** Is anyone here unfortunate enough to have experience servicing Fender
Passports ?

In particular, the Passport PD250.

http://origin-static.musiciansfriend...o_480616_c.jpg

All of them are horrible (Chinese made) things, but this one has a trap for
first timers.

The SMPS will not start if you use a variac to ramp up the AC supply.

So, if you are told that a unit does not operate and do the usual bench test
with a variac first - the story seems confirmed.

Big mistake.



.... Phil