[Amps] YAESU QUADRA Line Voltage Question

[amsctalx at comcast.net]

I'm not sure that the power supplies were manufactured by a third party; I've had a couple of these apart and I didn't see anything that would leave me to believe that... 

But the important thing is that the problem with the supplies is that there is an approximately 12V "sub-supply" that feeds the control subsystem (to provide remote on/off control from Yaesu transceivers) that is regulated and protected through three "fuse resistors". These will, by design, fail if exposed to excessive voltage, are a gigantic pain to find today and will prevent the amp from working if they open. 

I ultimately ended up buying a surplus marine AC line conditioner to protect everything in my shack from the lousy power from our utility company, and only had this occur once to me, but this "sub-supply" is a glaring design compromise and I would think twice about buying one of these today. 

Mike - N8MSA 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Leigh Turner" <invertech at frontierisp.net.au> 
To: amps at contesting.com 
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2014 3:16:29 AM 
Subject: Re: [Amps] YAESU QUADRA Line Voltage Question 


Well Ian that's still a ridiculous situation is it not? 

One would hope then that things go bang in the warranty period when the 
manufacturer has to wear the consequences of their design folly... 

Leigh 
VK5KLT 

-----Original Message----- 
From: Ian White [mailto:gm3sek at ifwtech.co.uk] 
Sent: Sunday, 15 June 2014 4:35 PM 
To: 'Leigh Turner'; amps at contesting.com 
Subject: RE: [Amps] YAESU QUADRA Line Voltage Question 

Yaesu did not design the power supply in the Quadra. They bought the 
complete unit from another manufacturer, and no doubt copied that 
manufacturer's specifications. 

73 from Ian GM3SEK 

>-----Original Message----- 
>From: Amps [mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Leigh 
>Turner 
>Sent: 15 June 2014 02:35 
>To: amps at contesting.com 
>Subject: Re: [Amps] YAESU QUADRA Line Voltage Question 
> 
> 
> Yes considering the risk of dire consequences for expensive failure and 
> repairs it would be wise to take precautions and guard against exceeding 
> the Quadra's narrow rated spec for AC mains input voltage. 
> 
> It is actually quite ridiculous that Yaesu would design a product 
> ostensibly for a global market that did not cater for safely handling up 
> to 264 VAC mains input...as mandated for most modern switch-mode power 
> supplies. 
> 
> Leigh 
> VK5KLT 
> 
>-----Original Message----- 
>From: Amps [mailto:amps-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of peter 
>chadwick 
>Sent: Sunday, 15 June 2014 6:49 AM 
>To: Richard Solomon; amps at contesting.com 
>Subject: Re: [Amps] YAESU QUADRA Line Voltage Question 
> 
>Interesting question. Most ETSI Standards (applicable in Europe and a fair 
>bit of the Far East) require operation meetings spec for mains voltage 
>+/- 10%. BUT the standard for commercially available amateur radio 
>equipment has no requirement.......How that got through, I don't know. 
>Maybe I should ask the Chairman of ETSI ERM TG26, who works for Icom..... 
> 
>I'd suggest a bucking transformer. 
> 
>73 
> 
>Peter G3RZP 
> 
> 
>======================================== 
> Message Received: Jun 14 2014, 07:37 PM 
> From: "Richard Solomon" <dickw1ksz at gmail.com> 
> To: "amps at contesting.com" <amps at contesting.com> 
> Cc: 
> Subject: [Amps] YAESU QUADRA Line Voltage Question 
> 
> Back to thinking about getting a YAESU QUADRA, but the 
> Line Voltage problem is bugging me again. 
> 
> YAESU puts an Abs Max spec on the Line Voltage at 240 VAC, 
> anything over that and nasty things can happen. 
> 
> But, our line voltage spec here is 240 VAC +/- 5% and my line 
> typically runs over 240 VAC. 
> 
> So, the answer seems to be some kind of Buck/Boost Xfmr or 
> Line regulator. 
> 
> What do folks that own a Quadra do ?? 
> 
> 73, Dick, W1KSZ 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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