Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
It's been over 40 years ago I believe, but I think the final solution was to wrap a solid wire several turns around the contact where the wire was soldered.? There were sharp points that made it subject to corona discharge.? Mine was fixed a couple of times under warranty and I lived just 30-40 miles from the company so didn't have to ship it.
73, Floyd - K8AC
|
Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
I was told, years ago, after experiencing the same malady in a Yeasu 2100 by a more experienced ham (sic) to never change bands with the amplifier on.? Seemed sorta silly? to me.? I heard later on in my journeys¡¯ down ham¡¯s road, that was only true when changing the band switch to 160. ? I¡¯ve never had a band switch problem, but let me tell you about the T/R relays in an AL-82¡¡.I actually have 4 in my cupboard, just in case.? I have been through 5 already on a 3 year old amplifier.? L? I can even do it now without getting shocked!? J ? Joe ¨C W7RKN From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Floyd - K8AC
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B) ? I had one of the first AL-80s quite a while ago.? It was very good at vaporizing one of the bandswitch contacts when operating on 160.??
|
Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
On 12/11/2023 1:47 PM, Floyd - K8AC wrote: I had one of the first AL-80s quite a while ago.? It was very good at vaporizing one of the bandswitch contacts when operating on 160. So, did they fix the problem, and if so, how?? Heftier contacts or bandswitch? 73, Steve K0XP
|
Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
I had one of the first AL-80s quite a while ago.? It was very good at vaporizing one of the bandswitch contacts when operating on 160.??
|
Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
Jim, I have one of these amps. With low drive from the exciter, the "load" will often end up all the way left/meshed. That's why I asked the op that. Bob W4JFA?
On Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 11:50 AM Jim VE7RF < jim.thom@...> wrote: It appears the padder(s) are not being switched in on 40-80-160m.? BUT u have the issue on all bands.? It's as though the load cap isn't even in the circuit, or lousy tank coil coil connections.
|
Re: Ten-Tec Centurion Parts Needed
I emailed you directly yesterday regarding the parts I am looking for. ?Did you get it? ?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Louis Parascondola via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2023 12:10 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Ten-Tec Centurion Parts Needed? TenTec buit?their own variable capacitors. ?So their plates are unlike any others. ?I have some plates and if you want you?ship me the cap I¡¯ll rebuild it for you. ?I should have a few plates left. ?Although it¡¯s a handsome looking amp it¡¯s certainly not the best performer in its class. ?It lacks inductance on 160 and the tank isn¡¯t so hood on 15 and 10. ?
|
Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
It appears the padder(s) are not being switched in on 40-80-160m.? BUT u have the issue on all bands.? It's as though the load cap isn't even in the circuit, or lousy tank coil coil connections.
|
12 KW CCS ON 160-15M...USING THE 3CX-6000A7... PART 7
Here is part 7. The 160-15m manually tuned, tuned input is now complete. And yes, the input swr is dead flat across each band .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev-648v_G0I
|
12 KW CCS ON 160-15M...USING THE 3CX-6000A7... PART 6
Here is part 6, where the manually tuned, tuned input is almost complete.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V8om_cRk-o
|
12 KW CCS ON 160-15M...USING THE 3CX-6000A7... PART 5
Here is part 5, with the manually tuned, tuned input + input RJ1A vac relay, input coax etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk-nmCjWa7I
|
Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
This reflector allows photos; it might help if you showed a photo
of the wafer you need, as well as the spacing between mounting
holes and the total number of positions.
But I wonder if MFJ doesn't sell that switch by itself?? They
seem to be attempting to cater to we DIYers with some small amount
of parts availability.
73,
Steve K0XP
On 12/11/2023 4:04 AM, Nick Jones
KC0YKO wrote:
Does the group have a source for the progressive shorting band
switch wafer on the AL-80?
--
73 Nick KC0YKO
--
See my QRZ.com page at
|
12 KW CCS ON 160-15M...USING THE 3CX-6000A7... PART 4
Here is part 4, where the fil choke is installed, rated to handle the 78 amps CCS of fil current....and work down to 160m.?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWR39bxa_64
|
Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
Does the group have a source for the progressive shorting band switch wafer on the AL-80?
--
73 Nick KC0YKO
|
Adrian,
Tom "Rauchen Verboten" W8JI cut way back on his drinking, and now most of the stuff on his website passes muster.? We need to find somebody?new to kick around, hihi.
73 Jim N6OTQ
On Mon, Dec 11, 2023 at 2:09?AM Adrian Fewster < vk4tux@...> wrote:
Too funny trusting a W8JI evaluation, this fool never had the
smarts, and emitted BS no-end
On 11/12/23 14:05, Jim VE7RF wrote:
There are 2 x chinese factories. One has a 12% failure rate.?
The other has a 70% failure rate.? ?The good 3-500Z's all have
the white base...and not the brown base.?
?
The 3-500Z's that Tom at CTR sells have gone through some
exhaustive tests...to weed out the duds.? The tubes should have
C measured from? anode to grid...and also grid to cathode, and
anode to cathode.? ?Then hi-pot tested from anode to grid..and
also grid to cathode.? ?Then the emission testing..to measure
grid current vs anode current etc. .? Other tests include
measuring cathode current (typ 14.5 amps).
?
The issue with chinese tubes is.... they typ hi pot test
between grid to cathode...like 700-1000 vdc.? ?A good eimac?
will hi pot test 5 kv? from grid to cathode.? ?A good tube
should? hi-pot test 12-16 kv? between anode to grid.?
Typ chinese tubes have higher C between grid and cathode.... due
to narrower spacing...hence the lower hi pot test results.? In
typ operation, there is not a lot of peak V on the cathode.?
?100 watts pep into 50 ohms is only 70.7 vrms / 100 V peak.
?
The good chinese tubes will last a long time.? ?CTR tests em
correctly.? The other tube dealers just sell em.... and it's? up
to the end user to evaluate em.? ?That's fine too..as long as
when there is an issue, the end user can return em / exchange
em.
|
Re: Ameritron AL-80 (Not A or B)
I'm curious, how much drive are you driving it with? Constant carrier drive? How much power out? Ig and Ip?? Bob W4JFA?
On Sun, Dec 10, 2023, 9:41 AM Nick Jones KC0YKO < kc0yko@...> wrote: All,
Question for the group. I am working on an Ameritron AL-80 (not A or B). When tuning it up I run out of load. I max the load cap out at zero on all bands. (fully meshed/max capacitance). It behaves the same on a two different dummy loads so I believe it to be an issue with the amp. Before I add another doorknob across the load cap, I figured I would ask the group for other ideas.
--
73 Nick KC0YKO
|
There are 2 x chinese factories. One has a 12% failure rate.? The other has a 70% failure rate.? ?The good 3-500Z's all have the white base...and not the brown base.?
?
The 3-500Z's that Tom at CTR sells have gone through some exhaustive tests...to weed out the duds.? The tubes should have C measured from? anode to grid...and also grid to cathode, and anode to cathode.? ?Then hi-pot tested from anode to grid..and also grid to cathode.? ?Then the emission testing..to measure grid current vs anode current etc. .? Other tests include measuring cathode current (typ 14.5 amps).
?
The issue with chinese tubes is.... they typ hi pot test between grid to cathode...like 700-1000 vdc.? ?A good eimac? will hi pot test 5 kv? from grid to cathode.? ?A good tube should? hi-pot test 12-16 kv? between anode to grid.?
Typ chinese tubes have higher C between grid and cathode.... due to narrower spacing...hence the lower hi pot test results.? In typ operation, there is not a lot of peak V on the cathode.? ?100 watts pep into 50 ohms is only 70.7 vrms / 100 V peak.
?
The good chinese tubes will last a long time.? ?CTR tests em correctly.? The other tube dealers just sell em.... and it's? up to the end user to evaluate em.? ?That's fine too..as long as when there is an issue, the end user can return em / exchange em.
|
Re: Ten-Tec Centurion Parts Needed
I may have what you are looking for.? This was built by Heyboer over 20 years ago, and I've never needed to use it.? Still in it's original shipping box.
contact me direct for more info
ron
KA3JIJ
|
I have had good service from RF parts.? Ups broke the tube in shipping and it was replaced no issue
Brian
FWIW, contact Tom, W8JI at CTR Engineering.? From what I understand
he has tubes F/S that are tested by him to make sure they are
working.
73? Andy? K9ATX
On 12/10/2023 12:03 PM, Dave wrote:
Hello Group, I could use your help!
Looking to pick up a 3-500ZG replacement for my AL-80B.? My
choices are:
RF Parts Company: 3-500ZG (6-month warranty). 250$ (China)
DX Engineering: Penta Labs RF Vacuum Tube 3-500ZG (no warranty
listed). 300$ (assume China?)
DX Engineering:?Ameritron 3-500Z Replacement Power Tube (All
products manufactured by Ameritron have a one-year limited
warranty) 360$ (assume China?).
Both vendors have always been reliable for me so my question:
Is the Ameritron tube worth the additional $$ or is it branding?
Is the Penta Tube?worth the additional $$
What would be the best replacement?
(sorry for writing a novel)
Thanks in advance!
73
K5AKM - Dave
--
"Where the Old Soo crossed the New Soo"
Duplainville, Wisconsin
Web page:
Youtube Channel:
|
I'll agree with VK4TUZ on good experience with RF parts.? I needed 2 3-500Z tubes for a Heathkit HL-2200 basket case that I restored.? After looking far and wide, I found all sorts of price variations and warnings.
My take away form the research was this.? All these tubes at the time came from a couple Chinese factories.? Way to tell which factory was whether the base of the tube was brown or white.? Neither factory made quality tubes, but the brown base tubes seemed to have a lower failure rate.? RF Parts, Matchlett and Penta Labs were all using and rebranding the brown base tubes.
But the big issue was and still is: if you buy direct at low prices you get no assessment of the tube quality.? If you buy from the US based outlet of Matchlett, Penta Labs and RF Parts you get a pre tested tube that is guaranteed to be operational and carries a warranty.? Buying direct you get a "pig in a poke" that might be good or might be junk because it has never been tested.
Learned this the hard way trying to cheap out on a set of 811A's.? Bought direct and had a 50% out of the box failure.? Spent months trying to get replacements and eventually gave up.
After that, RF Parts became my go to source for power tubes.
ron
KA3JIJ
|
FWIW, contact Tom, W8JI at CTR Engineering.? From what I understand
he has tubes F/S that are tested by him to make sure they are
working.
73? Andy? K9ATX
On 12/10/2023 12:03 PM, Dave wrote:
Hello Group, I could use your help!
Looking to pick up a 3-500ZG replacement for my AL-80B.? My
choices are:
RF Parts Company: 3-500ZG (6-month warranty). 250$ (China)
DX Engineering: Penta Labs RF Vacuum Tube 3-500ZG (no warranty
listed). 300$ (assume China?)
DX Engineering:?Ameritron 3-500Z Replacement Power Tube (All
products manufactured by Ameritron have a one-year limited
warranty) 360$ (assume China?).
Both vendors have always been reliable for me so my question:
Is the Ameritron tube worth the additional $$ or is it branding?
Is the Penta Tube?worth the additional $$
What would be the best replacement?
(sorry for writing a novel)
Thanks in advance!
73
K5AKM - Dave
--
"Where the Old Soo crossed the New Soo"
Duplainville, Wisconsin
Web page:
Youtube Channel:
|
Floyd - K8AC
Bob
Nick Jones KC0YKO
