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So far, so good.? What was the price, including the power supply ??
Tom left Ameritron in 2019.? Dunno who actually designed it.?
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I have only had my 1406 for a month now. It is performing well. Some one told me that they had a 1406 and that it would do 1500 watts easily. I just tried mine for the first time at that power level. I had a 20 minute qso. They told me that my audio sounded find and the amplifier did not kick out at that power level. Apparently Tom made a very good design, ...again. I accidently got it up to 1600 watts and it did not kick out. I will not do that again.?
?
The size of this amplifier with it separate powers supply is huge compared to the other 1500 watt SS amps being sold. I think it is double or triple the size of a Mercury or Acorn SS amp. I did not want to buy either of these other amps because they had computer screens to show the power, VSWR, etc. I did not want something else that could go wrong. The 1406 is just knobs and meters. I prefer that.
?
If someone else here has a 1406, I would love to hear their own comments on its performance for them. My serial number on the 1406 is 00015. :-) Apparently there were few made before they closed.?
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I too, have had an ongoing issue with the band switch in my FL-2100B. After repeated band switch repairs (replacing contacts you did) I ultimately found my problems were being caused by a keying delay with the buffer relay I was using between the radio and
amp. After the 3rd?failure, I got the O-scope out and measured the keying delay and much to my surprise it was I ended up solving my problems by using a solid-state buffer called a Keyall ().
It has an opto-isolated input and with the pair of MOSFETs can switch positive and negative voltages. There are similar devices that require no assembly on the internet. However, I liked the cost of this device over the other options I was able to find and
I just made my own enclosure. Because I had so many failures, I ran out of donor contacts for the band switch. I elected to step up and purchase the Multi-tech band switch found here:????
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Jackson Harbor Press presents the Keyall HV, a keying interface for all tube/solid state ham transmitters.
wb9kzy.com
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Better Than The Original Yaesu Switch! Switch Specs.
www.ebay.com
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The switch is slightly larger than the original and it took a little work to get it installed but it wasn't a big deal.?
The one thing I always do when I tune up is to make sure that I drive the amp with a full 100 watts out of the exciter during the tune up procedure. Once all tuned for max output, I advance the loading control clockwise just slightly, to over-couple (un-mesh
the load capacitor) in order to reduce the chance of arc-over. One of the other issues I've seen is where folks think they are going easy on the amp by tuning the amp at reduced drive levels. The problem is that most radios have ALC-overshoot issues which
causes a momentary spike during key up. This spike is really hard on components and can create arcing in the tank circuit. Always a good idea to tune for max power out. If your radio produces significantly more that 100 watts out, then use an attenuator.?
Good luck!
73,
Jim - AA7CL??
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Show quoted text
Thanks everyone for the response.
?
I ended up drilling out the rivets and replacing the fingers with a similar wafer switch with basically identical fingers kindly provided by a local ham, I used small nuts and bolts rather than rivets to secure the replacement fingers.
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I wonder what causes the band switch damage, I suppose it could be dirty contacts overtime or possibly not enough delay hot switching, or perhaps pushing it too hard / high swr
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I'm curious about the grey lines on the anode in the pic below, they kind of look like pencil marks.
?
?
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Jordan. I commend you on your repairs.
In my view and experience, 160m in the FL-2100Z was an
afterthought and I have never seen one operate really well in the
VK segment of the band. They are renowned poor performers and it's
why I have always been more happy to live with the 2100B over the
2100Z.?
If your switch repair has been successful, I think you would do
well to leave 160m alone when it comes to using anything more than
a few hundred Watts. Be content with having the other bands
working properly.
As for the marks on the anode. They probably got scratched when
they were in the box with all the other anodes in the tube
factory. I wouldn't think that it is anything to worry about.
Others may have more experience in this area.
73 Alek VK6APK.
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Thanks everyone for the response.
?
I ended up drilling out the rivets and replacing the fingers
with a similar wafer switch with basically identical fingers
kindly provided by a local ham, I used small nuts and bolts
rather than rivets to secure the replacement fingers.
?
I wonder what causes the band switch damage, I suppose it
could be dirty contacts overtime or possibly not enough delay
hot switching, or perhaps pushing it too hard / high swr
?
I'm curious about the grey lines on the anode in the pic
below, they kind of look like pencil marks.
?
?
?
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Thanks everyone for the response.
?
I ended up drilling out the rivets and replacing the fingers with a similar wafer switch with basically identical fingers kindly provided by a local ham, I used small nuts and bolts rather than rivets to secure the replacement fingers.
?
I wonder what causes the band switch damage, I suppose it could be dirty contacts overtime or possibly not enough delay hot switching, or perhaps pushing it too hard / high swr
?
I'm curious about the grey lines on the anode in the pic below, they kind of look like pencil marks.
?
?
?
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Thanks Joe. Price becomes a big issue when you try and get it to
Australia. There are 2100B and TL922 switches on Ebay but none for
the 2100Z.
I have a brand new 2100Z switch? here and I'm in Australia, like
Jordan. I have just emailed him to say that I'll part with it.
Cheers, Alek VK6APK.
On 10/08/2024 12:45 pm, Joe - W7RKN
wrote:
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Show quoted text
It
has been a couple of years since I checked, but, Yaesu had a bunch of band switches
for the 2100 amplifiers..pricey..Then
125 bucks.?
Dunno
if they covered 160 or WARC though.? Have you called them?
?
Joe
¨C W7RKN
?
From:
[email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of vk3acu via groups.io
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Fl-2100Z problems
?
Sir thanks for the reply Alek turns out
it's the band switch.
I'm going to have to rebuild it I can't
find a new one sadly
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It has been a couple of years since I checked, but, Yaesu had a bunch of band switches for the 2100 amplifiers..pricey..Then 125 bucks.? Dunno if they covered 160 or WARC though.? Have you called them? ? Joe ¨C W7RKN ? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of vk3acu via groups.io
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Fl-2100Z problems ? Sir thanks for the reply Alek turns out it's the band switch. I'm going to have to rebuild it I can't find a new one sadly
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Sir thanks for the reply Alek turns out it's the band switch.
I'm going to have to rebuild it I can't find a new one sadly
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73
Jordan
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Yes, it's a possibility that those capacitors are bad but more
likely is that the 80m and/or 160m contacts on the band switch
have been burnt away. It is quite common on the 2100Z.
Shine a light down into the band switch and check every contact
carefully. From memory, it is not easy to pick the burnt contacts
at first glance.
I can add that it is not a fun job to change the switch. I have
done a couple over the years and I'm not keen to do it again.
73 and good luck, Alek VK6APK
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Show quoted text
Hi All, I have picked up Yaesu FL-2100z recently and have
some issues with some bands.
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It seems to work quite well on 40M and 20M.
?
On 80m However the plate current is too high (in to a dummy
load) and the loading has to be flat out (for 80m). It's making
around 200w on 80m with a .5plate current (CW)
And nothing on 160m
?
Grid
resistors are ok, but the band capacitors look like they might
have got a bit warm darker red in the middle
...
?
Looking at the schematic 80 and 160 switches in extra c...
?
I will have to do further testing but for now Just wanted
thoughts and suggestions. Thanks for reading cheers
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12 KW CCS ON 160-15M....USING THE 3CX-6000A7..... PART 19
Protection Board Installed And Wired. 3CX6000A7 12KW CCS 160-15 Meter Linear Amplifier
Here the modified protection board is installed, along with the vac relays, cutoff bias resistors etc.
The series bias diodes will be installed next....along with the plate choke etc.
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FWIW, I usually slide the cabinet back and adjust the coil under load. I test to see if lowest swr and maximum output coincide. ?If not I¡¯ll opt for maximum power.
On Monday, August 5, 2024, 10:13 PM, John Becker via groups.io <johnb3030@...> wrote: I would like to tweak the input tuning on my AL-1200 to see if I can
reduce the VSWR presented to my FTDX101MP.
The AL-1200 manual doesn't say anything about this, and doesn't even
tell which coil is for which band. I emailed Ameritron about this in
2022 and they told me The bottom coil is 160 and the top is 12/10.
I also asked them for the procedure they use to tune the coils during
production, but they wouldn't tell me. I asked if I could slide the top
cover back just far enough to be able to tune the coils with the
amplifier operating, and they said no because of safety concerns. But
the amplifier needs to be turned on or there is no way to actuate the
input relay to get RF drive to the input circuit.
I've been working on tube amps for years and know how to do it safely.
Should i just slide the cover back a little or is there a better way to
do it on this amp? Thanks!
73,
John, K9MM
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I would like to tweak the input tuning on my AL-1200 to see if I can reduce the VSWR presented to my FTDX101MP.
The AL-1200 manual doesn't say anything about this, and doesn't even tell which coil is for which band. I emailed Ameritron about this in 2022 and they told me The bottom coil is 160 and the top is 12/10.
I also asked them for the procedure they use to tune the coils during production, but they wouldn't tell me. I asked if I could slide the top cover back just far enough to be able to tune the coils with the amplifier operating, and they said no because of safety concerns. But the amplifier needs to be turned on or there is no way to actuate the input relay to get RF drive to the input circuit.
I've been working on tube amps for years and know how to do it safely. Should i just slide the cover back a little or is there a better way to do it on this amp? Thanks!
73,
John, K9MM
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No pix.?
BTW, on those Eimac SK-500 aluminum sockets, on the 1st posting, we would slice the bottom off in the bandsaw.?
The aluminum sockets have a big restriction vs the Eimac SK-510 black plastic sockets.? ?
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Re: Henry 2K-3 TR switching
Amazing the 7300 has this rail end RF issue. ?Seems like Icom has be plagued with with these RF issues either on make or break. ?I recall a friend had an Icom 781 and. alpha 86a or 9500 and he was a CW contester. ?The leading edge spike would fault the amplifier very often. ?He raised hell with Icombut they didn¡¯t offer a fix. ?Seems like the 7300 had the opposite problem.
On Sunday, August 4, 2024, 8:23 AM, Jim VE7RF <jim.thom@...> wrote: On Fri, Aug 2, 2024 at 06:37 PM, Louis Parascondola wrote:
A 7300 or just about ANY solid state radio without RF delay control will hot switch an SB200,SB220,TL922, Drake etc etc unless the modern radio has an RF delay, the? amp will hot ?switch. ?In?the case of the old open frame relay amps, the TR relay can be mechanically sequenced so that the contacts won¡¯t hot switch by insuring that the output contacts switch?before the amplifier is biased on with the bias switching contact of the relay. The 7300 isn¡¯t necessarily singled out on this regard. ?Use a 20ms RF delay when using old amps with new radios.
##? Lou, even if u tweaked the output contacts of the old style clunker 3PDT mech relays such that the output closed before the input+ bias,? it will still hotswitch !? The xcvr puts out RF? NOW.? ?Hence the requirement for the 20 msec delay....so the slow 3PDT TR relay in the amp gets a 20 msec? head start. ##? There is no provision in my fT-1000D for any delay.
##? On my MK-V, there is an adjustable 0-30 msec delay, in 1 msec increments.... BUT that only works on cw mode, using the internal keyer.?
##? My....'fix' for that ( ssb on either xcvr....and CW + SSB on a FT-1000D)? was to RE-use the internal spst mech relay in each xcvr (that was intended to key an amp)..and instead use the internal xcvr spst relay to instead grnd the TX inhibit lead.? ? That tiny spst relay in the MK-V operates in 5 msecs...which is ample for my modified drake amps, since the 3 x sped up vac relays in the drake amps operate in 1 msec.?
##? The oem 3pdt relay in the drake amps operate in 17 msecs.? And 15 msecs in the older ameritron amps.? (The ameritron amps with the newer cube relays operate in 5 msecs. ).? ? ?So the advice of using a 20 msec delay when using the older amps with the slow relays is valid.??
##? here is where I screwed up.? ?You want the 3-20 msec delay when going from RX to TX...... (grnding the TX inhibit lead after 3-20 msecs. )? However, when going from TX back to RX, you want zero delay, or close to zero.?
Here's why. If a say 20 msec delay is used going from RX to TX, fine...... but when going back to RX.....and it takes the same 20 msecs to UN ground the TX inhibit lead.... what happens is..... stop talking on SSB, zero watts out of xcvr on the scope...... and 400 msecs later..... VOX drops out.......(and tiny spst relay in the xcvr starts to drop out, or any external delay)....then? TR relays in the amp also start to drop out. With TR relays in mid air, cough into the mic, and bam, instant RF coming out of the xcvr.....since the TX inhibit lead is STILL grnded.? ?TR relays in mid air = hot switching.
##? It works on my sped up vac relays in the drake amps? since the tiny SPST-NO? relay in the MK-V takes 5 msecs to operate (giving the 1 msec vac relays in the drake amp, ample head start) . Going back to RX, the tiny relay in the MK-V takes 1 msec to open off by .0001"...so the tx inhibit lead is UN grounded asap.... before the vac relays start to rls. ( I slow down the rls of all 3 x vac relays a bit, with a single rvs diode across each coil).?
## On buddy's hb 3x6 amp? (built back in 2007)? it used an external electronic delay...to grnd the TX inhibit lead.? ? Think it was set for 5-10 msecs. What I don't remember is ..what the rls time of it was.?
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Re: Henry 2K-3 TR switching
On Fri, Aug 2, 2024 at 06:37 PM, Louis Parascondola wrote:
A 7300 or just about ANY solid state radio without RF delay control will hot switch an SB200,SB220,TL922, Drake etc etc unless the modern radio has an RF delay, the? amp will hot ?switch. ?In?the case of the old open frame relay amps, the TR relay can be mechanically sequenced so that the contacts won¡¯t hot switch by insuring that the output contacts switch?before the amplifier is biased on with the bias switching contact of the relay. The 7300 isn¡¯t necessarily singled out on this regard. ?Use a 20ms RF delay when using old amps with new radios.
##? Lou, even if u tweaked the output contacts of the old style clunker 3PDT mech relays such that the output closed before the input+ bias,? it will still hotswitch !? The xcvr puts out RF? NOW.? ?Hence the requirement for the 20 msec delay....so the slow 3PDT TR relay in the amp gets a 20 msec? head start. ##? There is no provision in my fT-1000D for any delay.
##? On my MK-V, there is an adjustable 0-30 msec delay, in 1 msec increments.... BUT that only works on cw mode, using the internal keyer.?
##? My....'fix' for that ( ssb on either xcvr....and CW + SSB on a FT-1000D)? was to RE-use the internal spst mech relay in each xcvr (that was intended to key an amp)..and instead use the internal xcvr spst relay to instead grnd the TX inhibit lead.? ? That tiny spst relay in the MK-V operates in 5 msecs...which is ample for my modified drake amps, since the 3 x sped up vac relays in the drake amps operate in 1 msec.?
##? The oem 3pdt relay in the drake amps operate in 17 msecs.? And 15 msecs in the older ameritron amps.? (The ameritron amps with the newer cube relays operate in 5 msecs. ).? ? ?So the advice of using a 20 msec delay when using the older amps with the slow relays is valid.??
##? here is where I screwed up.? ?You want the 3-20 msec delay when going from RX to TX...... (grnding the TX inhibit lead after 3-20 msecs. )? However, when going from TX back to RX, you want zero delay, or close to zero.?
Here's why. If a say 20 msec delay is used going from RX to TX, fine...... but when going back to RX.....and it takes the same 20 msecs to UN ground the TX inhibit lead.... what happens is..... stop talking on SSB, zero watts out of xcvr on the scope...... and 400 msecs later..... VOX drops out.......(and tiny spst relay in the xcvr starts to drop out, or any external delay)....then? TR relays in the amp also start to drop out. With TR relays in mid air, cough into the mic, and bam, instant RF coming out of the xcvr.....since the TX inhibit lead is STILL grnded.? ?TR relays in mid air = hot switching.
##? It works on my sped up vac relays in the drake amps? since the tiny SPST-NO? relay in the MK-V takes 5 msecs to operate (giving the 1 msec vac relays in the drake amp, ample head start) . Going back to RX, the tiny relay in the MK-V takes 1 msec to open off by .0001"...so the tx inhibit lead is UN grounded asap.... before the vac relays start to rls. ( I slow down the rls of all 3 x vac relays a bit, with a single rvs diode across each coil).?
## On buddy's hb 3x6 amp? (built back in 2007)? it used an external electronic delay...to grnd the TX inhibit lead.? ? Think it was set for 5-10 msecs. What I don't remember is ..what the rls time of it was.?
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Re: Henry 2K-3 TR switching
"This article is concerned with the RF output continuing beyond the time the transmitter is keyed off, termed an
RF-tail, causing hot-switching of external linear amplifier.)
Unfortunately, there is no similar user adjustable menu setting for controlling the delay time from when the transmitter ceases RF output
and the SEND jack commands an external amplifier off. Because the IC-7300 continues to output RF energy while an external amplifier
is in the process of switching off, the amplifier's TR/RX relay is subject to hot-switching and the concomitant possibility of arcing at the
relay contact points, or worse yet, welding together of those points resulting in the amplifier taken out of service."
Lou, this is the issue with the stupid 7300? xcvr.? ?It keeps putting out RF....AFTER? it opens the key line....and amp switching back to RX.....which then hot switches the TR relays in the amp.??
The alpha amps will not RLS their TR relays, until NO RF appears on the input.? ?The alpha amps have a simple RF sense circuit on their input (which also reads the freq, if it's the 9500 auto tune).
The W7RY? qsk board does the same thing.....( RF sense on input).? ?IF u say run a 1.5 kw cxr on the alpha....and reach over and pull out the key line from the back of the xcvr ( or pull out from the back of the alpha amp)...then amp will still put out 1.5 kw...... until the ptt /footswitch is released..... or if you let go of the hand key.? And if it's a 7300...with it's .....'RF tail', the alpha will not UN key it's TR relay/pin diodes on older alpha amps like the 87A...until the RF tail has finally gone.??
This is also an issue when using high swr shut down circuits, like in the array solutions powermaster wattmeter.? With the high swr threshold exceeded, you have 3 x ways to shut down the amp asap.?
(1)? open off keyline ( doesn't work on alpha amps)
(2) apply a few volts of DC? to the xcvr's ALC input? ( this method works superb)
(3) open off the xcvr's? .....'TX inhibit lead'? ?This method is the fastest if using the array solutions power master wattmeter.
The AS meter uses a SPDT fast relay to achieve any if the 3 x configs above.? ?Takes 4 msecs to get the COM contact to physically move from the NC contact over to the NO contact....(for? #2...applying a few volts to the alc jack of xcvr).??
However, when simply opening of the normally grnded? TX inhibit lead, the COM only has to move .0001" away from the NC contact, in order to open off the TX inhibit lead..... =? < 1 msec.?
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Re: Henry 2K-3 TR switching
You could try something like W1AEX to accomplish some sequencing pattern. 
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Re: Henry 2K-3 TR switching
Oops, I stay logged into groups.io and didn¡¯t realize you have to be already logged in for that link to work.?
I stay logged in in order to be able to quickly start a new thread on groups.io.
If you log in first the link will work.
?
73,
Dave, w6de
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Show quoted text
From: [email protected]
<[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bob via groups.io
Sent: 3 August, 2024 10:21
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] Henry 2K-3 TR switching
?
Dave, That link takes me to the 7300 group IO home page but cannot find the RF tail fix.
I do not own a 7300 but have a few friends that do which each of them seem to get things confused so I end up helping them, if you know what I mean.
?
Icom IC-7300 Hot-
switch Mitigation
The Issue
The Icom IC-7300 was released with a flaw in its external amplifier keying circuit apparently caused by an incorrect
timing parameter
programmed into the SEND relay logic. The SEND jack on the rear of the transceiver is used to key an external linear
amplifier on and
off in synchrony with the IC-7300 RF output as mitigated by the Menu/Set/Function TX Delay parameter. That parameter
sets the time
the RF output is delayed from the time the transmitter is keyed on until RF output begins. (The TX Delay parameter
sets the time the
RF output is delayed from the time the transmitter is keyed on, which is not what is addressed in this article; the
TX Delay functions
nominally as expected. This article is concerned with the RF output continuing beyond the time the transmitter is
keyed off, termed an
RF-tail, causing hot-switching of external linear amplifier.)
Unfortunately, there is no similar user adjustable menu setting for controlling the delay time from when the transmitter
ceases RF output
and the SEND jack commands an external amplifier off. Because the IC-7300 continues to output RF energy while an
external amplifier
is in the process of switching off, the amplifier's TR/RX relay is subject to hot-switching and the concomitant possibility
of arcing at the
relay contact points, or worse yet, welding together of those points resulting in the amplifier taken out of service.
This RF-tail issue has been extensively addressed for years by Amateur operators on both the IC-7300 discussion group,
and
Forum. Below is finally a possible hardware solution to the
hot-switching issue originally suggested by Frank Johnson
(G0GSR)
?
Complete description of the fix in in the
ic7300 forum files.
/g/ic-7300/files/ic7300_rf_tail_fix.pdf
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73,
Dave, w6de
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On Fri, Aug 2, 2024 at 01:40 PM, Bob wrote:
?
As far as the 7300 goes, I thought all that was adjustable in the menu???
In: MENU --> SET --> FUNCTION --> TX DELAY HF
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Bob
