[Amps] Amp “Warm-up”?

[w8hw at comcast.net]

Hello Bill,

I believe your amp uses tube 3-500. If so it is a quick heat up (Less than 
one second). By the time you throw the standby switch to operate, and then 
turn to your radio, it is ready to go.

One nice thing about tube amps (and I have both types) is that tubes last 
20-40 years or more and can be replaced because production of tube still 
exist. Where with solid state amps, whatever solid state device is in vogue 
this year will be out of production next year. So if you ever blow a solid 
state final 2-10 years from now, you maybe faced with a big question of what 
to do. Many times the only option is to buy a totally new amplifier. Also 
solid state are not very forgiving on accidentally running out of suggested 
operating parameters such as surges or other occurrence. Tubes often give 
you a (well loved) break on things like that. It is just a matter of time, 
If you are like me (been a ham for over 50 years) you will (someday) push 
the wrong button or do something that you hope no one saw you do, but the 
tube still works. Then you say... WOW I just got lucky. Then you smile...

73, Bruce, W8HW
====================================



-----Original Message----- 
From: Bill Ashby
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2018 23:27
To: Amps at contesting.com
Subject: [Amps] Amp “Warm-up”?

Good Evening All!
I have an Ameritron AL-80B Amp, which i have had for just under a year, and
have a Question about
“Warming-up” the Tube!

First, i must confess that I’m in the generation that held that Tubes
Should be “Warmed-up Prior to
Actually hitting them with “Full Power, and my Question is this: Should i
After turning the Amp “On”
Should I Wait for the Tube to “Warm up” Prior to using the Amp. Or is it
“Safe” to just Turn the Amp
“On, and Not Worry about Warming the Tube Up Prior to using “Full Power?

The Beauty of “Solid State devices is that the Power Transistor(s) DONT
“Need” to “Warm-up and
Can be used, running Full Power when the Amp is Turned On!

Please Advise!

Thanks for Any and All of your Comments!

-73-
Bill
N6FFC
-- 
Take Care, God Bless you and your Family! -73- Bill
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