[Amps] Ten Tec 425 Repair

Wed Aug 31 16:55:26 EDT 2016

I would tend not to think that R17 is the problem.  If L4 is common to 160 and 80/75 I would think that you would see a similar problem on 160m.  Most likely the full windings on L4 are in use on 160, and there is probably a tap on the windings that is for 75/80. I am not sure but what could possibly be wrong with the CORE of L4?  Unless it is cracked?  Although toroid cores do get hot, they should not overheat that quickly.  If you have checked everything else I would think that maybe there is a crack in the core or some other core type problem.  

Ken, I can't comment re L4, but high grid current is often associated 
with a failure of R17 (4.7 ohm , 5% resistor) on the bias board.  Why 
this would only manifest on 75/80M is a mystery, but since it only 
occurs after the amp warms up, it's possible that it's changing value 
with temperature.  The board is accessible from the removable plate 
under the RF compartment.  After you remove the four plugs and screws 
holding it in place, it's easy to work on.

73, Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Giacobello via Amps <amps at contesting.com>
To: k4zw <k4zw at verizon.net>; amps <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 31, 2016 4:41 pm
Subject: Re: [Amps] Ten Tec 425 Repair

Ken, I can't comment re L4, but high grid current is often associated 
with a failure of R17 (4.7 ohm , 5% resistor) on the bias board.  Why 
this would only manifest on 75/80M is a mystery, but since it only 
occurs after the amp warms up, it's possible that it's changing value 
with temperature.  The board is accessible from the removable plate 
under the RF compartment.  After you remove the four plugs and screws 
holding it in place, it's easy to work on.

73, Joe
K2XX

On 8/31/2016 10:46 AM, Ken Claerbout wrote:
> A friend asked me to look at his 425. First thing I noticed was the plate choke was burned. I think it came from trying to operate on 12 meters. I replaced that choke with the Ameritron model, which I understand is not resonant on 12 meters. The amp also had a burned padder cap on the 160A position. That's replaced. The amp is working now on every band except for 75 & 80 meters. It tunes fine to about 500 - 600 watts. Advancing the power further, the grid current goes from zero to pegging the meter, with no in-between.
>
> I've replaced the padder caps for those segments with no change. The band-switch and contacts have been checked. As far as I can see they look fine. I thought I was on to something, when I found the connection from the tap on L4 had a cold solder joint on the band-switch. L4 is used on 160, 80 , and 75 meters. I Re-soldered that but same thing. I'm beginning to think that the toroid L4 is wound on is fried although, I don't see any obvious signs. I haven't taken it apart and removed the tape. After several tests on 80 & 160, I took the cover off and felt the core. It was very warm, almost to the point of being hot. I'm mindful that L4 also comes into play on 160. But something appears to be heating up, or arching, once power is advanced much past 500 watts output. Also when I first turn on the amp, it's cold, I can get close to legal limit on 80 & 75. But after several attempts the grid current problem pops up. Seems to indicate the toroid is heating up?
>
> I should also mention the input SWR on 80 is quite high, 3.5:1 but much better, 1.6:1 on 75. I suspect that's a separate issue and will look into that once I get the output side squared away.
>
> So the question, especially for those who have experience with this amp, I don't, have you seen the core in L4 go bad? Is there something I'm overlooking? I did try a spare set of tubes, nothing changes.
>
> 73
> Ken K4ZW
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