Hi Bry,
Just thought that I would throw my 2 cents in as well. I purchased a used
Centurion back in 2005, ran it for several years and then had the HV xfmr fail.
Failure mode was an open secondary. I chose to purchase a new one from TenTec
which has run well for several years until I took the amp off line for other
reasons. There is truth to the history that TenTec has a reliability problem
(i.e. failure at 15-16 years of age) with the earlier/older model Centurion HV
xfmrs.
fyi and 73,
Dave, K2DP
On Jan 31, 2014, at 1:08 PM, Bry Carling <bcarling@cfl.rr.com> wrote:
> Thanks - I really appreciate the sage advice from you guys... it's a pity
> that the primary fuses
> and inrush circuit didn't properly protect the transformer, but to be fair it
> is an old one. Serial
> number is 11A10162. I wonder what year that signifies... I did notice that
> the core looks a bit
> stained or maybe rusty?
>
> This amp only lasted for a few weeks after buying it used. You can be sure I
> will add a fuse
> in the secondary after I repair it, and take a few other steps to better
> protect it. It seems
> obvious that these transformers from TenTec are being run to their absolute
> limit in the
> Centurion and should probably be derated a minimum of 10% in the future at
> this station. I
> will not be running at more than about 800-900 watts output after this bad
> experience. I think
> I will go the rewind route since the guys rewinding them has a great
> reputation, and will
> probably create something better insulated and more reliable than the
> original.
>
> I probably shouild have spent more and bought a new amp to begin with, but
> it's difficult to
> spend the tens of thousands on ham gear that some guys are able to do...
>
> Again many thanks to each person who shared comments and ideas.
>
> Brian AF4K
>
> On 31 Jan 2014 at 11:39, mcelmer1 wrote:
>
>> I would keep it factory - the guys with the slide rules, pocket pens
>> and
>> letters after their names usually are qualified to design and/or the
>> transformer.
>>
>> Mike
>> W8TRN
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mike Bryce" <prosolar@sssnet.com>
>> To: "Brian Carling AF4K" <bcarling@cfl.rr.com>; "Discussion of
>> Ten-Tec
>> Equipment" <tentec@contesting.com>
>> Sent: Friday, January 31, 2014 09:45
>> Subject: Re: [TenTec] 422 Centurion blowing fuses...
>>
>>
>> Brian, Bob, and the group,
>>
>> Let me pop in here with a bit of wisdom and a question
>>
>> was the $385 rewind from ten-tec or from another company?
>>
>> If if remember correctly, ten tec had some issues with their
>> transformers
>> used in some of the amps.
>>
>> If you have it rewound by a third party, you might end up with a
>> better unit
>> than a new one from the factory.
>>
>> Personally, an external high voltage power source always scares the
>> snot out
>> of me. It´d keep it factory and used either rebuilt or new.
>>
>> Mike Bryce wb8vge
>> prosolar@sssnet.com
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 31, 2014, at 7:39 AM, Bry Carling <bcarling@cfl.rr.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks so much Bob... The choices are rough - $500 plus shipping
>> for a new
>>> transformer
>>> from Tentec or $385 plus shipping both ways for a rewind job!
>>>
>>> Yes, we get lightning, but this occurred when there was no
>> lightning...
>>>
>>> Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated. I may have to go with an
>> external
>>> power supply...
>>>
>>> Brian AF4K
>>>
>>>
>>> On 30 Jan 2014 at 22:05, Bob McGraw - K4TAX wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sorry to learn of the bad news.
>>>>
>>>> There are companies around that can rewind/rebuild that
>> transformer.
>>>> Certainly worth checking into as opposed to engineering some
>> other
>>>> transformer in its place.
>>>> Per chance have you had a lightning strike lately? That will
>> do
>>>> it.
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>> Bob, K4TAX
>>>>
>>
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>
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