[TenTec] Paragon Problem gets very odd

[Ben Hall]

Hi Wade,

I used to have a computer that would make me very angry with 
intermittent faults.  I kept a screwdriver next to the keyboard.

When it would act up, I'd grab the screwdriver and say or yell, 
depending how mad I was: "DON'T MAKE ME COME IN THERE!"  And it knew I 
would, so it would act right for some time after that.  ;)

Almost ready to pull the trigger on a Mouser order for the replacement 
caps.  I will look at the connections quite carefully when I take it 
back apart to install the replacement C25 and replace the others.

thanks much and 73,
ben, kd5byb


On 7/14/2012 12:51 PM, wade staggs wrote:
> *Amazing,*
> *                That cap could have been breaking down under load. You
> could have bad connections. I would look at ALL of the connections very
> closely. Maybe, it saw you Armed with the proper service info and you
> scared it into working ;) I am really glad that you are on the air. If, it
> fails again, shake the service manual at it and give it a good cursing. You
> may need to scare it some more.. Just Joking...*
> *                                                    73 de Wade/KJ4WS*
>
> On Sat, Jul 14, 2012 at 12:43 PM, Ben Hall <kd5byb at kd5byb.net> wrote:
>
>> Morning all,
>>
>> An update.  So I got the power amp out of the Paragon, took it all
>> apart, and inspected it.  I found no obvious damage - no swollen caps,
>> no burn marks, etc...
>>
>> I did remove C25 (which was a 33uF, 35V, 105 deg C unit) and couldn't
>> find a replacement in my supply.  C25 tested fine.  I ran it up to
>> nearly 30 VDC and it did not short, did not leak, etc...
>>
>> But I could find nothing wrong, so I put it back together minus C25.
>> With just the power amp on the bench, I hooked up 13.8VDC to the red lead.
>>
>> Everything was fine.  No power draw.  (insert head scratching here)
>>
>> So I put it back into the radio, hook up the RF output.  Apply power.
>> No power draw on the red wire into the power amp.
>>
>> So I reattached the blue "11" plug and repeat.  No power draw.
>>
>> So I reattached the RF Input and repeat.  No power draw.
>>
>> So at this point, everything is hooked up minus the red power wire.  So
>> I resolder it to the power board and apply power to the radio.
>>
>> It POWERS UP FINE.  Hooked it up to the dummy load, hooked up my mic,
>> and it makes output power just fine.  Voice peaks into the dummy load
>> easily hit nearly 100W.
>>
>> SoooOOOOooo!  I am now totally confused as to what's going on.  Best I
>> can figure was maybe a loose connection from the bias board to the power
>> amp?  VERY ODD.
>>
>> I am ordering some replacement caps from Mouser - will replace that 33uF
>> and the 10uF ones with 50VDC, 105 deg C replacements...
>>
>> thanks much and 73,
>> ben, kd5byb
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