I had responded to one individual offgroup... I am self employed and have
the ability to monitor the bands all day... thus the ability to work someone
if I so choose... Since moving to AZ, or more importantly since getting back
on the air after a 15 year absence last year - from AZ for the first time, I
decided to kind of half-heartedly do DXCC over again from here just for my
own personal kicks... thus there are times when there is a new band-country
available (if it is new the amp goes on - period) that I might decide to try
for or might decide not to ... based often on the lack of desire to cycle
the amp (and yes I do work a great deal without the amp). Thus my questions
basis ... better just to leave it on or is it less harmful, compared to the
first option, just to cycle it several times during the day? [I always let
it cool down completely before shutting it down].
...and the 3 minute time delay on the amp comes in here as well - begging
for the "leave it on" scenario - I have lost opportunities due to this wait
time more often than one would think!
the more general result of this conversation - if there is an objective
result - is to aid others in knowing the answer as well... instead of being
told "don't cycle your amp too much"!
g.
----- Original Message -----
From: Gudguyham@aol.com
To: rbonner@qro.com ; garymyers@powerc.net ; amps@contesting.com
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2007 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] General question on filament life
In a message dated 2/8/2007 3:25:42 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
rbonner@qro.com writes:
How many bulbs have you had fail the first time you turned it ON? I
have
had a lot. When you are cycling, you will have results all over the map
whether you step start it or not as each tube is an individual. Some
die at
birth, and some live to be 114 years old.
I have been thinking about this subject a lot myself. This is what I have
concluded. Since ham radio is an occasional thing we do with little
transmit time compared to off time or listening time. Seems like it would
be senseless to leave your filaments running 24/7. On the other hand if you
cycled them a lot that could be costly too, so for hams as Bob says it
probably makes little difference. But I think the ideal situation would be
to turn off the filament when not in use and to bring the filament up slowly
with a variac to proper operating voltage every time you use the amp. It
would be a pain to do that every time, but all that hassle aside, it might
be "the best" thing. Of course you could argue that one mistake could be
costly, but I am speaking only as everything being perfect. It's just not
practical though.
For what is it worth, here is what I do. When I go on the air I do not
turn on the amplifier unless I need to use it. If I know I am going to use
it, I will then turn it on, it will stay on until I am done hamming for that
session. I won't shut it off if I know I might be using it again even an
hour later like after dinner or something. I would NOT cycle it on and off
as I needed it for a hamming session. This is why I always put a standby
switch on all my SB-220 amps. Many times I did not use the amp and then
suddenly I would and then again I would not. The standby switch came in
handy so I didn't have to cycle the filaments. You all notice that USUALLY
when a light bulb burns out it is when you first turn it on. Only my 2
cents. Lou
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