[AMPS] Just in time

[Ron Angle (AB6ZX)]

It's nearly Spring, the ARRL CW test is behind us, and the XYL wants to know what I plan to do with that 40 inch high pile of junk in the closet. Why, Lady, that's a Homebrew Amplifier with 4-400s! Those bottles glow in the dark! Real Amateurs don't buy power thru mail order...they build it.  Said she, that thing's been in that closet for six months! You said yourself it was 35 years old and built to electrocute the first person that touched the chassis and a water pipe at the same time.

So, it's time to become a mechanic again. I just bought the 1995 edition of Bill Orr's Radio Handbook and now this forum comes around. Good timing. Thanks in advance to all of those who will offer advice in the months to come (and even to those to whom flaming is second nature).

Q.   Radio Shack has a 12 VDC relay with contacts rated at 15 amps/125 VAC. What would one consider to be the max RF wattage to attempt with this relay? (It will used only temporarily during tests and I can control the output with my variac power supply).

Q. The Beast uses a pair of 4-400A's in GG; I've seen many circuits both with and without cutoff bias. Not considering the technical merits, what have you personally experienced as the pros and cons? I.E. will the coffee cook faster at a high idling current?

73
ron ab6zx
chico ca


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/ampfaq.html
Submissions:              amps@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  amps-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-amps@contesting.com
Sponsored by:             Akorn Access, Inc. & N4VJ / K4AAA