[Amps] AL82 pi network C2 failure

[Victor Rosenthal]

It is possible to fix this. I had a similar problem with the loading 
capacitor in my TL922, due me stupidly operating with a high SWR ("I'll 
just finish the contest and then I'll fix the antenna").

First you file off the blobs with a needle file. Then you slide some 
emery paper of successively fine grit between the plates to polish them 
as much as you can. Probably you need to remove the capacitor to do a 
good job as I had to do.

Those capacitors don't give you a lot of headroom. Best to keep the SWR 
below about 1.8:1. Sometimes you can get away with it (for a while), but 
as you found out, it gets you in the end.

73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
CWops #5
Formerly K2VCO
https://www.qsl.net/k2vco/

On 08/12/2021 9:31, Robert W5AJ wrote:
> Initial arc(s) occurred with the phased HF2V array on 80 meters (HF2V array
> not used on 40)
> Think a key is doesn't arc on other antennas/bands, initially.
> first amp that failed output loading capacitor had Vacuum relaying on
> output, reed relay on input.
> wouldn't arc on other bands initially but over time, a blob/damage appears
> on one of the capacitor plates, then it was pointless.
> filing off bad parts was also futile fix.
> Before capacitor plate was damaged, could run 1000watts out for a few
> seconds before the capacitor would arc over.
>
> AL82 has clanker relays for T/R switching.  My rig has a "TX DLY" which
> delays RF by the setting (8ms) after KEY OUT jack closes.
>
> After 1st amp failure, changed insulators on HF2V using longer distance
> between AL sections but those those insulators show black marks (RTTY
> Contest failure).  Replacement of insulators with some insulating material
> is next but it's getting old....
> oh, me too.
> My guess is WX had some play in the insulators failure/arc.
>
> failure is on loading variable capacitor.
> since I'm going to be taking AL82 apart, anything else I should be looking
> for while in there???
>
> 73 Robert W5AJ
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> I have met Death many times,
> Someday Death will win
> BUT NOT TODAY
>
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> On Tue, Dec 7, 2021 at 8:30 PM Rob Atkinson<ranchorobbo at gmail.com>  wrote:
>
>> My guess is that you are not sequencing your station, or you are, but
>> there's a timing problem.  When you run high power you have to have a
>> sequencer so everything that changes state can do so and pull in
>> before RF gets generated.   The idea is that for example, your
>> receivers mute, VFO comes on, receive preamps power down, antenna
>> change over happens, and any switching out at your antenna feedpoint
>> is done before the transmitter RF comes on.  Then when going to
>> receive, RF drops first, and everything else flips back over next.  It
>> seems like there's something hot switching, some relay maybe is a few
>> milliseconds too slow out at your antenna so for an instant, your
>> power amplifier sees an infinite impedance.   That will flash over
>> somewhere.  A vac. cap won't save a hot switched relay or contactor in
>> your system.  You need to delay your RF on make, and have it drop
>> first on break.
>>
>> 73
>> Rob
>> K5UJ
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