[Amps] How light can you make a 500W amplifier?

[Steve Katz]

I don't believe a 1 kg power supply using a 6x multiplier at 50 Hz or 60 Hz
is possible, at the current level required.  Unless someone invents nearly
zero-mass large-value capacitors required by the multiplier, seems to me a
6x multiplier at any current level beyond a few mA is an inefficient power
conversion method at 60 Hz line frequencies.

WB2WIK/6

"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." -
Mario Andretti

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Rich [SMTP:2@vc.net]
> Sent:	Tuesday, October 15, 2002 2:08 AM
> To:	Alan Ibbetson; AMPS
> Subject:	Re: [Amps] How light can you make a 500W amplifier?
> 
> The lightest weight power supply would likely be a voltage-multiplier 
> type operating direct from the electric mains.  With a x6 V multiplier 
> and 230V mains, c. 1600vdc could be produced for c, 1kg in ps weight.  
> With a 4cx800, 1600v would produce >500w.  A foolproof screen supply 
> could be derived from the anode supply using a zener-string shunt 
> regulator.   My guess is thar a total weight of 4kg should be do-able.  
> 
> >While exchanging tall tales at the bar at the RSGB HF Convention over the
> 
> >weekend the discussion came round to the need for an amplifier
> specifically 
> >optimised for solo DXpedition use. The holy grail is 500W output on the
> HF 
> >bands at an all-up weight of around 10Kg. The well known semi-pro MOSFET 
> >amplifier on the market has a dreadful reputation for IMD and is pretty
> much 
> >unobtainable anyway. Thermionics seem more appropriate, but their power 
> >supplies are heavy.
> >
> >What is the listís collected wisdom? Solid state? Valves, perhaps with
> SMPS? 
> >Theorising is OK (after all, it was a bar room discussion), but what
> would 
> >really get my attention is a URL to an actual example of a 500W/10Kg 
> >product.
> >
> >73
> >
> >Alan G3XAQ
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> 
> 
> -  Rich..., 805.386.3734, www.vcnet.com/measures.  
> 
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