RCA Victor Model 34X Mfg. 1941 Grounding

Hi, basically on the 3 pin plug the centre pin (the round one) that usually gets connected to ground (in your wall receptacle)  will not get connected anywhere in your radio since the radio’s cord only has 2 wires (I assume that you have one of those old Vacuum Tube  All American 5 or 6 Radios). However the mod can be applied to any other vacuum tube radio that only has a 2 wire cord (from factory). So again that pin only serves a so called @Key@  so the plug can only ever be plugged one way around.  Se the conversion procedure picture below. Please make absolutely sure that the pin @ the plug that has the hot wire (from the cord) connected to  also corresponds with the Hot wire at the wall receptacle cos otherwise the modification will be in vain.

PLEASE NOTE: that you have to make sure and test every single socket in your house where the radio can potentially be plugged in  and ensure that the hot wire location is consistent on every single socket (wall receptacle) in your house since there is a possibility that if the house electrical installation has been modified or extended in the past  there could be a discrepancy in how the wall receptacles are wired. the most common mistake is that the electrician reverses the neutral with Hot wire. The socket still works and usually the costumer/owner wont ever notice that unless someone at some point specifically tests all wall receptacles in the house for consistency of wiring.

I hope it helps and….good luck. Be careful please as you work with mains voltages. By doing it you will do so at your own risk. !

Doing this modification does not require using a 3 prong cord. A polarized 2 prong will do the same function (neutral terminal is larger than the hot). The point of the modification is for use in transformerless/series string sets where one side is connected to the chassis. Because the line can be connected either way, the risk of making the chassis hot can happen either way. Usually hot when on, or hot when off. To properly do the modification, the chassis must be directly connected to the neutral (larger prong on the polarized cord). The other important part is connecting the hot to a fuse (a good idea for any device) then to the switch. Doing those steps ensures the hot is switched and the chassis is always at ground potential. Assuming the outlet and circuitry is correctly wired as well. Transformer sets don’t pose this risk as the line pretty much goes in and out of the transformer and is not directly tied to the chassis. Models and designs vary so there may be special care with one compared to another. This is just a general overview of the best practice to make the device safer.