Cheater cords to not defeat the isolation between the set and power. They were used for making repairs by techs that usually knew what they were doing. In reality all it is defeting is the interlock that removes the power from the set when a user takes the back off
From: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 1:08 AM
To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Re: drill pcb
You know just enough to be dangerous.
None of your statements are correct.
Cheater cords are not dangerous because they defeat the isolation between the TV and power outlet - there is no isolation between the TV and power outlet. They are dangerous for other reasons (chiefly miswiring).
Autotransformers and variacs are not generally referred to as widowmakers any more than all tree limbs are referred to as widowmakers. The proposed use here is safe and in compliance with the relevant standards.
You are dealing with lethal voltages at the output, no matter if it is ground referenced or not.
ST
On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 6:30 AM, rolohar@... [Homebrew_PCBs] <Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
YOU ALWAYS NEED "SAFETY" WHEN WORKING WITH POWER LINE ELECTRICITY!
TV "cheater cords" once used in repairing TV sets were known as "Suicide Cords" because the defeated the
isolation between the TV set and the power outlet.
Autotransformers and Variacs are often referred to as "Widow Makers" because they also do not isolate the
user from being exposed to the full potential of the voltage source.......be it 120 or 220 or whatever.
Mark My Words!
Get a step-up or step-down transformer that has the primary winding completely isolated from the
secondary winding and works on the concept of INDUCTION rather that direct hard wired connection
to whatever power source you are using.
Regards,
RFH