[TenTec] Centurion Amplifier history

[Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP]

"It's no Alpha".... thank gosh.

Alpha, Acom, OM-Power, etc., all of these have extensive protection
circuitry and they have problems with their protection circuitry ALL the
time.

ESPECIALLY when trying to run them in full break in, you will often see "ARC
FAULT" (ACOM) or similar messages from the others.  

Before someone comes back with their love story about their own "one
amplifier", let me say that my opinion is based on the experience of or
contest club with about 400 members and over 100 of these "modern"
amplifiers.  

I'll take an amplifier with one or two 3-500z any day over these modern
finicky amps!

73
Rick, DJ0IP


-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of k0bx at arrl.net
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 11:10 PM
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amplifier history

I got my Centurion about 4 years ago used off of QTH.COM.  I paid $1300 for
it. The build date was 1996.  I have not  had a lick of problems with it. 
It still has the Emiac tubes in it.  I still get 1300 watts output with 100
watts input.

To get this amp, I sold my Drake L7 amp.  The Drake was more heavy duty, but
the TR switch was too slow for my IC-756PROIII.  The Drake L7 served me for
a lot of years.  


The Centurion has great break-in CW.  I key the Amp and the Amp keys
the rig. No more hot-switching.

Ten-Tec still has the old manual on their website.  I guess there has not
been any changes for year except for the paint.
It is no Alpha, but it pretty close.

Joe K0BX
 Stop the insanity!
Please do not add me to any distribution lists (Joke, Stories or Junk)
without my permission. 





________________________________
From: "jholich at comcast.net" <jholich at comcast.net>
To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Wed, March 14, 2012 9:50:38 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amplifier history



The tubes at RF P arts ( thus RFP) are Chinese. They just have a two year 
guarantee. The Chinese (not RF Parts)  tubes are a "crap shoot". You get a
goood 
one, it's OK. You get a bad one, you might lose your amp. 




I use their 3-500ZG and 572 B's No problems. 



73 



Jim Holich 

AB9SX 



----- Original Message -----


From: "Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP" <Rick at DJ0IP.de> 
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 4:11:19 PM 
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amplifier history 

Source for all of the below:  http://www.rfparts.com/tubetran.html 

The 3-500ZG that RF Parts sell under their own brand name are pretty decent.

They show "RFP" as the vendor.  Cost $190 or $380 for a matched pair. 
I have used these for years and had good experience with them. 

If you don't know what to do with your money, then you can buy the Amperex 
NOS tubes from them for $330 each. 

They also sell those tubes sourced from "Taylor" for $180, or $360 for a MP.


I don't have any experience with these, maybe someone else here does. 

Finally, they sell a Chinese version for $160;  I wouldn't touch that one. 

It is not impossible to kill these tubes, but I've never managed and I have 
had some amps that have been used none-stop in about 25 or 30  48-hr. 
contests.   

The nice thing about these tubes: 
 - they are robust 
 - the amplifiers they are used in don't need fault-protection circuitry 
 - they are relatively cheap 
 - long before they blow, the glow; even light up the room. 

As long as you monitor grid current, and don't exceed their limit, they are 
pretty indestructible. 

73 
Rick, DJ0IP 


-----Original Message----- 
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com] 
On Behalf Of Carter 
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 9:56 PM 
To: tentec at contesting.com 
Subject: Re: [TenTec] Centurion Amplifier history 

On 3/14/2012 4:33 PM, kc9cdt at aol.com wrote: 
> Are output transisters still available?? 
> 73, 
> Lee 
> 
Well, a fair question...but the Centurion uses two 3-500 tubes. 

MY question would be: Are any *decent* 3-500s still available -- other than 
the Chinese imports (or getting lucky at the e-place)? 
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