[Amps] Alpha 87A Question

[R.Measures]

On Sep 17, 2005, at 6:01 PM, David Kirkby wrote:

> R.Measures wrote:
>> On Sep 17, 2005, at 1:50 PM, jon s wrote:
>>> I am relaying this for my Father (AI9U) who does not subscribe
>>>
>>> Last night he was back at his station after a 10 day period of 
>>> non-use
>>>
>>> FT920/Alpha 87A/3 ele Steppir/40_80 Dipole
>>>
>>> With the Amplifier Off - but still in line he was using the tuner to 
>>> match the dipole, when an "incredible bang" (his words) occured in 
>>> the amplifier,  tripping the 220V breaker. Upon reseting the 
>>> breaker, the Alpha powered up but would not do much else
>>>
>>> Anyone ever have something like this happen?
>> Hello, Jon -- Around 40% of the owners I surveyed reported 
>> inexplicable sudden events that required factory service to correct.  
>> When Dick. WØID was a participant on AMPS. he told me he had seen 
>> over 150 tubes at the Alpha factory that had gold-sputtering damage.  
>> Perhaps one of the tubes has this malady.  The Funderberg (W6IHA) 
>> test for gold-sputtering is non-destructive and simple to perform - 
>> provided one has a hi-pot tester.   If you do not have a hi-pot, I 
>> volunteer to test the tubes for you - gratis - in the interest of 
>> amplifier science.
>
> If I understand the orginal poster correctly, the amp made the 
> "incredible bang" when it was "Off". That I take as meaning the power 
> switch was in the Off position.
>
> Perhaps I misunderstood the meaning of "Amplifier Off - but still in 
> line he was using the tuner to match the dipole". But if the power was 
> really "Off", there could have been no HT present.

When the standby switch is in the amp-off position, there's high-V 
present.
>
> What "Off" means exactly needs some clarification.

agreed, David
...
Richard L. Measures, AG6K, 805.386.3734.  www.somis.org