Proper Power Cord routing for Scott SLRM radio

[Ken Carr]

I recently purchased a Scott SLRM marine radio. I have some questions about running this safely.

The radio was sold to me as a good working unit so I decided to power it up, but cautiously. I hooked it up to a variable transformer which was in turn attached to a series dim bulb unit and then to the AC. I used my shop circuit which is GFCI protected. Upon turning the radio on it immediately tripped the GFCI. This happened even without the dim bulb or the transformer. I then powered up through an isolation transformer and all was well. The radio works perfectly. I have noted that many people recommend running this radio through an isolation transformer.

Might my GFCI be tripping because the power outlet is not wired correctly? (outlet wired by previous owner, not military)  Looking at the radio it appears that my AC plug neutral is attached to fuse J-101 and the hot is connected to fuse J-102. The ground from the outlet goes to chasis ground on the radio. If I am interpreting the circuit drawing correctly (possibly not) the wires to the fuses are reversed. I have not tried to plug this directly into a non-GFCI outlet. Should it work as wired in such an outlet? (note: I will probalbly continue using an isolation transformer with this radio no matter what.) Diagrams attached. I did look at another thread on this board ( Restoring My Scott SLRM - EH Scott Radio Enthusiasts (ning.com) ) and I suspect that if I attach the radio as-is to a non-GFCI socket it will work, but not be safe. If I reverse the neutral and hot (see below) it should be safe. I am thinking of reversing the neutral and hot lines from what I have them now (diagram) so that the hot goes directly to the rectifier. Am I on the right track here?

My drawing of how the AC plug is attached now. Plug view is from outside the radio. I suspect that the neutral and hot wires should be switched so that hot goes to the rectifier by way of J-101 and neutral goes to J-102.

Photo below show the present situation. This trips the GFCI unless I use an isolaton transformer.