Regarding the 400 ma rating, I've often wondered why it matters as long as the
plate
dissipation is not exceeded. The only thing I can think of is the possibility
that the
filament emissive ability could be damaged in some way.
I prefer the metal-plate 3-500's just because the color is a very responsive
indicator of
plate dissipation.
By the way, I have some carbon-anode 813's and one of them apparently was
severely
overloaded at some point. The carbon shows lots of little pits, sort of
reminiscent of a
road sign in rural Texas.
On 5/23/2010 8:16 AM, Carl wrote:
> At 2700V @ 400 ma it doesnt matter if its CCS or not, thats all the tube
> will do safely in SSB service especially in an AL-80 series with marginal
> cooling. Anything over 700W or so is pushing its longevity. Ameritron
> doesnt care that the manual says 600ma and 1000W PEP, they sell tubes
> remember.
>
> And dont try and judge a safe color with a graphite anode, there shouldnt be
> any in SSB service and only for a short time during tuneup.
>
> I wouldnt consider a Chinese tube at CCS anyway over 2200V.
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:<Gudguyham@aol.com>
> To:<ranchorobbo@gmail.com>;<amps@contesting.com>
> Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2010 10:29 AM
> Subject: Re: [Amps] How to read the 3-500Z spec sheet?
>
>
>> Rob, You have to remember that the tube ratings are for CCS not SSB or CW
>> service. CCS service is 100% duty cycle, SSB is 30% duty cycle and CW is
>> about 45% duty cycle. It is not the higher plate current nor the higher
>> grid current during the cycle that kills the tube, it is the constant over
>> the
>> top plate dissipation that kills the tube. Running an AL-80B at 1000
>> watts
>> output on SSB will barely show much anode color compared to the same anode
>> color at CCS rating at 750 watts output. That amp was rated by it's
>> designer W8JI and he sure knows what he is doing. I tend to agree with
>> him
>> since I pay close attention to the tube anode color with a pair of
>> 3-500's
>> running at 1500 watts PEP on SSB. Although that would be in the rating
>> of the
>> tube anyway. In fact henry I believe rated one of their 3-500 amps at
>> 2000
>> watts output on SSB, so that is in line with Ameritron's claim.
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 5/23/2010 10:18:54 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> ranchorobbo@gmail.com writes:
>>
>> you say you are getting 400 w. with 520 ma Ip. I think that's 120 ma
>> over the max Ip for a single 3-500 so you're possibly in trouble right
>> there.
>>
>> you say you increase drive and get no more suds which means the tube
>> is probably saturated.
>>
>> An AL-80B on any band putting out 900 w. is a bad idea regardless of
>> what Ameritron says. It is a lot easier to _sell_ a "1 KW amp" than
>> it is a 700 w. amp, which is what the AL80B really is (actually that
>> power output is optimistic) unless you don't mind getting a new 3-500
>> every few years. If you consider the max rated plate current of a
>> single 3-500 (400 ma) and look at the specified power supply v. in
>> that amp (2700 v. no load as I recall) and figure it sags down to 2400
>> under load and assume 70% efficiency (giving them the benefit of the
>> doubt) you get a choice of either abusing the poor single 3-500 or
>> discovering some promotional hype license is being taken (In ham
>> radio? You gotta be kidding me!). That amp is probably what is
>> keeping 3-500zg rolling out of some tube plant in China, so maybe we
>> should all be glad. Every time I work some ham operating that amp
>> and driving it over 700 w. I politely tell him what's happening and
>> get either anger or the guy never comes back to me. 3-500 used to be
>> sort of cheap for the watts but they are getting expensive now. Oh
>> well it's not my money.
>>
>> But, back to your point, I'd drop the drive down to where you are
>> getting< 400 ma on the plate and be happy. How much power does it
>> take to have a QSO on 6 m. anyway. I have never operated that band
>> but I thought the "magic band" either let you have a QSO with 59 copy
>> and 1/2 watt, or no amount of power would get through. Nothing in
>> between.
>>
>>
>> As for 100% duty cycle, if the cooling is stock, you probably want to
>> put in a fan that moves more air. No matter what you do, 520 ma is
>> too much plate current.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Rob
>> K5UJ
--
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
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