[Amps] Titan Band Switch Arcing

[Wayne, W0ZW]

Thank you for your comments, Doug.  Although the solder job on the switch terminals looks good, resoldering would be a cheap and easy potential fix.

In looking at the mechanical design of the Titan Band switch assembly I discovered that the Band switch and related fixed caps and inductors are mounted on a separate sub-chassis directly on top of the main chassis.  By unsoldering just a handful of wires this sub-chassis (and the entire Band switch itself) can be completely removed from the main enclosure.  It also requires removing the front panel and disconnecting the Band switch shaft from the Low Pass Filter board.  This sub-chassis has a large cut-out underneath the Band switch which allows physical access and facilitates soldering and inspection of the switch.  I'm sure this is how Ten-Tec manufactured this portion of the output tank circuit.  It's just too tight to perform any work on these components otherwise.  

So, I am embarking on a major disassembly of my Titan.  I see no other way to access the switch without removing this sub-chassis.  It looks like I have a winter project ahead of me.  In the mean time, additional comments are very welcomed.  I still don't know why the switch is arcing.

Wayne, W0ZW


>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2023 12:29:28 -0400
> From: Douglas Zwiebel <dougzzz at gmail.com>
> To: Amplifier Reflector <amps at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [Amps] Titan Band Switch Arcing
> Message-ID:
> 	<CA+u=Ds0Waiz5jKqGMGqBJLmyyVq2_zsuLirVS5DG3v=oE4u7sQ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Not a Titan, but a Centurion.
>
> Recently, I also had arching and it also turned out to be the bandswitch.
>
> Resolder all of the connections on the bandswitch.
> Also, trace out the "far end" of wire coming off of the bandswitch and look
> for evidence of arcing there too.  I found that on mine.
>
> When I first opened the amp, I noted a blob of solder below the
> band-switch.  I don't know how, but apparently it just fell off.  Part of
> it was still "molded" in the shape of the wire where it has been "solder"
> to.
>
> I am the 4th owner for the amp.  I suspect that some things just fail after
> enough time (cycles).
>
> GL
>
> de Doug KR2Q
>
>