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[Amps] Henry 2k p.s. questions

To: <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [Amps] Henry 2k p.s. questions
From: 2@mail.vcnet.com (Richard)
Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 21:52:20 -0800
>Hello group,
>
>
>I am trying to repair an old Henry 2K. It is the original 2k console unit 
>with a pair of 3-400Zs and the power supply which uses the two tube 
>rectifiers. The two rectifiers were replaced with the Intl Rectifier 1nxxx 
>type units.
>
>
>When the unit is powered up the primary fuses blow once the HV switch is 
>enabled. 

>The filament power appears to be ok. I have removed the tubes and 
>ruled out any kind of tube short.  It appears that if the amp is stone cold, 
>there is a slight delay before the buzz and blown fuse event takes place 
>when 
>the HV switch is thrown. Once it is warm, it trips right away. I did some 
>simple troubleshooting, and there appears to be no short of any kind on the 
>HV line (with the Ip meter disconnected, otherwise it gets in the way of 
>checking to ground). The only thing I could not confirm was the two solid 
>state rectifiers. When measuring from the base to the anode, I get an open 
>reading in both directions. Is there a way to test these that I am not aware 
>of?  

To test a HV rectifier stack in the fwd direction,  one needs around 1v 
per kV of piv rating, limited to c. 0.5A with a series resistor.  The 
V-drop across the stack should be c. 0.7v per kV @ 0.5A.  To test piv, 
apply enough reverse potential with a high-pot tester to see 2uA of 
reverse I.  The applied potential is the piv.  If the reverse current 
fluctuates randomly, the diode stack is not good.

> ratingWhat kind of reading should I expect when checking them?  Could they 
be 
>the culprit?   
>
>Also, while the choke appears good, could it be failing once under load 
>(powered up)?

This is pretty common for older resonant chokes that are not potted.  I 
would dry the suspected choke out in the oven for a few days at 200ºF, 
and then pot it with laminating resin.  Instructions for home-potting are 
on my Web site.  I would also install two, 10?, 10w, glass-coated 
resistors in series with the +HV between the filter C and the HV-RFC.
This is called a "glitch resistor".  A better parasitic suppressor design 
might be a good idea too since the 2K reportedly has an intermittent 
parasite just below 100MHz.  However, better suppressors cost c. 2% of 
the output P at 29MHz. 

good luck, Eric

-  R. L. Measures, a.k.a. Rich..., 805.386.3734,AG6K, 
www.vcnet.com/measures.  
end


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