[Amps] Amps Digest, Vol 177, Issue 5

Tue Sep 5 11:44:54 EDT 2017

Regarding message #1:
Adam, ab4oj has a diagram on making up a simple cable to connect a VL-1000 to other than Yaesu amps.
He is a friendly sort of guy, very knowledgeable.
Gary...wa6fgi

    On Monday, September 4, 2017 3:43 PM, "amps-request at contesting.com" <amps-request at contesting.com> wrote:

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Today's Topics:

  1. Yaesu VL1000 amp with other exciters (dave arruzza)
  2. Apparent Arcing (Roger Parsons)
  3. Grid dip meters 2 models, opinions? (Conrad PA5Y)
  4. Re: Grid dip meters 2 models, opinions? (Steve Wright)
  5. Re: Apparent Arcing (Ron Youvan)
  6. Re: Grid dip meters 2 models, opinions? (Jim Brown)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2017 18:28:28 +0000 (UTC)
From: dave arruzza <w1ctn at yahoo.com>
To: "amps at contesting.com" <amps at contesting.com>,     YCCC Reflector
    <yccc at yccc.org>
Subject: [Amps] Yaesu VL1000 amp with other exciters
Message-ID: <544168118.2610252.1504549708677 at mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

To all: 
Has anyone developed a simple "plug and play" cable combination, that is available commercially,? so the VL-1000 operates as it does with a Yaesu exciter. 

I don't want to adjust levels or loose any functionality, just plug it in, turn of the rig and it works. 

Icom, Kenwood or Elecraft exciters. 

73Dave 
W1CTN

|  | Virus-free. www.avast.com  |

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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2017 20:25:19 +0000 (UTC)
From: Roger Parsons <ve3zi at yahoo.com>
To: Amps <amps at contesting.com>
Subject: [Amps] Apparent Arcing
Message-ID: <2130636893.2812425.1504556719879 at mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I recently 'completed' a new amplifier. Everything seemed fine and I was quite happy. But I was only checking the transmit functions.

However: I now find that when I power on the HV I get rf noise in the receiver - sounds and spectrum are just like power line arcing. But it's not.

Obviously the first suspect was the high voltage circuitry. I disconnected the wiring to the tube, followed by the capacitor bank and bleeder resistors, followed by the rectifier diodes. No difference.

So it seemed I was left with the power transformer. With AC power on the primary and nothing on the secondary I get the noise. I tried an RFI filter in series and it fixed it completely. However, I am not very keen on leaving that in circuit because it seems to be covering the real fault. I then tried connecting the power transformer primary directly to the circuit breaker (no secondary load). No noise. I then connected the power transformer directly to the circuit breaker (again no secondary load), but reconnected the soft start, etc (That wiring going nowhere). No noise. (I can't connect the primary of the HV transformer directly to the circuit breaker with a secondary load as I need the soft start in that condition.)

(The HV transformer is new and very well impregnated. It does not get hot or let smoke out. I find it difficult to believe that there is something like a shorted turn causing the noise, but I suppose it is possible.)

OK, I thought. Perhaps it's a bad contact in the soft start relay or the HV relay. Cleaned the contacts up (they actually looked fine before anyway) and no difference to the noise. Bypassed everything I could find. No difference.

Last thing. The noise only happens when the transformer has AC power. Once the power is off, the noise disappers even before the capacitor bank has discharged.

Obviously I'm missing something! Any ideas what?

Thanks

Roger
VE3ZI

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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2017 22:51:22 +0200
From: Conrad PA5Y <g0ruz at g0ruz.com>
To: amps at contesting.com
Subject: [Amps] Grid dip meters 2 models, opinions?
Message-ID: <e59778e7-6029-8f56-1243-7dc99f058a15 at g0ruz.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Hello all I have found 2 second hand grid dip meters.

One is a Heathkit HD1250 price 80 Euros, the other is? a Leader LDM-815 
price 50 Euros, you tube videos show that they both seem to work. The 
Heathkit seems very popular but what am I getting for the extra 30 
Euros? Probably a good resale value but I want to use it not sell it :)

Anyone have experience of both meters by any chance?

73

Conrad PA5Y

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Tue, 5 Sep 2017 08:55:22 +1200
From: Steve Wright <stevewrightnz at gmail.com>
To: Conrad PA5Y <g0ruz at g0ruz.com>, amps at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Grid dip meters 2 models, opinions?
Message-ID: <3fcff860-4bbd-8508-02cb-86128c4dd7da at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

On 05/09/17 08:51, Conrad PA5Y wrote:
> Hello all I have found 2 second hand grid dip meters.

Perhaps you have a good reason for using a dip meter (I have one), but
the inexpensive and new technology VNAs run circles around a dip meter
for functionality.

Steve

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2017 18:27:50 -0400
From: Ron Youvan <ka4inm at gmail.com>
To: amps <amps at contesting.com>
Cc: Roger Parsons <ve3zi at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Apparent Arcing
Message-ID: <03d9bd68-b6bc-bef8-e25e-884afbb0b8c2 at gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

    Roger VE3ZI Parsons via Amps wrote:

> I recently 'completed' a new amplifier. Everything seemed fine and I was quite happy. But I was only checking the transmit functions.

> However: I now find that when I power on the HV I get rf noise in the receiver - sounds and spectrum are just like power line arcing. But it's not.

> Obviously the first suspect was the high voltage circuitry. I disconnected the wiring to the tube, followed by the capacitor bank and bleeder resistors, followed by the rectifier diodes. No difference.

> So it seemed I was left with the power transformer. With AC power on the primary and nothing on the secondary I get the noise. I tried an RFI filter in series and it fixed it completely. However, I am not very keen on leaving that in circuit because it seems to be covering the real fault. I then tried connecting the power transformer primary directly to the circuit breaker (no secondary load). No noise. I then connected the power transformer directly to the circuit breaker (again no secondary load), but reconnected the soft start, etc (That wiring going nowhere). No noise. (I can't connect the primary of the HV transformer directly to the circuit breaker with a secondary load as I need the soft start in that condition.)

> (The HV transformer is new and very well impregnated. It does not get hot or let smoke out. I find it difficult to believe that there is something like a shorted turn causing the noise, but I suppose it is possible.)

> OK, I thought. Perhaps it's a bad contact in the soft start relay or the HV relay. Cleaned the contacts up (they actually looked fine before anyway) and no difference to the noise. Bypassed everything I could find. No difference.

> Last thing. The noise only happens when the transformer has AC power. Once the power is off, the noise disappers even before the capacitor bank has discharged.

> Obviously I'm missing something! Any ideas what?

  This sounds (pin intended) like you are hearing the tubes (idling)
electron flow, check your T/R switch and it's connections.
-- 
  Ron  KA4INM - Youvan's corollary:
                Every action results in unwanted side effects.

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2017 15:42:04 -0700
From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: amps at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Grid dip meters 2 models, opinions?
Message-ID:
    <ce573da0-25e3-4bf4-ab7f-c313459ba241 at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

On 9/4/2017 1:55 PM, Steve Wright wrote:
> On 05/09/17 08:51, Conrad PA5Y wrote:
>> Hello all I have found 2 second hand grid dip meters.
> Perhaps you have a good reason for using a dip meter (I have one), but
> the inexpensive and new technology VNAs run circles around a dip meter
> for functionality.

I strongly agree, and DG8SAQ's VNWA 3e, sold assembled and fully tested 
by SDR Kits in the UK, is a real bargain. I've had mine for about 4 
years, and love it!?? It is well supported both by SDR Kits and DG8SAQ, 
both of whom monitor their Yahoo Group.

http://sdr-kits.net/VNWA3_Description.html

I paid about $700 back then delivered to my door with calibration it, 
but thanks to Brexit, it would be under $600.?? I bought the 
"presentation case," but don't recommend it.? Add 20% VAT where 
applicable (not USA).

73, Jim K9YC

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End of Amps Digest, Vol 177, Issue 5
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