Re: Amp Supply LK800 Meter/ALO Board Question
Mark- The link to the LK800 manual didn't work here, error says page no longer exists. Can you check to make sure it's displayed correctly in your post- some of us would like to? obtain that manual. Thanks!
Tom K0SN
All-
?
I have an Amp Supply Company LK800A amplifier that puts out full power.? However, I noticed recently that it shows no grid current reading when transmitting on multiple bands.? This is odd behavior, as the grid current normally runs ca. 20-50 mA from my past experience.? I know the meter is fine, because when I turn the meter switch to measure plate voltage, I get the expected reading.? I looked at the meter/ALO board and found that R29 was somewhat charred and had a reading of 180 K ohms.? No other parts look visibly damaged.
?
The LK-800 series manual does not have a schematic for this board.? I was able to find one at .? While the manual is for the LK-400 / LK-500 series, it does have a description of the ALO/Meter board.? The resistor R29 is in the grid current metering circuit and is claimed to have a value of 18 ohms (p. 27 and 29).? I suspect this is the problem.? The other parts on my board seem to match what is listed on p. 29, and the parts list on p. 29 suggests the board works in the LK-800 series amps because it references the heavy resistor R30 as being unique to the LK-800 (and is present on my board).
?
My question - can someone verify that R29 should indeed be 18 ohms?? I would hate for there to be a misprint in the manual and find my grid current meter to be blown when I try this out, as I suspect they are very difficult to obtain.? Also, do you have any insights as to what would blow this resistor?? A current of 120 mA through that resistor would deliver 0.25 watts...? I have always kept the grid current low, but I did loan the amplifier out a few years ago and don't know if the other user experienced an issue.
?
Many thanks,
?
-Mark
|
Re: Amp Supply LK800 Meter/ALO Board Question
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
All-
?
I have an Amp Supply Company LK800A amplifier that puts out full power.? However, I noticed recently that it shows no grid current reading when transmitting on multiple bands.? This is odd behavior, as the grid current normally runs ca. 20-50 mA from my past experience.? I know the meter is fine, because when I turn the meter switch to measure plate voltage, I get the expected reading.? I looked at the meter/ALO board and found that R29 was somewhat charred and had a reading of 180 K ohms.? No other parts look visibly damaged.
?
The LK-800 series manual does not have a schematic for this board.? I was able to find one at .? While the manual is for the LK-400 / LK-500 series, it does have a description of the ALO/Meter board.? The resistor R29 is in the grid current metering circuit and is claimed to have a value of 18 ohms (p. 27 and 29).? I suspect this is the problem.? The other parts on my board seem to match what is listed on p. 29, and the parts list on p. 29 suggests the board works in the LK-800 series amps because it references the heavy resistor R30 as being unique to the LK-800 (and is present on my board).
?
My question - can someone verify that R29 should indeed be 18 ohms?? I would hate for there to be a misprint in the manual and find my grid current meter to be blown when I try this out, as I suspect they are very difficult to obtain.? Also, do you have any insights as to what would blow this resistor?? A current of 120 mA through that resistor would deliver 0.25 watts...? I have always kept the grid current low, but I did loan the amplifier out a few years ago and don't know if the other user experienced an issue.
?
Many thanks,
?
-Mark
|
No, other than the one you showed which I already had.?
|
Amp Supply LK800 Meter/ALO Board Question
All-
?
I have an Amp Supply Company LK800A amplifier that puts out full power.? However, I noticed recently that it shows no grid current reading when transmitting on multiple bands.? This is odd behavior, as the grid current normally runs ca. 20-50 mA from my past experience.? I know the meter is fine, because when I turn the meter switch to measure plate voltage, I get the expected reading.? I looked at the meter/ALO board and found that R29 was somewhat charred and had a reading of 180 K ohms.? No other parts look visibly damaged.
?
The LK-800 series manual does not have a schematic for this board.? I was able to find one at .? While the manual is for the LK-400 / LK-500 series, it does have a description of the ALO/Meter board.? The resistor R29 is in the grid current metering circuit and is claimed to have a value of 18 ohms (p. 27 and 29).? I suspect this is the problem.? The other parts on my board seem to match what is listed on p. 29, and the parts list on p. 29 suggests the board works in the LK-800 series amps because it references the heavy resistor R30 as being unique to the LK-800 (and is present on my board).
?
My question - can someone verify that R29 should indeed be 18 ohms?? I would hate for there to be a misprint in the manual and find my grid current meter to be blown when I try this out, as I suspect they are very difficult to obtain.? Also, do you have any insights as to what would blow this resistor?? A current of 120 mA through that resistor would deliver 0.25 watts...? I have always kept the grid current low, but I did loan the amplifier out a few years ago and don't know if the other user experienced an issue.
?
Many thanks,
?
-Mark
|
?
?
Red 7mm solid copper core spark plug ignition wire sold by the foot Made in USA
?
US $1.58/FT
?
This wire also comes in other colors.
?
I have not used this particular wire so I cannot rate it.? But “most” sparkplug wire is rated at (+,-) 40KV and some much higher.? One could call Ton’s Performance
and verify the voltage rating.
The wire would also have to stand up to rapid pulses.
?
I have a roll of similar wire I use in refurbishing SB-220 and other similar amps as well as my two Henry #K premier amps. The henry’s run ~4600 Vdc in the SSB
position.
?
Maybe this helps, maybe not.
?
Walter
KR4HV
?
|
Re: Smoker contamination removal
Its you Joe. They work for me
C
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Those links you posted are inop.? You might want to just insert those images into you post or attach them to your post.
Joe - W7RKN
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [ mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Technotronic Dimensions via
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Smoker contamination removal
I got the front cntrol panel all done, getting into the PS
area now...pretty bad.
In the PA compartment I see the bread slicers have some stuck in there,
should be fun
getting that out. Hopefully I can just let it soak in the stuff sprayed on,
then maybe some compressed air can blow them clean, but for now
this area is next.
|
Re: Smoker contamination removal
Those links you posted are inop. You might want to just insert those images into you post or attach them to your post.
Joe - W7RKN
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto: [email protected]] On Behalf Of Technotronic Dimensions via groups.io Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Smoker contamination removal I got the front cntrol panel all done, getting into the PS area now...pretty bad. In the PA compartment I see the bread slicers have some stuck in there, should be fun getting that out. Hopefully I can just let it soak in the stuff sprayed on, then maybe some compressed air can blow them clean, but for now this area is next.
|
|
|
Years ago I built a supply for a L4B amp. Someone on Ebay was selling the cables that Drake used. It has control wires plus the high voltage cable in one sheath. Mike
Using spark plug wire sounds clever but any spec I found for it shows "spiral wound" or "copper alloy" conductors rated in ohms per foot.? So even seeming "solid core" wires are intentionally providing some kind of resistance or impedance for that application.? What I was hoping for is a specific wire folks have seen used in existing designs, e.g. Belden XXXX implying it was qualified or at least used with some success for this application.? The Drake amp has a separate power supply - what does it use for HV?? What do contemporary amps use in their HV supply, even for short interconnects?
?
Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
|
Dear Mark,
?
Here is a picture of the HV cable I use in most all of my
amplifier build projects, mostly for the internal, point-to-point
Anode circuitry.
?
The Specs are:
?
SUPRENANT CABLE? CORPORATION
#20 AWG Tinned, Stranded
105 degree C.
40 KV Max
Style 3239
VW-1 or CSA
TV-40
XLPVC
BSI 197906
?
I get reels of this at a time, and Surplus Sales
of Nebraska is my go-to supplier.
?
The heavier broadcast class amplifiers all use
10 AWG Stranded, but that’s strictly for
cabinet-to-cabinet flexibles.
?
’73,
?
Hal Mandel
W4HBM
?
|
Using spark plug wire sounds clever but any spec I found for it shows "spiral wound" or "copper alloy" conductors rated in ohms per foot.? So even seeming "solid core" wires are intentionally providing some kind of resistance or impedance for that application.? What I was hoping for is a specific wire folks have seen used in existing designs, e.g. Belden XXXX implying it was qualified or at least used with some success for this application.? The Drake amp has a separate power supply - what does it use for HV?? What do contemporary amps use in their HV supply, even for short interconnects?
?
Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
|
Re: Smoker contamination removal
Yes. I had experimented with some liquid wrench
on an acid brush and it seemed to work great on the wire bundles.
But the "Fan-Monia" solution seems to do almost the same result.
I will post some more photos when its cleaned up.....
The fans are loaded with it too.
I once had niccotine ignite on me when I cleaned the bandswitch
on a Kenwood 530 rigg. It was a smoker radio and the contact
that got clean allowed the normal 300V B+ to the plate of the driver tube.
With the increased voltage, there was a foil trace from that feed that
was very close to the ground plane foil, and niccotine was embedded in
between, and it ignited when I powered on the rigg.
When I cleaned it out, it had left a pretty good groove in the fiberglass board
for the few seconds it burned. The stuff is very conductive. Smokers must be too.
--
Steve Hearns [ KA2PTE ]
Technotronic Dimensions, VT [USA]
WWW.TECHNOTRONIC-DIMENSIONS.COM
E-Mail: Steve@...
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
----- Original Message ----- From: "mike repinski via groups.io" <mikflathead@...> To: < [email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2024 6:36 PM Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Smoker contamination removal Getting the caps clean will be easy compared to cleaning the wiring. On Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 06:27:27 PM EST, Technotronic Dimensions <steve@...> wrote: I got the front cntrol panel all done, getting into the PS area now...pretty bad. In the PA compartment I see the bread slicers have some stuck in there, should be fun getting that out. Hopefully I can just let it soak in the stuff sprayed on, then maybe some compressed air can blow them clean, but for now this area is next. -- Steve Hearns [ KA2PTE ] Technotronic Dimensions, VT [USA] WWW.TECHNOTRONIC-DIMENSIONS.COM E-Mail: Steve@...
|
Re: Smoker contamination removal
Getting the caps clean will be easy compared to cleaning the wiring.
I got the front cntrol panel all done, getting into the PS area now...pretty bad. In the PA compartment I see the bread slicers have some stuck in there, should be fun getting that out. Hopefully I can just let it soak in the stuff sprayed on, then maybe some compressed air can blow them clean, but for now this area is next. -- Steve Hearns [ KA2PTE ] Technotronic Dimensions, VT [USA] WWW.TECHNOTRONIC-DIMENSIONS.COM E-Mail: Steve@...
|
Re: Smoker contamination removal
I got the front cntrol panel all done, getting into the PS
area now...pretty bad.
In the PA compartment I see the bread slicers have some stuck in there, should be fun
getting that out. Hopefully I can just let it soak in the stuff sprayed on,
then maybe some compressed air can blow them clean, but for now
this area is next.
--
Steve Hearns [ KA2PTE ]
Technotronic Dimensions, VT [USA]
WWW.TECHNOTRONIC-DIMENSIONS.COM
E-Mail: Steve@...
|
I believe Tim is the president not the owner of DX Engineering.
Belden does make an 8 mm silicone solid wire spark plug wire.? You can buy the wire in bulk.? It's probaly the same stuff that Summit is selling.? For those that don't know, Summit and DX eng. are both owned by Tim Duffy
Kim Herron W8ZV kim.herron@... 1-616-677-3706
On Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 11:46:23 AM EST, Bob via groups.io <w4jfabob@...> wrote:
Solid spark plug wires are not resistive wires. You have a good point about being stiff. I now remember buying some bulk plug wires that were stranded, not resistive wire. I now remember making a set for a boat engine. Check this link...
Some are resistive and some are not. The more I think about it, the more I feel that they can work.
Bob W4JFA
Spark plug wire is ok so long as it is not of the ‘resistive’ type, (I’m dating myself with that!). For all my projects above 1KV, I use boiler igniter wire. This stuff is good to 20KV and has a silicon insulation. I’ve use other that was sort-of ‘double insulated’, (main insulation with an outer jacket). But that was extremely stiff and I often though if too tight a bend were made, the insulation would break! I’d hit the local auto parts jobber to see what they have available or maybe an electrical store. Also on an afterthought, some test-lead cable is also rated to 6KV. A few options for you. ? Mod-U-Lator, Mike(y)/W3SLK ? ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob via
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2024 8:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] HV Wire ? Mark, I have never looked into this but what about solid spark plug wires? I know you can buy that in bulk and the quality? is all over the board. Usually?the quality of the wire itself is fine but the insulation is the variable. ?
|
Belden does make an 8 mm silicone solid wire spark plug wire.? You can buy the wire in bulk.? It's probaly the same stuff that Summit is selling.? For those that don't know, Summit and DX eng. are both owned by Tim Duffy
Kim Herron W8ZV kim.herron@... 1-616-677-3706
On Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 11:46:23 AM EST, Bob via groups.io <w4jfabob@...> wrote:
Solid spark plug wires are not resistive wires. You have a good point about being stiff. I now remember buying some bulk plug wires that were stranded, not resistive wire. I now remember making a set for a boat engine. Check this link...
Some are resistive and some are not. The more I think about it, the more I feel that they can work.
Bob W4JFA
Spark plug wire is ok so long as it is not of the ‘resistive’ type, (I’m dating myself with that!). For all my projects above 1KV, I use boiler igniter wire. This stuff is good to 20KV and has a silicon insulation. I’ve use other that was sort-of ‘double insulated’, (main insulation with an outer jacket). But that was extremely stiff and I often though if too tight a bend were made, the insulation would break! I’d hit the local auto parts jobber to see what they have available or maybe an electrical store. Also on an afterthought, some test-lead cable is also rated to 6KV. A few options for you. ? Mod-U-Lator, Mike(y)/W3SLK ? ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob via
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2024 8:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] HV Wire ? Mark, I have never looked into this but what about solid spark plug wires? I know you can buy that in bulk and the quality? is all over the board. Usually?the quality of the wire itself is fine but the insulation is the variable. ?
|
I have substituted neon light hv wire ( inside a conduit? ) for a 12KV@ 3Amps? feed on a Continental FM transmitter.? It's lasted 12 years so far.
W4DNR
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2024-11-23 7:37 am, Mike Sawyer via groups.io wrote:
Spark plug wire is ok so long as it is not of the 'resistive' type, (I'm dating myself with that!). For all my projects above 1KV, I use boiler igniter wire. This stuff is good to 20KV and has a silicon insulation. I've use other that was sort-of 'double insulated', (main insulation with an outer jacket). But that was extremely stiff and I often though if too tight a bend were made, the insulation would break! I'd hit the local auto parts jobber to see what they have available or maybe an electrical store. Also on an afterthought, some test-lead cable is also rated to 6KV. A few options for you.
?
Mod-U-Lator,
Mike(y)/W3SLK
?
?
?
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2024 8:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] HV Wire
?
Mark, I have never looked into this but what about solid spark plug wires? I know you can buy that in bulk and the quality?
is all over the board. Usually?the quality of the wire itself is fine but the insulation is the variable.
?
|
Solid spark plug wires are not resistive wires. You have a good point about being stiff. I now remember buying some bulk plug wires that were stranded, not resistive wire. I now remember making a set for a boat engine. Check this link...
Some are resistive and some are not. The more I think about it, the more I feel that they can work.
Bob W4JFA
Spark plug wire is ok so long as it is not of the ‘resistive’ type, (I’m dating myself with that!). For all my projects above 1KV, I use boiler igniter wire. This stuff is good to 20KV and has a silicon insulation. I’ve use other that was sort-of ‘double insulated’, (main insulation with an outer jacket). But that was extremely stiff and I often though if too tight a bend were made, the insulation would break! I’d hit the local auto parts jobber to see what they have available or maybe an electrical store. Also on an afterthought, some test-lead cable is also rated to 6KV. A few options for you. ? Mod-U-Lator, Mike(y)/W3SLK ? ? ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob via
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2024 8:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] HV Wire ? Mark, I have never looked into this but what about solid spark plug wires? I know you can buy that in bulk and the quality? is all over the board. Usually?the quality of the wire itself is fine but the insulation is the variable. ?
|
?
? Hello Mark
?
??Have a look?at Peter's web site .
? He stocks the HRG58-20-2 cable made by the German company Hivolt.de, which is rated to 20kV.
? He will also advise on suitable connectors to go with it and can also provide ready made cable assemblies.
?
??
?
? I always like to have plenty of headroom when dealing with 5kV or over.
?
? 73s Tracey G5VU
?
?
?
?
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: Mark Brueggemann K5LXP via groups.io < qrq_cw@...>
Sent: 23/11/2024 13:19:57
Subject: [ham-amplifiers] HV Wire
Since we seem to have some options for proper HV connectors, what about wire?? My amp has a separate power supply and the interconnect cable it came with is not the original, and I highly suspect it's not up to safely delivering ~3kV.? I anticipated coming up with a bundle (11 conductors as I recall) plus HV and grounded shield that used some kind of silicone wire for B+ and teflon for the rest but haven't done any research on this yet.? What would be the prevailing wisdom for ~6ft of B+ cable?? Separately shielded within the bundle?? Extra isolation between wires with sheathing?? I have NO IDEA what best practice is for this configuration and no real world example to follow.
?
Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
|
Spark plug wire is ok so long as it is not of the ‘resistive’ type, (I’m dating myself with that!). For all my projects above 1KV, I use boiler igniter wire. This stuff is good to 20KV and has a silicon insulation. I’ve use other that was sort-of ‘double insulated’, (main insulation with an outer jacket). But that was extremely stiff and I often though if too tight a bend were made, the insulation would break! I’d hit the local auto parts jobber to see what they have available or maybe an electrical store. Also on an afterthought, some test-lead cable is also rated to 6KV. A few options for you. ? Mod-U-Lator, Mike(y)/W3SLK ? ? ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2024 8:26 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] HV Wire ? Mark, I have never looked into this but what about solid spark plug wires? I know you can buy that in bulk and the quality? is all over the board. Usually?the quality of the wire itself is fine but the insulation is the variable. ?
|
Bob
HaL Mandel
Technotronic Dimensions