Home » VintageKustom.com » Repairing Kustom Amps » To ground or not to ground? (Replacing stock power cord?)
To ground or not to ground? [message #22436] Sat, 14 February 2015 20:09 Go to next message
bmacdo is currently offline  bmacdo
Messages: 14
Registered: January 2015
Location: Florida
Junior Member
So I've heard that sometimes people gigging these old Kustoms will be muting strings with one hand while attempting to adjust a mike with the other and getting a 110v wake up call. I was thinking about replacing the stock power cord on my K150-8 with a three wire grounded one. Would this kind of modification detract from the intrinsic value of the amp in the view of a serious collector? Or is it considered to be a plus in terms of increased safety and perhaps even sonic quality...as in humming? Any thoughts? So far all of my repairs have been new parts that are exact replacements for the originals so I hesitate to make this change.
Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22437 is a reply to message #22436] Sat, 14 February 2015 22:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
oren hudson is currently offline  oren hudson
Messages: 274
Registered: March 2008
Location: Gastonia, NC
Senior Member
Definitely change the chord. Big safety factor and generally not considered to affect the originality issue. Do like I do, keep the original cord so you'd have it from the vintage/collector side.
Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22438 is a reply to message #22437] Sun, 15 February 2015 12:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Iowa Boy is currently offline  Iowa Boy
Messages: 767
Registered: June 2014
Senior Member
Also if you replace your cord with a grounded one, as stated on other threads on this site, you need to cut the resistor that currently is connected to your old power cord. I usually get a 15 foot 16 gauge extension cord and cut the outlet end off and use that for my replacement cords. I prefer the orange cords since its easier to be seen if someone happens to be walking behind the amps when playing or if the power strip isn't close at hand. Surprised OSHA hasn't insisted on this yet.............

[Updated on: Sun, 15 February 2015 12:25]

Report message to a moderator

Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22439 is a reply to message #22438] Sun, 15 February 2015 16:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bmacdo is currently offline  bmacdo
Messages: 14
Registered: January 2015
Location: Florida
Junior Member
I actually did put some effort into finding a good thread on how to do this before posting. I'm sure its been covered here in spades. Using the Search function I can't seem to really nail a good thorough thread on swapping out the ungrounded with a grounded cable. Obviously it involves more than just tapping a ground screw into the chassis someplace. Can you direct me to an old thread that covers the topic in some detail. From what I'm reading it seems like a good plan so I want to try to do it. Thanks.
Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22440 is a reply to message #22436] Sun, 15 February 2015 16:15 Go to previous messageGo to next message
stevem is currently offline  stevem
Messages: 4728
Registered: June 2004
Location: NY
Senior Member
It's not a resistor, it's the grounding cap.
Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22441 is a reply to message #22439] Sun, 15 February 2015 17:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
Hi,
It's actually a very simple modification. First off, I use as grounded appliance cord from a Bissell upright carpet steam cleaner. It is longer than the Kustom cord you are replacing, which means you can make the cord the same length as the original. The Bissell cord has a molded plug which has the requisite cord "wings" that allow you to wrap up the new cord and store it exactly the same way as before. And, the new cord is the same outer diameter so it fits in the same strain relief as the original. This is the link to the Bissell cord: [url= http://www.vacpartswarehouse.com/Bissell-ProHeat-2X-Deep-Cle aner-Parts-s/592.htm.] For some reason this link does not go directly to the cord. Just click on reference #10 and it take you to the page to order the cord. The part number is 2036762. In my opinion, less than $20.00 is not too much for piece of mind. Once you open the amp up, you will see the black and white wires connected to the power switch. You will also see the "death cap" connected to one terminal and a screw. You can remove the "death cap" and connect the green ground wire to the screw that the cap was connected to. That's it. Just get an approximation of the length you want and then wrap the cord around the cord hangers and make sure the plug ends up somewhere in between the cord hangers. That way you won't be surprise and unable to properly store your cord. Besides, if you wrap it tighter or looser, you can get it to clip on the cord properly. In any case, you will never have to worry about tatooing the nice Shure crosshatch pattern in your lips ever again.
Conrad

[Updated on: Sun, 15 February 2015 17:47]

Report message to a moderator

Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22442 is a reply to message #22441] Mon, 16 February 2015 08:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bmacdo is currently offline  bmacdo
Messages: 14
Registered: January 2015
Location: Florida
Junior Member
OK, this does seem pretty straightforward. I think it must've been you Conrad that I saw talking about using the Bissel cord in an old thread. "Death cap," huh? Sounds like some kind of toxic mushroom. I've had the chassis out for a while doing other things so I'll get the reverb tank out of the way again and see if I can figure this out. I definitely like the length of the exisiting cord. Thanks for the advice.
Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22443 is a reply to message #22442] Mon, 16 February 2015 09:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C4ster
Messages: 686
Registered: June 2001
Location: Mukwonago, WI (Milwaukee...
Senior Member
This is the simplest mod that anyone can do to these amps and have the greatest benefit.
Conrad
Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22447 is a reply to message #22443] Mon, 16 February 2015 22:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bmacdo is currently offline  bmacdo
Messages: 14
Registered: January 2015
Location: Florida
Junior Member
Btw, any other new members looking for more detailed info on this can use the phrase "installing 3 wire cord" to search the forum. An especially helpful thread occured in 2013 when braud357 ran into a series of problems while attempting the modification using the Bissell cord. I found that discussion to be very informative.
Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #22448 is a reply to message #22447] Tue, 17 February 2015 05:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
braud357 is currently offline  braud357
Messages: 154
Registered: July 2010
Location: Louisiana
Senior Member
The K200 mods are simple. I had the problem with a K250 - I was also installing a different on-off switch. I finally got it going, with stevem and others help.
Re: To ground or not to ground? [message #24902 is a reply to message #22448] Wed, 13 April 2016 21:59 Go to previous message
efinger is currently offline  efinger
Messages: 18
Registered: April 2010
Location: North Carolina
Junior Member
ive been hesitant to open up these old amps for anything more than a cleaning and a whiff of the vintage kustom cigarette smell. I may try to convert my remaining amps over. Some of the cords are showing their age. AndId like to maintain these amps the best I can while i have them
Previous Topic: Replacing bulb in K-250
Next Topic: Help with T&R HEAD
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Fri Mar #d 03:52:56 EDT 2024
.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Powered by: FUDforum 3.0.9.