Dynaco ST70 Tube Amp Kit: Cord Wiring and Initial Testing!

In this segment I show how to use a 3 wire cord with a gland nut type strain relief, earth/safety ground the chassis, and wire the fuse/power switch in the modern style.
One of my viewers asked me if I would build him a new ST70 from one of the tubes4hifi kits and we worked out a deal :) I plan to show you how to assemble one of these, and some changes to "Skunkiefy" it, i.e. how I would build one for my own use.
Here is the 3 wire cord with molded plug I used:
amzn.to/4h5gp1r
Here is the gland nut/strain relief I used:
amzn.to/4gaRt7B
This is the thread on AudioKarma where chassis grounding was discussed:
audiokarma.org...
Just to clarify, this series in not sponsored by tubes4hifi nor do I have any affiliation with them. I simply ordered their kit and some other stuff to build one of these.
And this is a link to use for an amazon bookmark to support this channel:
www.amazon.com...
You can send me links and messaged at:
www.skunkiedes...
I have a new personal email: [e-mail]
Here is my Patreon, as well as the donation page at my site, if you feel so inclined to help fund some of the future projects for the channel!
www.patreon.co...
www.skunkiedes...
Here is where you can buy T-shirts and other Merch with my fun logo.
skunkie-design...

[@MrMersh-ts7jl]

Just a heads up it's a good practice to make sure that that ground wire is longer than the hot and neutral wires. This is in case if the cord somehow gets yanked or the hot neutral come lose due to some type of physical action. The ground will stay connected much longer than the other two wires. I believe it's code if you are in a production facility. I don't know if it's possible on this chassis but as a personal preference I always like to have the ground soldered to the chassis if possible. Love the series and the work looks phenomenal

[@mfr58]

I find it extraordinary that a company will sell a product deliberately replicating dangerous mains wiring practice in order to maintain historic "authenticity". At least they didn't include a death capacitor.There are safe ways to deal with ground loops. Glad you picked that one up.

[@nbramaputra]

Yes manny homes has no erth in the wall outlet, you have to tink a bit around it,when using tube amps. Just dont bring good erthing to it,like tuching the water system when playing electric guitar,etc and always as low fuse as posible.

[@peterlundskow4061]

When it comes to speaking to safety in electronics I always listen to what you have to say!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Glad you appreciate my safety focus!

[@cobar5342]

It is good to see some "stephe" input in the build

[@bigdh31]

Thanks for the hard work you do to make all these videos. I have been starting my day with these videos. I always learn something from them.

[@bobcooke4402]

The grounding an 3 wire updates are important updates “shocked” they haven’t updated!

[@michaeladle84]

Nice mod! Nice channel and I'm learning a lot,,,and you have inspired me to attempt t build one of these. Fun fact! Old hand held power carpentry power tools,,,,drils, circular saws etc, use to be wired with 2 prongs. Plus they had metal casings! My dad had one short on him and start to electrocute him and his hand tightened up and he could not let go! He had to slam his hand down on the ground to free him from the drill that was electrocuting him! This was quite common apprently! Gives a whole new meaning to "death grip",,,,,and I'm not sure the phrase "they don't make em like they use to" is necessarily good in that situation!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

That’s a scary story. Glad he’s okay!

[@michaeladle84]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics He's alive and kicking at 88,,,,the voltage might have made him immortal!!! Not going to try it myself though!

[@ElektrikaCo]

I’m glad your dad was ok. Thankfully we have GFCIs and requirements for class 1 or 2 insulation today. Even 120V is no joke…

[@BobBasshead]

Back in the 60's the same thing happened to my dad, he was on the roof drilling a hole on the antenna mast!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Right, I personally just wouldn't use a Class 0 rated product today. 70 years ago, these standards didn't exist and homes didn't have grounded or even polarized outlets. There is a reason these were developed: people were electrocuted by them.

[@Expedition18]

What an awesome vid series. 👍

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Glad you like them!

[@JohnSpringer-x6n]

Greetings from Australia, love the content and enjoy every moment

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@beercanshooter7680]

another good vid, had coffee with a cherry danish today!

[@middleearthltd]

Like comment subscribed Thank You for the continuing great content

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@huskypup3489]

I suspect back in the 50s and 60s virtually all of these amps were installed in wood console systems that provided another layer of insulation between the hot terminal and user. Nowadays with people putting these on display at the chassis level an ungrounded chassis is very dangerous.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

I personally would never use a class zero ungrounded tube amp.

[@garagepunkfan]

The vast majority of ST-70's were not used in consoles, but as a component power amp, in conjunction with a Dynaco PAS preamp

[@huskypup3489]

@ Either way, these kits should not be sold with two wire cords.