That is a common fault on the senior series amps and the first thing to
check is if the circuit is wired as per the schematic.
Many are not and this goes back decades.
I never cared for Ameritrons step start anyway and a high power version of
the Harbach circuit without those stubid cement resistors is a far better
idea IMO.
In my HB 1500W 144 and 222 mHz amps I went pure brute force with a 240V 30A
power contactor with a 24VDC coil and a 100W resistor since I had the room.
The contactor was a NIB hamfest special for about $2 if I remember and the
resistor was likely less (-;
The 2M amp is pushing 30 years without even a hiccup and the one for 222 is
only about 5 years old.
Carl
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Dave Hachadorian" <k6ll.dave@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2015 6:16 PM
To: <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [Amps] AL-1500 power relays
I used my AL-1500 in the Sprint Contest on Saturday night, and everything
worked fine.
This morning, I was puttering around the shack, and heard a humming noise.
Come to find out, the AL-1500 was sitting there, with the power switch
off, and all the lamps dark, but full DC HV was showing on the meter. I
haven't pulled it apart yet, but my guess is that the surge limiter relay
contact has welded shut, causing the main power relay contacts to weld
shut. I never did like that idea of using an AC relay as a surge limiter.
Just a little chatter on the contact as the voltage ramps up and it gets
stuck. Then the main power relay takes the full surge next time it
starts, welding it shut.
Anybody have a better way to handle the surge limiting, rather than the
old series resistor / AC relay trick?
Thanks.
Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, AZ
.
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