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two prong cord to three prong cord question [message #18216]

Sun, 17 February 2013 19:28

richcrook
Messages: 11
Registered: February 2013

Junior Member

I have a k200 a-2. 1967 or 68. I'm gonna buy a three prong hoover vacuum cleaner cord and switch out my old one. Would one of you more experienced kustom guys let me know if it's simply going to be a matter of removing the old black and white ends and replacing with the two new ones and placing a lug on the green ground end and attaching that to a screw and nut? If this works out for me I'm wanting to do the same with my other same era kustom heads. oh yeah, I had a beautiful photo of the inside of my amp for anyone to see but just read that I can't attach files. Bummer. It's my first post. Thanks.

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Re: two prong cord to three prong cord question [message #18220 is a reply to message #18216]

Sun, 17 February 2013 21:34

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

Welcome to the place.

The official answer would be that you need to take the black wire from the new cord and run it to the fuse and then to the switch and then to one side of the power transformer primary winding. The white from the new cord should go directly to the other side of the primary winding.

When you do this, the cap that is connected to the power switch should be removed. And the green wire from the new cord should connect directly to the chassis via its' own nut and bolt. Additionally, the green wire must be longer in length than either the black or white wire.

You can do exactly what you outlined and just connect the white to where the original white was and the black where the original black was and ground the green wire, but it will not meet current standards.

[Updated on: Sun, 17 February 2013 21:35]

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Re: two prong cord to three prong cord question [message #18223 is a reply to message #18220]

Mon, 18 February 2013 09:14

richcrook
Messages: 11
Registered: February 2013

Junior Member

Thank you Chicago Bill. I live in Chicago. Hey now! So, if you don't mind going into it a wee bit more. If I did my quick mod and it did not meet current standards then are there long term damage issues in the future for my amp?

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Re: two prong cord to three prong cord question [message #18224 is a reply to message #18216]

Mon, 18 February 2013 13:01

chicagobill
Messages: 2005
Registered: April 2003

Senior Member

No, in fact up until a few years ago what you propose was done as normal wiring in most commercial amps.

What I outlined is what current standards are and what must be done in all newly manufactured amps.

In the other thread Bart mentioned removing a resistor from the switch. It really is a capacitor, sometimes referred to as the death cap.

Edit:
I just remembered that the Kustom has a heat sensor in the ac primary circuit, so that would need to be included in the black lead wiring.

[Updated on: Mon, 18 February 2013 15:11]

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Re: two prong cord to three prong cord question [message #18231 is a reply to message #18224]

Mon, 18 February 2013 16:28

Kustom_Bart
Messages: 601
Registered: October 2010
Location: Greenville, MichiGUN

Senior Member

I forgot it was a cap, you are correct, but it is the death cap for sure...lol! Smile

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Re: two prong cord to three prong cord question [message #18233 is a reply to message #18216]

Mon, 18 February 2013 17:48

richcrook
Messages: 11
Registered: February 2013

Junior Member

Yeah okay cool. Well I went ahead and replaced the black and white line where they originated. I removed the capacitor/death cap on every amp. They all powered up and work great. I didn't mess around with any heat sensor when I re-connected my black line. AAAAnd grounded my green end to the old death cap screw and nut. So far so good. should I be worried about that heat sensor?

[Updated on: Mon, 18 February 2013 17:49]

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