chassis in the event of reversed polarity.

The only potential problem arises if the wall outlet itself is wired with reverse polarity, and this is more common than you might think, so it pays to always have an outlet polarity checker, especially when playing at a new venue with unknown power quality. A polarity checker is an invaluable $10 insurance policy.

This is not true nor correct. Proof the internet is sometimes wrong...

Look up Rob Robinette's page. He explains why an isolation transformer is the only truly safe means to use an amp like this one. A three prong cord cannot make it safe, and with an incorrectly wired outlet (yes, it happens), you could pop fuses, circuit breakers or cause a fire. I owned an old house with 3-prong outlets installed that didn't have the third prong properly grounded...someone replaced the old two prong with a 3-prong and never added a ground path....do yourself a favor: buy an isolation transformer please ?

[angelodp]

Yes yes, have done so and now safe. Thanks for your professional perspective.

On another note, I do have a very low level hum, even with the volume at zero, I would like to eliminate. I could use some recommends, given the nature of the Rectifier (half wave), I have in this amp.

[martin manning]

On another note, I do have a very low level hum, even with the volume at zero, I would like to eliminate. I could use some recommends, given the nature of the Rectifier (half wave), I have in this amp.

Try adjusting that ceramic trimmer capacitor. I believe that is its purpose.

[sluckey]

On another note, I do have a very low level hum, even with the volume at zero, I would like to eliminate. I could use some recommends, given the nature of the Rectifier (half wave), I have in this amp.

Now you're dealing with another shortcoming of these small, cheap single ended amps. Probably best to just accept it for what it is. But if you insist, put a small Fender choke between the rectifier pin 7 and the rest of the B+ circuit. Then also put a 40µF cap between rectifier pin 7 and chassis ground.

[angelodp]

Steve, yup. walking away. Its fine for what it is.

Best A