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Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amp QSK Board

To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amp QSK Board
From: "Donald, K6RV" <K6RV@earthlink.net>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Feb 2014 12:09:26 -0600
List-post: <tentec@contesting.com">mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
It appears after reviewing my QSK board problem and the blown fuses in my Centurion, that I mis-wrote what happened.

I indeed had the same symptoms you had: Blown fuses for no apparent reason. In my case the QSK board was blown, but in talking to Ten-Tec service yesterday, they said the sequence happened like this: There was a high voltage short from one of the 3-500Z tube plates to the top of the cabinet, causing the fuses to blow. Guess when I had replaced the tubes, one of the plate straps was too close to the top of the case and arced over. The blowing of the fuses created a surge, or a spike, which blew out the QSK board. The QSK board is very sensitive to the fuses being blown, for whatever reason.

You may find, that the QSK board is blown in addition to the transformer being shorted. The symptom will be that the standby/operate switch does not work as it should, and the transmit light will be constantly on. If that is the case, then you can get the "kit" to rebuild the QSK board, or send the board to Ten-Tec for them to re-build, or have them send you a new QSK board (Cost = $97), and/or the "kit" to rebuild your old board and have as a spare. That is what I did. The Kit consists of 2 IC's and 5 Transistors, and cost about $20, as I remember.

I know you are concerned about putting so much money into the amp., but, in my view, it is both necessary, and worth it, especially since you already will have the big bucks invested in the re-wound transformer.

Again, Bry, good luck !

73, Donald K6RV

Message: 14 Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 06:18:44 -0800 From: Bry Carling <bcarling@cfl.rr.com>

To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com> Cc: "tentec@contesting.com" <tentec@contesting.com> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amp. Problem Message-ID: <42FCECBC-F96D-40EC-ACBB-A21415410F44@cfl.rr.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Thank you so much. They never brought up that possibility during my calls to Tentec while troubleshooting. However the previous owner did mention to me that the QSK board had already been replaced. This amp is trying my patience. It's not just the money but the time. If I end up replacing the QSK board too then I will have enough into it to have bought a nicer amplifier. It's disappointing to think a QSK board could cause main fuses to blow. I will try to learn how to troubleshoot that section while my transformer is away being rewound. Thank you so much for the insight about the QSK circuit. Bry AF4K

 Best regards - Bry Carling
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