[TenTec] Triton II meter is wild

[n4nt - Mike Hyder]

Hi Don--

Your drive pot may be dirty.  Also the Mode switch, as you suspect.
That meter on the Triton is NOT output, but IS reflected power!  When
cleaning switch contacts, one friend suggests WD-40 as the lubrication
is necessary for switch life.  Same WD-40 works on pots, he says.  I
don't know about his choice of WD-40 and use stuff I bought from Ten-Tec
some years ago.

If the meter movement's rapid increase occurs when you advance the Drive
control past a certain point and occurs on an antenna or through an
antenna tuner, it may signify that your ALC is not working properly.
Without proper ALC voltage being developed, they can go into some weird
oscillations which will show up as high reflected power if the Drive
control is advanced too far.  This should not happen on a dummy load,
though, I would think.  You can tell if the rig is developing ALC
voltage by watching the ALC LED on the front panel.  If it is not,
replace the diode(s) which develop the ALC.

If it were my rig, I'd send it to Ten-Tec and have them go through it.
They clean all the pots and switches and give it a general tweak up for
something like $55.  They used to use a contact cleaner (Kramolin, I
think it is) which was a two step process -- red can to clean pots and
switches, then blue can to lubricate them.  The lubrication of the
switches is VERY important.

Luck to you on your new rig.  Those are fine little rigs!  73 de Mike
N4NT@bigfoot.com


-----Original Message-----
From: PGHDTS@aol.com <PGHDTS@aol.com>
To: TenTec@contesting.com <TenTec@contesting.com>
Date: Tuesday, August 04, 1998 8:38 AM
Subject: [TenTec] Triton II meter is wild


>
>Hi this my first time on the TenTec list.
>I recently purchase a Triton II  at a nearby hamfest and have had
trouble
>getting the transmitter final to align. I thought one of you technical
types
>might be able to give me a hand. Here is the problem-
> With the Mode switch in LOCK the output meter swings wildly so that I
cannot
>set the drive.  In some cases it will peg to either end  of the meter
scale.
>And in some cases it will finally return, follow the Drive pot and
give a
>steady meter reading. With the Mode switch in the CW2 position and
holding
>the key down every thing stays solid and I can easily align the amps
drive.
>In the SSB positions I thank it is solid but I cant be absolutely sure,
but
>there is no pegging.  Problem is there using a dummy load or with the
antenna
>connected. I think the problem is in the Mode switch contacts. If it is
what
>is a good way to clean contacts? Thanks in advance for any help.
>73  Don   KB3CIL
>
>--
>FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
>Submissions:              tentec@contesting.com
>Administrative requests:  tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
>Problems:                 owner-tentec@contesting.com
>Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
>
>



--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/tentecfaq.htm
Submissions:              tentec@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  tentec-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-tentec@contesting.com
Search:                   http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm