[Amps] Ameritron AL-1200 problem on 160 meters

[Rick Stealey]

In my posting on this subject where I talked about lengthening the time delay on a step-start
I was referring to my homebrew amp.  I got a few emails from guys asking how I did it on my 1200.
So I looked up the AL1200 schematic on the bama site to see if I could answer their questions.
I found what, to me, was an unusual circuit, because I expected a dc relay with some 
electrolytic cap that could be changed, but instead they us an ac relay that looks like it 
activates when the initial transformer impedance (caused by the essentially short circuit of the 
capacitors) rises after power up.  Then the ac relay kicks in and shorts out the surge resistor, R3.
I told the guys I do NOT recommend increasing the value of R3 in an attempt to change the 
relay pull in time.  I don't know how much initial current is flowing, and therefore how long 
that resistor can tolerate being in line.  So since I don't know, I sure don't recommend changing 
it, especially since there hasn't been a reason that I've seen as to what the problem is.  It 
seems like Ameritron has something that is working fine as is, even though the relay may kick in
quite fast.

Rick  K2XT

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