[Amps] 5 kw amps -- why?

[Scott Manthe]

Some hams like plenty of headroom. ;)

I know a guy who literally vaporized a legal limit balun on his dipole by 
accidentally running 85 watts into his Emtron DX-3, which produced over 3000 
watts output (pinned his Bird, so he really doesn't know how much over) with 
that input power. He went outside to see little smoking pieces of the balun 
all over his yard. I figured that that was enough "headroom".

It should be obvious to anyone who's been an amateur long enough that there 
are certain guys who "need" $13,000 rigs and 3, 5 or 8KW amplifiers. I don't 
know why, but I do know what Freud would say.

73,
Scott, N9AA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rob Atkinson, K5UJ" <k5uj at hotmail.com>
To: <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 12:12 PM
Subject: [Amps] 5 kw amps -- why?


> After reading a review in Eham today for the Emtron DX4 (2 4cx2500s) by an 
> American ham, I have a question:  Is there any kind of operating at the 
> 1.5 kw pep limit that would necessitate an amp with this kind of plate 
> dissipation?  Sounded to me like an invitation to have the FCC park a van 
> in front of your house.
>
> tks
> Rob/K5UJ
>
>