[Amps] filament tube life, turn on's and time on target

[rgroh at swbell.net]

To amplify what Carl said technically and Colin's statement, I would just add that life is too short. Go ahead and use the amplifier as you need to and want to. 

73
Bob, WA2CKY

----- Original Message ----
From: Artmouton <k5fnq at cox.net>
To: amps at contesting.com
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:36:58 AM
Subject: [Amps] filament tube life, turn on's and time on target


I 
have 
an 
MLA 
2500 
with, 
what 
I 
hope 
is 
a 
lot 
of 
tube 
life.

I 
mostly 
work 
CW 
DX 
(now 
mostly 
restricted 
to 
80 
& 
40 
with 
band 
conditions)

Unlike 
20, 
etc 
with 
a 
beam 
I 
am 
finding 
it 
more 
and 
more 
necessary 
to 
use 
the 
amp 
to 
get 
through 
(inverted 
Vee 
at 
60').

Am 
I 
right 
to 
be 
reluctant 
to 
turn 
on 
the 
amp 
just 
to 
make 
one 
dxcc 
band 
contact, 
only?

Knowing 
the 
finite 
life 
of 
a 
tube 
and 
the 
price 
of 
the 
ones 
in 
my 
amp, 
I 
am 
quite 
reluctant 
to 
just 
turn 
it 
on, 
make 
the 
contact, 
and 
not 
use 
it 
again 
that 
day.

Any 
feeling 
in 
the 
group 
what 
difference 
in 
tube 
life 
that 
makes?

The 
timing 
circuit 
is 
working 
so 
I 
have 
the 
usual 
delay 
from 
filaments 
on 
to 
transmit, 
but, 
just 
the 
idea 
of 
the 
filaments 
being 
turned 
on 
and 
off 
worries 
me.
Thanks 
& 
73,
Art 
K5FNQ

_______________________________________________
Amps 
mailing 
list
Amps at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps