[Amps] Overdrive protection

[George]

Vic, my ARD 230A using 3CX800's built in the 80's has this feature. If 
you drive it a little heavy it'll start warning you
and give you a few seconds to stop before shutting down. If you hit it 
real hard, it'll shut down immediately.
Both are reset from the front panel easily.  So, if this was done in the 
80's why isn't it implemented in every amp
built today.  I have read, some folks thought it was unforgiving and 
interrupted their transmission and didn't
like it.

73,
George, K4GVT




On 7/26/2012 12:36 PM, Vic K2VCO wrote:
> Alpha's email newsletter talks about damage to amplifiers as a result of overdrive -- the
> example is given of amplifiers designed to produce 1500w output with 40w drive being
> driven with 150w. They say that there is a log maintained by the firmware which records
> overdrive incidents and that they won't repair damage caused by this kind of abuse under
> warranty.
>
> I am sympathetic to their attitude and don't approve of the philosophy that all knobs
> should always be set to 11. But sometimes it's unintentional.
>
> My question -- and maybe there's an Alpha employee on the list who wants to answer -- is
> "isn't it possible to make an overdrive protection circuit that will cause the amplifier
> to fault fast enough to protect the tubes and components?"
>