[Amps] Automotive Relays

Sat Aug 7 07:49:48 PDT 2010

Most of the antenna switch problems were undersized traces, cheap connectors 
that melted, and VSWR related. Its been almost 20 years since Ive used any 
at power but one does duty switching Beverages 750' away. Maybe they 
improved them.

Carl
KM1H

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Blaine" <keepwalking188 at yahoo.com>
To: "Mike" <k4gmh at arrl.net>; <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 1:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays

> Mike,
>
> I would like to have said that using them in my case was due to some
> superhuman research attempt.  But I just noticed that these were the 
> relays
> in my Ameritron remote antenna switch.  And I checked them out - using 
> them
> as a sort of benchmark to compare with.  Just never found a better relay 
> and
> ran with them.
>
> There must be a lot of those Ameritron switches out.  While the
> manufacturer's reputation has it's issues, I do think generally users are
> happy with the switches.  This one has been ridden hard at about 1KW RTTY
> service and seems to be holding up fine.  So far...  Fingers crossed.
>
> 73/jeff/ac0c
> www.ac0c.com
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Mike" <k4gmh at arrl.net>
> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 8:32 PM
> To: <amps at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>
>> Here the Tyco relays have been used without a failure for over five years
>> in
>> various homemade stack matchers, ant. switchers, etc. while running 1500 
>> W
>> in RTTY contests.  They are also used at a local M/M station in various 
>> HF
>> contest modes for all sort of ant. and amp. selection without a failure.
>>
>> "Rappack Controller Design for Stack Match", National Contest Journal,
>> Jan/Feb 2005 or Wiki,
>> http://wiki.contesting.com/index.php/Category:Remote_antenna_switches,
>> devices are used to make sure the relay control voltage is appropriately
>> applied to keep from hot switching the relays.  The single IC controller
>> is
>> based on the quad latch, CD4042.
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 3:37 PM, Jeff Blaine
>> <keepwalking188 at yahoo.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Carl, you are right.  400.000 W.  So if that 12A version is good for a 
>>> US
>>> 1500W, then the 16A version may be marginally acceptable for a guy
>>> running
>>> the AUS 400W.
>>>
>>> Now that I think of it, 2-3 in parallel may be the way to go if a guy
>>> were
>>> running 400.001 instead of 400.000 W as may happen - for the most brief
>>> of
>>> instances, of course.  :)
>>>
>>> I run the 24V version because the current is half and the power
>>> dissipation
>>> in the wires is a lot less as a result.   It's a great relay.
>>>
>>> 73/jeff/ac0c
>>> www.ac0c.com
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "Carl" <km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
>>> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 2:20 PM
>>> To: "Jeff Blaine" <keepwalking188 at yahoo.com>; "Paul Christensen"
>>> <w9ac at arrl.net>; <amps at contesting.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>>
>>> > I thought the Emtron DX3 and 4 were the Aussie national amp(-;
>>> >
>>> > Carl
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> Carl,
>>> >>
>>> >> That relay is available in a 24V version.  And there's a 16A contacts
>>> >> rating option as well which may be the better choice especially if a
>>> >> guy
>>> >> is running at the full AUS/NZ-400w power level instead of the 
>>> >> domestic
>>> >> 1500w power level.
>>> >>
>>> >> 73/jeff/ac0c
>>> >> www.ac0c.com
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> --------------------------------------------------
>>> >> From: "Carl" <km1h at jeremy.mv.com>
>>> >> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 8:33 AM
>>> >> To: "Paul Christensen" <w9ac at arrl.net>; <amps at contesting.com>
>>> >> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>> >>
>>> >>> I'll have to give those a try, I want to experiment with some 6M
>>> antenna
>>> >>> phasing. The 12V coil may be a problem in a very long run, probably
>>> have
>>> >>> to
>>> >>> dial back a 24V PS.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Carl
>>> >>> KM1H
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> >>> From: "Paul Christensen" <w9ac at arrl.net>
>>> >>> To: <amps at contesting.com>
>>> >>> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 5:37 PM
>>> >>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>> Although not strictly an "automotive" relay, W8ZR has conducted
>>> >>>> extensive
>>> >>>> tests on the Tyco/Shrack RTB14012, available for USD $1.80 ea. from
>>> >>>> Mouser
>>> >>>> Electronics:
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=RTB14012
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Jim is using these relays for high-power 1.5KW+ switching in his 
>>> >>>> new
>>> >>>> StationPro controller.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> http://www.w8zr.net/stationpro/index.htm
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> He's seeing some very low loss and VSWR numbers up through 6m, with
>>> >>>> decent
>>> >>>> performance through 2m.  Not bad for a $1.80 PCB sealed power 
>>> >>>> relay.
>>>  I
>>> >>>> believe Jim has tested another similar relay with even lower loss 
>>> >>>> in
>>> >>>> the
>>> >>>> same price class.
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Paul, W9AC
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> >>>>> From: "Dave Hachadorian" <k6ll at arrl.net>
>>> >>>>> To: <amps at contesting.com>
>>> >>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 4:54 PM
>>> >>>>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>> Below is some info from W2VJN on inexpensive relays for RF. They
>>> >>>>>> are available for $2.43 each here:
>>> >>>>>>
>>> http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/747811-relay-pwr-spdt-10a-12vdc-pc-mnt-jw1fsn-dc12v.html
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
>>> >>>>>> Big Bear Lake, CA
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>>> The relays which we use in the Top Ten Devices boxes are 10
>>> >>>>>>> amp,
>>> >>>>>>> sealed power relays.  They are very small and have very low
>>> >>>>>>> inductance.  The contacts are connected to the base pins with
>>> >>>>>>> wide conductors.  I have run many power tests on these relays
>>> >>>>>>> and the pc boards they are mounted on with temperature monitors
>>> >>>>>>> and they will take full amateur power (+) to over 30 MHz.  We
>>> >>>>>>> rate our boxes conservatively at 1.5 KW.  The part number is
>>> >>>>>>> JW1FSN-DC12V.  They come with several different brand names on
>>> >>>>>>> them.  Similar relays are being used by other manufactures of
>>> >>>>>>> amateur boxes and they rate them variously at 3 KW and 5 KW.
>>> >>>>>>>
>>> >>>>>>> George, W2VJN
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>> >>>>>> Amps mailing list
>>> >>>>>> Amps at contesting.com
>>> >>>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>> >>>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>>
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> >>>
>>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>>> >>>
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>>   73,
>>   Mike, K4GMH
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