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Re: [Amps] class "A" RF amp question

To: "'Tom W8JI'" <w8ji@w8ji.com>,"'kenw2dtc'" <kenw2dtc@comcast.net>, <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] class "A" RF amp question
From: "Robert B. Bonner" <rbonner@qro.com>
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 15:05:18 -0600
List-post: <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Thanks Tom...  BOB

-----Original Message-----
From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Tom W8JI
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 2:29 PM
To: kenw2dtc; amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] class "A" RF amp question

> If one were to build a class "A" RF tube amplifier capable 
> of producing an
> AM signal of 375 watts carrier and 1500 watts PEP, what 
> would be the plate
> dissipation required by the tube?  (I know how stupid and 
> inefficient this
> is, but I really would like an answer)

A linear amplifier is also sometimes called "efficiency 
modulation".
What happens is this:

100% modulated AM requires PEP to be four times the carrier 
power. This occurs in a plate modulated class-C low mu 
triode because the power output follows the square of the 
anode voltage. When the anode voltage is doubled on 
positiove peaks, power output is quadrupled. Double the RF 
output voltage is 4 times the PEP.

With a linear stage driven by a 100% modulated AM signal, 
the drive voltage is only doubled. This creates a little 
problem since efficiency is not constant with varying drive 
power. Normally the carrier efficiency is half or less of 
the peak power. You double the drive voltage, and the 
efficiency also doubles.

So at carrier with a linear PROPERLY tuned, you might have 
25% or less efficiency with carrier. This means 75% of the 
plate input power is heating the anode. This means anode 
heat is about 3 times the carrier power. With 375 watts 
carrier you would have 1125 watts anode heating and 1500 
watts dc anode input.
At peak power it might be 3000 watts plate input, 1500 watts 
output, and 1500 watts dissipation. But that is intermittent 
dissipation.

> As background, I have an AL-1200 (3CX1200A7) which starts 
> to flattop beyond
> 375 watts of carrier at 100% modulation and this amp is 
> class "AB2", so I
> know class "A" would require significantly more 
> dissipation than 1200 watts.

Dissipation has nothing to do with flat topping. Emission 
does. You may not have the loading control open far enough. 
You have to load for the PEAK power, not anything less.
My AL1200 will easily do 1500 watts PEP on AM with 375 watts 
of carrier. Be prepared for a lot of heat in the tube anode.

73 Tom 


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