[Amps] Overdrive protection

[Richard Solomon]

Not "all" of us know which they are ... is there a list somewhere of those
rigs that exhibit this nasty problem ? Maybe if we boycott those rigs then
the manufacturer will modify them.

73, Dick, W1KSZ

On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 12:23 PM, Vic K2VCO <k2vco.vic at gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, this isn't Alpha's problem. They shouldn't have to castrate their protection circuit
> so that the amplifier can be used with transceivers that are defective.
>
> Aren't these spikes themselves dangerous to the amplifier?
>
> Maybe they should issue a warning about the transceivers (we all know which they are) that
> do this. Given that the tubes cost $900, according to Alpha, it might be cheaper to
> replace the transceiver than to keep replacing tubes.
>
> On 7/26/2012 12:11 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
>>
>>> 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?"
>>
>> Of course there is but such a protection circuit would make the amp
>> almost impossible to use with the many rigs have have a horrendous ALC
>> spike on initial key-down.  Many of the most commonly used rigs produce
>> a full power (or higher) 2-5 ms long even when cranked back to 30 or
>> 40 watts.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>>      ... Joe, W4TV
>>
>>
>> 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?"
>>>
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>
> --
> Vic, K2VCO
> Fresno CA
> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
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