Kelmar Exciter Supply Voltage Too High

[Don Furr]

I have a Kelmar 7402B exciter supply I'm trying to sell but after checking the "normal" output voltage it's showing 15.81 VDC. That's measured at the two screw lugs on the rear of the supply;
I know the voltage goes down the longer the line is to the exciter bulb but is that too high coming out the back of the supply? The fine tuning adjustment is already turned all the way counter clockwise. The A/C line is already attached to terminal #6 which is listed as the lowest voltage terminal on the transformer. I used this supply in a Simplex XL setup but don't recall any issues at that time.
What am I missing?

[Steve Guttag]

Is it under load or are you just measuring it unloaded? They are two VERY different things.

[Don Furr]

Unloaded Steve, directly off the output of the Kelmar.

[Steve Guttag]

You need to have an exciter lamp hooked up to judge its output (or equivalent load). Since it drove a 4A/9V lamp. A 36W 2.25-Ohm resistor or a component in that vicinity will suffice if you don't have a lamp laying around.

[John Eickhof]

15-18v is normal if there is no load...your power supply is fine.

[Don Furr]

15-18v is normal if there is no load...your power supply is fine.

Thanks John!