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Re: [TenTec] Orion II: nothing at startup

To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II: nothing at startup
From: "Rodney" <w3krq@dejazzd.com>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:45:43 -0500
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
it is the capacitors on the regulator board this is the small board on the bottom of the orion

-----Original Message----- From: Peter Frenning [OZ1PIF]
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2012 2:45 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Cc: John K3GHH
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Orion II: nothing at startup


Den 28-12-2012 13:28, John K3GHH skrev:
On 11/06/2012 08:57 AM, John K3GHH wrote:
Several times in the past few days my O2 (firmware 3.028) has had no transmit output, and no audio output except faint background hiss, when I first turn it on. The paddles produce a nice sidetone, but neither the Orion's nor the antenna tuner's meter moves.

So far, at least, switching the Orion's power off and then back on has restored operability (e.g., the tuner's meter shows forward power 115w on 80m CW). I just checked the power supply (it's on the floor under the desk) and found its meter showing 13v --- lower than I thought but not likely the source of this problem. Obviously I'd rather not have to rely on the off-on "fix." Any suggestions?

Progress report:

A couple of weeks ago the O2 display finally quit entirely. There are three suggestions in this thread: capacitors, cables, and battery. Starting with the easiest (not necessarily the most likely), I replaced the battery. No display. The plan was to clean the cable contacts next, but since the case was open I decided to replace the capacitors too. With three new 470uf capacitors on the A9 board, and the A and B cable contacts cleaned, the radio is working again. I'm pretty sure the new capacitors solved the problem.

This was my first work with printed-circuit boards --- probably not the wisest project to begin with! I was unable to remove the original capacitors without destroying them, but new ones were only $1.39 at the local Radio Shack. The biggest trouble was clearing solder out of the holes so the new capacitors' leads could be inserted.

It was fun playing with the Scout in the interim, but I'm very glad to have the Orion back!

You might want to acquire some high-spec 470uF caps (low ESR; 105degrees
or higher) instead of the el cheapos you just bought at the Shack, I
predict that they wont last very long in this particular application.
The current spec caps on my O2 A9 board lasted three years (from factory
new), and have just had to be replaced (with originals from TTs service
department),I'm searching for some even higher spec'ed caps for the next
replacement!

A tip for removing the capacitors and cleaning the board: Apply liberal
amounts of non RoHS solder (old style lead based solder) to the joints
before heating the pads to pull the old components out, then it's fairly
easy to suck the remaining solder out of the through holes ready for
insertion of the new components - a tip for future replacements: leave
the components a couple of mm off the board, then its easy to cut the
leads on the component side after which you can heat and pull each lead
individually!

Happy New year to all TT'ers and TT fans out there.

--
Vy 73 de OZ1PIF/5Q2M, Peter

*****************************************
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** and ninety-nine per cent            **
** perspiration.                       **
**               -- Thomas A. Edison   **
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email: peter(no-spamfiller)@frenning.dk
http://www.frenning.dk/oz1pif.htm
Ph. +45 4619 3239
Snailmail:
Peter Frenning
Ternevej 23
DK-4130 Viby Sj.
Denmark
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