wb5kcm wrote:

Thanks for the info Harold. I think that is the way I want to go is
with the ICL Thermistor or Varistor. The only thing I need is to find
out which one to use. Looking at them in the catalog, it seems the
deciding factor will be the maximum sustained current from the Ranger.
If I need a 4 amp Thermistor then it may only provide about 10 ohms

A better way is to take a relay and connect its coil, through a selected
resistor, to one of the low voltage supplies. The relay's NO contacts
should be put in series with the power line, and should have a 5 or 10 ohm
power resistor across them.

When the power is switched on, the 5 or 10 ohm resistor will be in series
with the power line, and the power supply will start to charge the filter
capacitors. When the filter capacitor's DC gets to a high enough value,
the relay will close, and apply full mains power to the primary.

This circuit has two inherent flaws: 1) if the filters get leaky, they
might never charge up enough to close the relay, and the power resistor
will overheat, and 2) the relay will draw current from your power supply.

-Chuck