[TenTec] Triton drive & power controls

[Jim Reid]

Hi,  

Scott wondered  about the subject controls
on a Triton:

> I kinda understand that the drive control and pwr 
>controls set output power,  but I'm just not 100% clear 
>on the exact relationship between the two.....

My Triton 544 does not have a power control;  only
ALC and Drive.

>.....so can someone explain how these two controls work
> together?

Output power seems to be established on both CW and
SSB with the Drive control.  The ALC,  when full clockwise,
allows up to 200 watts INPUT,  when full counterclockwise,
only up to 75 watts input.  So,  if for example,  you want to
set an output power of 50 watts,  you simultaneously turn
up the Drive from full CCW,  and also turn up the ALC a bit.

Watching a peak reading output meter (such as the new
RF Applications VFD gadget) you can easily find the setting
at which 50 watts is read as coming out on voice peaks,
while the ALC light just occasionaly blinks ON.  With this
setting,  the ALC will prevent the rig from exceeding
the desired output level.  Handy for setting max output
into a linear amp,  for example.

And yes,  turning the Drive control full CCW,  the power input
to the final stage is reduced to about 13 watts.  The ALC
control will have no effect at this level no matter where the
knob is positioned,  as I understand the operation.
Ten Tec says to monitor the DC current draw from
the power supply.  The current draw for 13 watts
input power is typically 2 amps,  per Ten Tec.  If you
draw 2 amps,  the input power is now 26 watts.

> What if you turned the drive all the way down and the 
>power up and also drive up and power down. What 
>would break. I know you can run the Triton  QRP
>by turning both controls down and really go QRP 
>by turning the drive all the way down.

As my Triton does not have the Power control,  I don't
know the answer to the above.

73,  Jim,  KH7M



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