[RTTY] Heathkit SB-1000 On RTTY

[Bill, W6WRT]

IGINAL MESSAGE: 
On Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:07:56 -0400, NZ4O wrote:

>I have a Heathkit SB-1000 amplifier with the single 3-500Z. The manual for 
>the Heathkit SB-1000 says a maximum plate current of 400 mA for CW and 550 
>mA on SSB.
>
>What would be a safe maximum plate current for RTTY operation, which is 
>obviously 100% duty cycle like AM operation?

REPLY: 
I ran an SB-1000 on RTTY for several years. The weak point in that amp is not
the tube or tank circuit, it's the power transformer. At 1kW RF output during
RTTY contesting you will soon start to smell the transformer overheating. 
Not a good smell. 

Hold it down to 600 watts RF output and you can run it all day long.

73, Bill W6WRT