[TenTec] which power supply…station efficiency

[Richards]

Er... um... on the advice of Gary and Paul at TenTec, and from the 
Brand-X Service Dept, I eliminated the power distribution panel, and 
shortened all my power supply leads, and connect them directly to the 
terminals on my RS-35M power supply.  I upgraded all transceiver power 
leads to minimum 12 gauge wire, as short as possible.  My Brand-X radio 
is kinda sensitive to any significant voltage or current sag when 
running full blast, so I give it the best chance possible.  Various 
sources indicate nominal 12 v PAs are typically sensitive to such sags.


There is no need to have a separate power supply for each rig, if you 
pay attention and run them all at once.  Consequently, I employ one 
RS-35M dedicated solely to powering one transceiver at a ztime, and 
another RS-35M to powering various accessories.   I cannot quantify it 
with meter measurements, but I believe it all runs better that way.

I also have ferrite beads on the power leads, but I am with you - I 
cannot say they are doing anything in particular, but remain in place 
just in case.


I believe (ideally) every extra patch cable, connector, etc., in line 
causes an ever so slight impedance and voltage or current or whatever 
"speed-bump," so I have become a "Minimalist" and have tried to 
eliminate as many such speed-bumps as possible.

Oh, sure, I know neither the contact operator nor I will notice a mere 
.25 dB drop in signal strength, but it is the principle of the thing.  I 
also believe it is cumulative - as in the famous quote by Sen Dirkson, 
possibly made in a different context...:  "A dB here, a dB there; pretty 
soon it adds up to real power loss."   Er... um... I think it is how it 
goes.

So, if I were looking to maximize station efficiency, I would eliminate 
the power distribution strip.  That was the absolute very first thing 
Master Technician Paul C asked when my Jupiter acted funny.  It is also 
the first question I received from the Brand-X Service Dept, on a 
related question, but regarding a different rig.


That is just MY take, of course... you mileage may vary.

========================= K8JHR ==============================



On 12/13/2013 11:40 AM, denton sprague wrote:
> Ok..got some nice replays on all of this..
> Currently have one of my Astron 35M's feeding either the Omni 7 or the Eagle from a power strip….this should do until I have done more research on a more efficient power supply situation.
> I would prefer to have separate power supplies for each of the hf rigs just to get some isolation between them rf wise….has this been a problem with anyone else?
> Have been using clamp on ferrite chokes on the dc line from the strip to the rigs but can't tell if they are really doing anything.

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