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Re: [Amps] about the WARC bands of the Heathkit SB-220.

To: David G4FTC <g4ftc@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] about the WARC bands of the Heathkit SB-220.
From: Kouichi Ueno <kueno@wine.ocn.ne.jp>
Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 22:48:29 +0800
List-post: <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Hi David,
Good evening.

I'm new to vacuum tube linear amplifiers, so is the SB220 difficult to
use?

I can replace the capacitors as maintenance. However, I don't think I
have the technical skills to handle the various measures to prevent
flash-overs or the installation of gas discharge tubes.

Kouichi Ueno JI1FGX/DU9

On Wed, 9 Oct 2024 13:58:34 +0000
David G4FTC <g4ftc@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I would be cautious about using zeners - from my experience their failure 
> mode is to go short circuit which necessitates taking the amp apart to 
> replace them.
> 
> Sometime ago I wanted to ensure that a tetrode amp I was building was 
> protected from Anode-Screen flashovers which could damage the screen 
> decoupling capacitor built into the tube base.
> 
> I used a combination of Varistors in parallel with a Gas tubes (Spark Gaps). 
> The logic being that the Varistor was fast but of limited dissipation and 
> provided the initial clamping action whereas the slower spark gap which could 
> sustain much higher current then provided the longer term clamping until the 
> HT crowbar operated and the reservoir capacitors discharged. The Varistors 
> were of a slightly higher voltage than the Gas Tubes. The crowbar circuit 
> also tripped the screen supply.
> 
> I have experienced flash-overs but so far never lost a tube or a tube base. 
> All I have to do after a trip is to press a reset button and the HT and 
> screen supplies are restored and the amp is operational.
> 
> David G4FTC


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