I agree, plus, if you prefer to run barefoot most of the time, which I do,
then you want to be running the transceiver's 100w. If you need the power,
then it is nice to:
- turn it on and have it function immediately
- not have to worry about re-adjusting the drive
And, although I have heard stories of people blowing 3-500 Amps, I
personally owned:
- Raytrack DX-2000L (in the early 70's)
- Drake L4B (in the early 80's)
- Ameritron AL-80A in the late 80's and early 90's
- QRO Technology HF-2000 in the late 90's and early 00's
- QRO Technology HF-1000 in the late 90's and early 00's
ALL using a pair of 3-500z's except the HF-1000 and AL-80A which had only a
single 3-500z.
At all times, if I was not using my amps in a 48 hour contest, then one of
my friends was. The amps were used in ALL contests, every year, including
ARRL DX, CQWW DX, and WAE (for SSB, CW, and sometimes RTTY).
Never blew a 3-500 in all of those years and all of those contests!
Also had 5 or 6 other (non-3-500) amps during that 30 year span and either I
or someone else using them blew one or more tubes - in ALL of them. Tube
types were PL-519 (or US equivalents), 811-A, 572B, and 8874. Blowing the
572B's was rare and they were cheap back then but nothing is cheap anymore!
Bottom Line: If money (and reliability) is an issue, your safest bet is
probably the 3-500z (IMHO). But if you want a more solid 1500w, then you
will have to choose a more modern tube.
73
Rick, NJ0IP (DJ0IP)
-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Rob Atkinson
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007 1:04 PM
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Titan III
I'll bet Ameritron makes and sells more amps than all the other
American manufacturers combined.
I got ceramic tube amp fever a couple of years ago and wanted a
Command HF-2500 real bad but I didn't get one and I'm glad now. I
finally came around to deciding the dual 3-500z amps are the way to
go. Here's why:
The Command and Titan III and other ceramic tube amps can put out 1.5
kw effortlessly but how much power do you need? With a pair of
3-500s and 100 w. drive you will never put out 2 or 2.5 kw but do you
want to? Besides being illegal in the U.S., for a noticable
difference in signal strength, you'd have to run around 5 kw at least
(which is crazy), assuming you are already putting out Centurion
power.
They can be driven with low exciter power but I like having an amp
that needs all of 100 w. for drive. No chance for overdrive and
dirty output. No chance of forgetting to cut the exciter back when
switching the amp on from standby.
3-500s are not the cheapest tubes out there but they aren't an arm and
a leg like some and you almost have to work at damaging them to do any
harm to them.
The grounded grid cathode driven triode design results in a real clean
output.
I decided I would not consider any tetrode amp because of these reasons.
N.B. I might be willing to accept a 2 x 3cx800 amp if I wanted to
operate 100% duty cycle mode at reduced power.
73
rob / k5uj
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