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[AMPS] Re: 8k ultra/ "tuned input"

To: <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [AMPS] Re: 8k ultra/ "tuned input"
From: 2@vc.net (2)
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 07:05:21 -0700
>gents
>
>Per  my  henry  8-K  ultra  manual,   (I  collect manuals),  the  "tuned
>input"    consists  of  2   un-uns  back  to  back.   They  step  the  Z  up
>with  a  1:56   to  1   un-un  and  then  back   down  again,  same  ratio
>in  reverse,  on  all  bands  except  10m,  on  10m   they  step  up  with
>one   ratio,  and  down  with  a  different  ratio.  (un-uns  are  relay
>switched) 
>
>    How  they  get  any  fly  wheel  effect  at  all  is  beyond  me.   

//   They don't.   Tuned circuits act as flywheels.  Untuned/broadband 
transformers have virtually no flywheel effect.  
-  Back in the days when Henry Radio did not build a 160m amplifier, a 
friend dropped by the Henry Radio booth at a ham convention.  He asked a 
Henry engineer why they did not build a 3-500Z 160m amplifier.  The Henry 
engineer said that they tried it, but they discovered that 3-500Zs have a 
cutoff frequency that's above 2MHz, so they don't work efficiently on the 
160m band.  (sic)

>This broad  band  input  is  a  Henry  exclusive  used  on  the  8k  ultra  
and
>3-k  ultra.
>
//   "Exclusive".  Chortle.  No tuned-input on a g-g amplifier is 
Looneytunes.  

>The  8k  manual  also  warns  not  to  use  the  automatic  tuner  built
>into  many  rigs.   It   sez  to  leave  the  auto  tuner  offline,  and
>just  put  up  with  any  swr  between  xcvr  and    8k  ultra  input.
>
//   The trouble with auto-tuners that are built into radios (except the 
TS-930S) is they run c. 1w during the autotune cycle.  The sticky wicket 
is that - unlike antennas - g-g amplifiers have a different input Z at 1w 
than they have with high drive power.  Thus, whan the tuner is adjusted 
at 1w to a g-g amplifier, the SWR is sure to be feculent at 100w or so.  
 
>I  noticed  on  my  homebrew  3CX-3000A7,   with  it's  high  C  low  L
>tuned  input   (consisting  of  a  tapped  4  uh   coil  made  from  solid
>5/32"   copper   wire,  and  2  x  4  section  broadcast  variables (padded
>on  160m),   and  with  a  network  Q  of  abt  3.5,    it  works  just
>fine.

//  'Tis indeed misfortunate that you don't design Henry Radio's g-g 
amplifiers.  
>
>However,  when  using  a  wattmeter  like  a  drake  W4  inserted  between
>FT-1000D  and  input  to  amp,   minimum  swr   on   W4  wattmeter does not
>coincide   with  minimum   swr  on  FT-1000D  internal  swr  meter.   I  can
>tweak  tuned  input  to  read   flat  swr  on  either  wattmeter,  but
>can't  get  minimum  on  both  at  same  time. 
>
>I  then  replaced  W4  wattmeter  with  my  Bird -43,  and  now    flat  swr
>is  indicated  on  both   43   and  internal  yaesu  swr  meter,
>regardless  of  length  of  coax  cables  between  rig  and  wattmeter,  and
>wattmeter  to  input  to  amp.      Also  maximum   grid  current
>coincides  with  minimum  reflected  power  between  xcvr  and  amp.   
>
>The  VFD  wattmeter  may  be  at  fault.   The  henry  "input"  with  it's
>back  to  back  un-uns   (all  relay  switched)   may  be  creating  some
>problems.
>
>-henry  doesn't  change  the  bias  on  cw/ssb.   The  bias   consists  of
>15-20  diodes  in  series  in  one  block  like  a  W2AW  module.   The
>idle  current  zsac   goes  up  and  down  cuz  of  plate  V   difference
>between  SSB  V  and  lower  cw  V.    Manual  sez  no  load  HV  on  ssb
>should  be  5400V  .  Henry  uses  a  6kv   plate  xfmr  with  a  choke
>input.....     .9  x  6000=  5400V.    They  also  suck  a  continuous
>300W  of  bleeder  power  all  the  time  to  make  the     tuned  choke,
>look  like  a  choke.   

//  A friend bought a 60-Hz custom tuned-choke L/C matched pair from 
Peter W. Dahl.  The amount of bleeder current needed was much less than 
expected.   

> If  any  of  the   5  x  100 watt  bleeders  ever
>opened  up,  the  HV   would  skyrocket  to  8485V. And  that's  if  you
>have  the  correct  tap  to  start  with.
>
//  However, the filter capacitor could probably take the surge.  When 
the amplifier was keyed, the ZSAC acts as a bleeder current.  

>    The  fil  V  should  be  below   7.5  V  measured  right  at  the
>socket.    Life  of  tube  is  dependent  on   fil  V.    If  the  tube  is
>lit,  the  clock  is   ticking.   The  tube  won't  last  any  longer   cuz
>you  are  running  it  at   1500w  out.    If  you  had  a  2nd  amp.  with
>just  the  tube  fil  lit,  and  no  drive  applied,  and  no  HV,  it
>would  last  just  as  long  as  your  driven  amp.  

//  Excellent points, Jim.   Few designers seem to realize that the 
emissive life of a thoriated-tungsten cathode/filament is cut in Half for 
each 3% increase in filament voltage above what is needed to achieve full 
PEP.  Thus, the formula for emissive life vs fil. volts = (e1/e2)^23.4.  
>
>The  stock  blower  on  the  8K  ultra    will  not  provide  enough  air
>for  anywhere  near 4kw  of  anode  diss,  more  like  2500w   tops.   The
>stock    straight  up  and  down  chimney  puts   quite  a  restriction  on
>the  airflow.

//  A high-pressure blower from Kooltronics or Rotron would cure this 
problem.  Henry engineering is apparently clueless about manometers and 
the effect of filament potential.  
>
>The  henry  back  to  back  un-uns  are  interesting  though  I  don't
>understand  the  theory  behind  them.     They  operate  from  1.8-30mhz
>continuous.

//     But the SWR is somewhat less than satisfactory.  
>
cheers, Jim

-  R. L. Measures, 805.386.3734, AG6K, www.vcnet.com/measures.  
end


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