Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
I may be falling into a joke or something here, but have three BC-610's and I have yet to run any of them on 220 vac. All three are wired for 115 vac as that's what was provided with the generator from which they were originally powered. Both sides of the AC line entering the BC-610's are fused with a 25 amp fuse and I have yet to blow one, even when the overload protection circuit kicked out indicating an excessive current drain. The two I use at this time both have an output in excess of 400 watts on CW and 350 watts on phone, so they are drawing full current from the mains. Granted, it would sure be nice to have a 220 vac primary on the power transformer to provide for a more stable line voltage, but at 115 vac I still only see about a 3 volt drop at full power. It would be nice if the owner of the BC-610 spoken of here would put it on the air or if he prefers, put it on the market so it could be in circulation. They are great old war horses that will be around long after most of us are gone. Rick/K5IZ Jim Miller WB5OXQ wrote: I had an idea that it draws too much current for a common 110 circuit. My centurion amp requires 220vac also. Otherwise it would need 30 amps at 110 and that is too much for most wiring in homes. We never tired to operate that transmitter and I Hi Jim, Most big rigs run from 220VAC if for no other reason, just load balancing. Big rigs will often pull more that 20 amps of AC line current on...
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
Hi Jim, Most big rigs run from 220VAC if for no other reason, just load balancing. Big rigs will often pull more that 20 amps of AC line current on modulation peaks. So to prevent the line voltage from dropping anymore than is necessary, we often put the HV power supply on a separate 110VAC side of a 220 circuit. And then run the rest of the rig, and other paraphernalia, from the other side. This is call load balancing and it reduces the current on the common line of the 220 service and thereby reduce power voltage drops on modulation peaks. John, WA5BXO Jim Miller WB5OXQ wrote: I had an idea that it draws too much current for a common 110 circuit. My centurion amp requires 220vac also. Otherwise it would need 30 amps at 110 and that is too much for most wiring in homes. We never tired to operate that transmitter and I don't know if he still has it but I bet he does. He has a lot of STUFF that he never uses. I think ya'll are all missing the point... the BC-610 has a twist-plug recepticle on the back of it the blades are curved. If one didn't know better, one might think that the BC-610 used a special plug, that connected to 220VAC. It does not. Jim, if your friend has the rig, and has the plug that goes into the back of it (and everything else needed for it) then yeah, you could puot it on 75m AM phone. The single 250TH modulated by a pair of 100TH's was a military wonderment, in it's day. -- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
RE: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
I really have no idea if it is wired for 110 or 220. I know that the Plate XFMR is 110VAC and if it were me I would wire a separate primary circuit for the plate XFMR. Just for the load balance. If the filaments and low voltage stuff is all run from side A of a 220 circuit and the plate XFMR from side B then it is feasible that the filaments and low voltage supplies would be more stable. And the pilot lamps would not dim as much. That is important when you're trying to write in the log while talking on the air by the light of pilot lamps only, HIHI. I told my wife I was going to get two 20 year olds to replace her and she told me I was not wired for 220. I'm gonna go disinfect some ice cubes. John, WA5BXO
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
You're sure right about the twist plug, Geoff. I replaced my two prong with a three prong twist and it was a booger bear to find one to fit into the hole. I finally stumbled across one (literally!) over in Ft. Worth at Nortex. Someone mentioned a dedicated AC line and running it through a 25 amp variable transformer for their 610, that's the same set up I use. Has anyone experienced distorted audio when using a BC-614 when High Voltage Protect is on? The E model doesn't have this problem, but when I tried to check out my BC-614-H on the 610-H I got real distorted audio in low power. All works great in the Normal position. Rick W5OMR/Geoff wrote: I think ya'll are all missing the point... the BC-610 has a twist-plug recepticle on the back of it the blades are curved. If one didn't know better, one might think that the BC-610 used a special plug, that connected to 220VAC. It does not. Jim, if your friend has the rig, and has the plug that goes into the back of it (and everything else needed for it) then yeah, you could puot it on 75m AM phone. The single 250TH modulated by a pair of 100TH's was a military wonderment, in it's day. -- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
John, Be careful what you tell your wife, I told mine basically the same thing and she put me out to pasture to find 'em! :-) Rick John Coleman ARS WA5BXO wrote: I really have no idea if it is wired for 110 or 220. I know that the Plate XFMR is 110VAC and if it were me I would wire a separate primary circuit for the plate XFMR. Just for the load balance. If the filaments and low voltage stuff is all run from side A of a 220 circuit and the plate XFMR from side B then it is feasible that the filaments and low voltage supplies would be more stable. And the pilot lamps would not dim as much. That is important when you're trying to write in the log while talking on the air by the light of pilot lamps only, HIHI. I told my wife I was going to get two 20 year olds to replace her and she told me I was not wired for 220. I'm gonna go disinfect some ice cubes. John, WA5BXO __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610
I have always used John's idea of putting the HV plate transformers on one side of the a.c. line and all the rest on the other side, with my homebrew HF-300 rig (in which everything runs off a 115-volt primary). That way, the voltage sag caused by the current pulled by the modulator ADDS to the primary line voltage at filament transformers and low-voltage plate supplies. My pilot lights actully get slightly brighter under modulation. This is addition to the initial voltage kick-up caused by the current pulled by the rf finals, as soon as the transmitter switches to the transmit mode. Of course, the HV still sags normally as the power supply is loaded. Although I have never tried it, another idea, which might help modulation linearity with an especially poorly regulated power line, would be to run separate modulator and rf final plate supplies, and put the rf final on one side of the line and the modulator on the other, giving the rf final filament and plate voltages a boost under modulation. When my station was in the upstairs bedroom in the house, the line voltage would vary as much as 5 volts when the transmitter kicked in full strap. Now that my station is in a separate shack outside the house, with heavy duty wiring running out to it, the variation is less than 2 volts. Don k4kyv ___ This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout. Try it - you'll like it. http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/ http://gigliwood.com/abcd/
RE: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
John you just need to go get the 2 20's and prove her wrong I did that twice and wound up in divorce court twice HI... My third has never made that statement...God at 63 years old two 20's Dreamer !!! Is this an AM topic??? Bob W1PE -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Brashear Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 8:52 AM To: Discussion of AM Radio Subject: Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC John, Be careful what you tell your wife, I told mine basically the same thing and she put me out to pasture to find 'em! :-) Rick John Coleman ARS WA5BXO wrote: I really have no idea if it is wired for 110 or 220. I know that the Plate XFMR is 110VAC and if it were me I would wire a separate primary circuit for the plate XFMR. Just for the load balance. If the filaments and low voltage stuff is all run from side A of a 220 circuit and the plate XFMR from side B then it is feasible that the filaments and low voltage supplies would be more stable. And the pilot lamps would not dim as much. That is important when you're trying to write in the log while talking on the air by the light of pilot lamps only, HIHI. I told my wife I was going to get two 20 year olds to replace her and she told me I was not wired for 220. I'm gonna go disinfect some ice cubes. John, WA5BXO __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
The BC-610, does not operate properly, when the front panel switch is in protect or tune mode, if you are on AM. Bias voltages change all around as the tune/protect position switches in a series dropping resistor to the 115 VAC main input. The manual, says tune in CW mode, using the tune position. Dip the plate current, to get you in the ball park. Then go to operate, and peak the grid drive to the 250TH, and also with no modulation set the modulator current to 40 MA resting. The driver stages 6V6 through to 2X807s can be peaked by turning on the exciter plate power switch. If you are getting distortion in the protect/tune position, that is correct as the bias, HV and drive are all off normal. You CAN'T reduce power by operating in tune position without getting distortion. The manual says, to run at reduced RF output, decrease the output coupling swinging link position to reduce RF output to the level you want. As always, YMMV Jim WB2FCN - Original Message - From: Rick Brashear [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Discussion of AM Radio amradio@mailman.qth.net Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 9:49 AM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC You're sure right about the twist plug, Geoff. I replaced my two prong with a three prong twist and it was a booger bear to find one to fit into the hole. I finally stumbled across one (literally!) over in Ft. Worth at Nortex. Someone mentioned a dedicated AC line and running it through a 25 amp variable transformer for their 610, that's the same set up I use. Has anyone experienced distorted audio when using a BC-614 when High Voltage Protect is on? The E model doesn't have this problem, but when I tried to check out my BC-614-H on the 610-H I got real distorted audio in low power. All works great in the Normal position. Rick W5OMR/Geoff wrote: I think ya'll are all missing the point... the BC-610 has a twist-plug recepticle on the back of it the blades are curved. If one didn't know better, one might think that the BC-610 used a special plug, that connected to 220VAC. It does not. Jim, if your friend has the rig, and has the plug that goes into the back of it (and everything else needed for it) then yeah, you could puot it on 75m AM phone. The single 250TH modulated by a pair of 100TH's was a military wonderment, in it's day. -- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
Well, I think it is more of a math topic. As in 20 goes into 63 more times than 63 can go into 20! YMMV Jim WB2FCN John you just need to go get the 2 20's and prove her wrong I did that twice and wound up in divorce court twice HI... My third has never made that statement...God at 63 years old two 20's Dreamer !!! Is this an AM topic??? Bob W1PE
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
EXCELLENT! Thanks Jim. I obviously wasn't thinking or I would have realized the voltages throughout would be reduced and it could not operate properly. 73, Rick/K5IZ James M. Walker wrote: The BC-610, does not operate properly, when the front panel switch is in protect or tune mode, if you are on AM. Bias voltages change all around as the tune/protect position switches in a series dropping resistor to the 115 VAC main input. The manual, says tune in CW mode, using the tune position. Dip the plate current, to get you in the ball park. Then go to operate, and peak the grid drive to the 250TH, and also with no modulation set the modulator current to 40 MA resting. The driver stages 6V6 through to 2X807s can be peaked by turning on the exciter plate power switch. If you are getting distortion in the protect/tune position, that is correct as the bias, HV and drive are all off normal. You CAN'T reduce power by operating in tune position without getting distortion. The manual says, to run at reduced RF output, decrease the output coupling swinging link position to reduce RF output to the level you want. As always, YMMV Jim WB2FCN
Re: [AMRadio] W3PHL
Glenn Laser wrote: Hi group I am Glenn W3WTE At the age of 12 I lived about 3 blocks from W3PHL in Springfield. Wow what a antenna and I never met the man. Just imagine what happened when he came on the air and my Ocean Hopper was turned on. Every once in a while I could hear the station he was in QSO with. He was not popular with the neighborhood and people always said you don't want in that hobby; just see what you will do. I did QSO with him about 4 or 5 years later when I lived in Pittsburgh using my Globe Scout. Always wanted to know what happened to him and I did received the 2 meter repeater once in a while when we lived near Annapolis. Thanks for the memories and in no way mean this, to be a negative comment. 73 Glenn I used to talk with him quite regularly on 75, usually about 3810 kc, when he was running DSB reduced carrier. It was somewhat distorted but readable with loads of punch with the envelope detector. This was back in the mid 60's. I recall then that SSB'ers were always there, unsuccessfully trying to give him a hard time. I met him in person several times at the Cincinnati hamfest (used to rival Dayton for the goodies and held in late September, nearly always excellent wx). Sometime about 1971 I was passing through the area, and he invited me to stay overnight at his house. He showed me his station, and we got up before the crack dawn so he could work his regular VK and ZL friends at the top end of 40, using a full size quad on top of the big tower. By then he had dismantled the big DSB station and was running SSB, but he still had the components lying around from the big rig, and as I recall, some photos. Haven't heard much from him since then (maybe communicated with him once or twice after the visit). Never hear him on the air anymore. He would certainly be up in years by now. From what I understand, his business interests were taking more and more of his time, so he became less active in ham radio. Don k4kyv ___ This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout. Try it - you'll like it. http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/ http://gigliwood.com/abcd/
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
On Saturday 08 April 2006 9:16 am, James M. Walker wrote: The BC-610, does not operate properly, when the front panel switch is in protect or tune mode, if you are on AM. Bias voltages change all around as the tune/protect position switches in a series dropping resistor to the 115 VAC main input. I may be wrong, however I thought that ONLY the HV plate voltage circuit was reduced via the wire wound power resistor inline with the primary side when HV protect is on. Seems that dropped the primary voltage to about 70 volts. The bias, filament, etc. stay the same on mine, and should! Still doesn't mean you can operate phone like this without adjusting the bias to compensate on the modulator's... I have done this using the winding of a large 12v transformer in series instead of the stock resistor in the 610. Of course there is some change needed in the bias to compensate. Brian / w5ami
Re: [AMRadio] k1man fined
- Original Message - From: Brian Sherrod What does any of this K1MAN/W1AW stuff have to do with AM discussion? Let's get back on track here folks. I've already had two people leave the list today. Plenty, if you ever had an AM QSO disrupted by the broadcasts of either of these stations. Although the K1MAN matter may soon be a moot point, the W1AW broadcasts are in the busiest parts of our phone bands. The League insists on running their SSB broadcasts on 7290 kHz, which is a very popular AM frequency on the East Coast and in the Midwest. K1MAN also tied up frequencies in the busiest parts of the 20 and 75 meter bands. As for people leaving...the last time I checked, this is still a free country. Let them leave! And I still make my point: Broadcasting belongs in the broadcast bands (Part 73), NOT in the amateur bands (Part 97). Phil K2PG
Re: [AMRadio] BC610 Tuning unit
George there is a picture of one on my web page at: http://www.af4k.com/miscpart.htm Does anyone on the list have a picture of the inside of a BC610 tuning unit? If you do, please contact me off list. I am trying to determine what a large roller inductor I recently purchased was removed from. Thanks, George KE4HJ __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
Well, Brian, you are right, the 11 ohm dropping resistor is only in series with the plate transformer. I was incorrect thinking it dropped the voltage across everything. Of course, you're also right as is Jim that this would throw the modulation bias off. Thanks guys, you have enlightened me. I have no need or desire to operate in the HV Protect mode, I was just curious about the difference when I was checking out the 614. As indicated earlier, it's easy enough to operate with lower power by simply adjusting the coupling. I say easier sometimes that rascal can be real touchy. Thanks, Rick/K5IZ
Re: [AMRadio] Cable
- Original Message - From: Rick Brashear Does anyone have a good source for 8 conductor shielded cable as used to connect the BC-614 speech amplifier to the BC-610 transmitter? Yes. Mouser Electronics, (800) 346-6873 or Broadcasters General Store, (352) 622-7700. Phil K2PG
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
All, There is ONE overriding issue to think about carefully here! The SINGLE 110VAC feed to the BC-610, ALSO goes through a SINGLE front panel fuse! IF someone desires to use TWO disparate 110VAC feeds, FUSE THE SECOND ONE ALSO! Bob - N0DGN John Coleman ARS WA5BXO wrote: I really have no idea if it is wired for 110 or 220. I know that the Plate XFMR is 110VAC and if it were me I would wire a separate primary circuit for the plate XFMR. Just for the load balance. If the filaments and low voltage stuff is all run from side A of a 220 circuit and the plate XFMR from side B then it is feasible that the filaments and low voltage supplies would be more stable. And the pilot lamps would not dim as much. That is important when you're trying to write in the log while talking on the air by the light of pilot lamps only, HIHI. John, WA5BXO Bob Bethman - NØDGN +--+ | NØDGN AMRadio Manassas, VA|REAL Tube Radio and AM| +---+--+ | Manassas Radio - Home of Homemade Kielbasa Pirogi| +---+--+ | Bob Bethman\\\|/// The absence of a danger | | rbethman(at)comcast.net \\ ~ ~ // signal does *NOT* mean | | (/ @ @ /) that everything is OK | +-oOOo-(_)-oOOo+ | http://home.comcast.net/~rbethman| | 1 BC-61ØI w/BC-614I,1 T-213/GRC-26 w/BC614I 1 '51 Collins R-390A | | SP-600/NR Type 159, Heath DX-60, Apache, Mohawk, SX-101, HT-32A | +-.oooO---Oooo.+ | () ()| | \ ( ) / | | \ _) ( _/ | +--+ | Amateur Astronomer - Celestron Nexstar 8 - Megrez 80mm SD II | | 12 f5 Dob coming soon! Being built | | 38 Deg 46'48.62' N - 77 Deg 28'26.89 W | +--+ | Opinions expressed are that of my own and do not necessarily | | coincide with or represent those of ANYONE else | +--+ |ALL E-mail received and sent scanned by AVG Norton System Works |
Re: [AMRadio] k1man fined
On Saturday 08 April 2006 10:50 am, you wrote: - Original Message - From: Brian Sherrod What does any of this K1MAN/W1AW stuff have to do with AM discussion? Let's get back on track here folks. I've already had two people leave the list today. Plenty, if you ever had an AM QSO disrupted by the broadcasts of either of these stations. Although the K1MAN matter may soon be a moot point, the W1AW broadcasts are in the busiest parts of our phone bands. The League insists on running their SSB broadcasts on 7290 kHz, which is a very popular AM frequency on the East Coast and in the Midwest. K1MAN also tied up frequencies in the busiest parts of the 20 and 75 meter bands. Hey Phil, Why do you want to continue this part of the discussion after I politely made a retraction earlier this week to the statement above that you quoted me on? I explained why I did what I did, and realized I was wrong and had the balls to admit it to the group.
RE: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
I believe it's a little more complicated: 1. If you want to use two circuits, one from each side/phase then you you should use a double breaker so that if one side blows the other one does too. 2. I would fuse each side of the circuit at the radio. (Add a secondary fuse for the plate supply primary). 3. I would provide some protective circuitry (relays) such that if you lose the low-level circuits it kills the plate supply as well. Bad for the radio and potentially dangerous if what appears to be a dark/dead radio in fact has live B+. That's my $.02 73, Mark W1EOF -Original Message- From: Rbethman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 12:13 PM To: Discussion of AM Radio Subject: Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC All, There is ONE overriding issue to think about carefully here! The SINGLE 110VAC feed to the BC-610, ALSO goes through a SINGLE front panel fuse! IF someone desires to use TWO disparate 110VAC feeds, FUSE THE SECOND ONE ALSO! Bob - N0DGN John Coleman ARS WA5BXO wrote: I really have no idea if it is wired for 110 or 220. I know that the Plate XFMR is 110VAC and if it were me I would wire a separate primary circuit for the plate XFMR. Just for the load balance. If the filaments and low voltage stuff is all run from side A of a 220 circuit and the plate XFMR from side B then it is feasible that the filaments and low voltage supplies would be more stable. And the pilot lamps would not dim as much. That is important when you're trying to write in the log while talking on the air by the light of pilot lamps only, HIHI. John, WA5BXO Bob Bethman - NØDGN +--+ | NØDGN AMRadio Manassas, VA|REAL Tube Radio and AM| +---+--+ | Manassas Radio - Home of Homemade Kielbasa Pirogi| +---+--+ | Bob Bethman\\\|/// The absence of a danger | | rbethman(at)comcast.net \\ ~ ~ // signal does *NOT* mean | | (/ @ @ /) that everything is OK | +-oOOo-(_)-oOOo+ | http://home.comcast.net/~rbethman| | 1 BC-61ØI w/BC-614I,1 T-213/GRC-26 w/BC614I 1 '51 Collins R-390A | | SP-600/NR Type 159, Heath DX-60, Apache, Mohawk, SX-101, HT-32A | +-.oooO---Oooo.+ | () ()| | \ ( ) / | | \ _) ( _/ | +--+ | Amateur Astronomer - Celestron Nexstar 8 - Megrez 80mm SD II | | 12 f5 Dob coming soon! Being built | | 38 Deg 46'48.62' N - 77 Deg 28'26.89 W | +--+ | Opinions expressed are that of my own and do not necessarily | | coincide with or represent those of ANYONE else | +--+ |ALL E-mail received and sent scanned by AVG Norton System Works | __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.0/304 - Release Date: 4/7/06 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.0/304 - Release Date: 4/7/06
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
From: Rick Brashear [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well, Brian, you are right, the 11 ohm dropping resistor is only in series with the plate transformer... Of course, you're also right as is Jim that this would throw the modulation bias off... As indicated earlier, it's easy enough to operate with lower power by simply adjusting the coupling. I say easier sometimes that rascal can be real touchy. It's best to run the BC-610 in the full power mode. HV protect is for tuning up without risking damage to the final tube or other components. Running the rig in HV protect will result in very poor voltage regulation on the final, due to the series dropping resistor in the HV xfmr primary. Running it with reduced loading will throw the load impedance to the modulation transformer way off, with the possibility of blowing the xfmr or arcing something over in the final. The only proper way to reduce power would be to operate the plate transformer from a variac or some other kind of autotransformer, to provide a well-regulated source of reduced a.c. line voltage. Then the modulator bias would have to be reduced, but that would require extensive modifications, due to the combined audio driver plate/modulator bias power supply arrangement. Best to just run the BC-610 according to the stock instructions in the manual, if you are not confident about doing extensive modifications to the rig. Don k4kyv ___ This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout. Try it - you'll like it. http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/ http://gigliwood.com/abcd/
[AMRadio] W3PHL
W3PHL database shows him being 77 (1929) and his license expires next year. You should drop him a note and inquire. Maybe we can get him back on AM as part of the revival he may not know about the past 10-15 years. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
Sounds good to me Don, that's the only way I ever run it anyway, wide open. Although I do have a variac in line it is to insure the line voltage doesn't get too high. In my area it sometimes jumps as high as 125 volts and that would do the old power tranny no good at all. So, I have a line voltage monitor and variac to keep the voltage to 115 - 117 volts. Rick Donald Chester wrote: From: Rick Brashear [EMAIL PROTECTED] Well, Brian, you are right, the 11 ohm dropping resistor is only in series with the plate transformer... Of course, you're also right as is Jim that this would throw the modulation bias off... As indicated earlier, it's easy enough to operate with lower power by simply adjusting the coupling. I say easier sometimes that rascal can be real touchy. It's best to run the BC-610 in the full power mode. HV protect is for tuning up without risking damage to the final tube or other components. Running the rig in HV protect will result in very poor voltage regulation on the final, due to the series dropping resistor in the HV xfmr primary. Running it with reduced loading will throw the load impedance to the modulation transformer way off, with the possibility of blowing the xfmr or arcing something over in the final. The only proper way to reduce power would be to operate the plate transformer from a variac or some other kind of autotransformer, to provide a well-regulated source of reduced a.c. line voltage. Then the modulator bias would have to be reduced, but that would require extensive modifications, due to the combined audio driver plate/modulator bias power supply arrangement. Best to just run the BC-610 according to the stock instructions in the manual, if you are not confident about doing extensive modifications to the rig. Don k4kyv ___ This message was typed using the DVORAK keyboard layout. Try it - you'll like it. http://www.mwbrooks.com/dvorak/ http://gigliwood.com/abcd/ __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
[AMRadio] RCA BTA 5 F
Does anyone have info to share with me for a RCA BTA 5F, also any mods to put it on 160 and 75 Thanks Brad KB7FQR
Re: [AMRadio] : BC 610 needing POWER 220VAC
Rick Brashear wrote: You're sure right about the twist plug, Geoff. I replaced my two prong with a three prong twist and it was a booger bear to find one to fit into the hole. I finally stumbled across one (literally!) over in Ft. Worth at Nortex. Someone mentioned a dedicated AC line and running it through a 25 amp variable transformer for their 610, that's the same set up I use. Has anyone experienced distorted audio when using a BC-614 when High Voltage Protect is on? The E model doesn't have this problem, but when I tried to check out my BC-614-H on the 610-H I got real distorted audio in low power. All works great in the Normal position. I'm sure it's because of the bias being 'fixed' (variable by the front panel rheostat) but that's severly reduced B+ when that switch is on. Not nearly voltage to bias off the 100TH's, to have anything resembling 'smooth' audio. That, or the bias voltage is also reduced, when the B+ is lowered. -- 73 = Best Regards, -Geoff/W5OMR
[AMRadio] Hint for shielded audio cable
Have you ever needed a small piece of shielded cable for under chassis work and didn't wont to cut a piece of that expensive RGxxx that is real small and difficult to work with. Well here is what I do. I'm a computer tech and occasionally have a need to do some cabling work. There is always a scrap or two of CAT5 cable here and there because I'm a packrat as well. If you pull the individual wires out you have some nice small hookup wire and if you need to shield one just take a long piece and wrap it around a short piece and you have shielding. Now, this is not a transmission line and should be grounded at one end only. It is just a static shield to reduce capacitive coupling into the audio wire. The same should be true if using coax for this purpose. You only ground one end. I now use this home brewed stuff for about every shielding application I need under an audio chassis. And it makes for real pretty colorful work. You can wrap the solid wire on the outside or the striped wire can be the shield. This gives you 8 colors to work with. The link below shows the orange pair used in this way. http://wa5bxo.shacknet.nu/HAMPICTURES/HBshieldedwire.jpg John, WA5BXO
[AMRadio] Long life and Durability
Some may wonder at the Beastly BC-610s life and durability. There is a SW station in South America that has two of them. One runs 24/7 X 365. The second one is a spare. I don't remember which station it is, but, Jim, WB2FCN, knows of it. Just like the Energizer bunny! Just keeps going... Bob - N0DGN -- Bob Bethman - NØDGN +--+ | NØDGN AMRadio Manassas, VA|REAL Tube Radio and AM| +---+--+ | Manassas Radio - Home of Homemade Kielbasa Pirogi| +---+--+ | Bob Bethman\\\|/// The absence of a danger | | rbethman(at)comcast.net \\ ~ ~ // signal does *NOT* mean | | (/ @ @ /) that everything is OK | +-oOOo-(_)-oOOo+ | http://home.comcast.net/~rbethman| | 1 BC-61ØI w/BC-614I,1 T-213/GRC-26 w/BC614I 1 '51 Collins R-390A | | SP-600/NR Type 159, Heath DX-60, Apache, Mohawk, SX-101, HT-32A | +-.oooO---Oooo.+ | () ()| | \ ( ) / | | \ _) ( _/ | +--+ | Amateur Astronomer - Celestron Nexstar 8 - Megrez 80mm SD II | | 12 f5 Dob coming soon! Being built | | 38 Deg 46'48.62' N - 77 Deg 28'26.89 W | +--+ | Opinions expressed are that of my own and do not necessarily | | coincide with or represent those of ANYONE else | +--+ |ALL E-mail received and sent scanned by AVG Norton System Works |
RE: [AMRadio] Hint for shielded audio cable
John, This is good stuff, a real ham making do, and it could be argued, doing it better while doing it cheaper. I wonder however with that picture from CAT-5 remnants, what is the capacitance per foot? Many coax cable types come in at about 30 pf / foot for comparison. Now with single sided shielding of a cable we get two results: 1.) No ground Loop 2.) An end that where the shield is hot (not terminated) when the shield length is an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength. For example, 19 at abt. 144 Mhz. This assumes that there is RF floating around at 100+ Mhz. You can get away from the hot shield by grounding both ends, and if the cable is short, and terminated within the same chassis, a ground loop may not hurt, and the electrostatic shielding of the shield will be superior. If there are ground currents within the chassis, the ground current with the ground loop could raise holy hell with say 60/120 hz entry into an audio chain by transformer action. You can eliminate the loop by using a second shield wire insulated from the first where each shield wire is grounded on opposing ends. Now you can have your cake and eat it too. Keep in mind that shielding for E-Fields and H-Fields have different techniques. So far we have only discussed shielding for E-Fields. A twisted pair wire shields for H-Fields, and a shielded twisted pair works for both. Go a step further, and the ultimate is a twisted pair with two shields as described above. In the absence of a twisted pair approach, you sometimes see in radios, a steel spring of abt. 1/4 diameter soldered to a chassis at multiple points with a wire threaded through the spring. This steel spring is a good E and H field barrier, so long as the multiple groundings don't create too bad of a ground loop. This approach works best when the wire run is only a few inches long. The approach also has very low capacitance per foot. Good work John Regards, Jim WD5JKO -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of John E. Coleman (ARS WA5BXO) Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 5:04 PM To: 'Discussion of AM Radio' Subject: [AMRadio] Hint for shielded audio cable Have you ever needed a small piece of shielded cable for under chassis work and didn't wont to cut a piece of that expensive RGxxx that is real small and difficult to work with. Well here is what I do. I'm a computer tech and occasionally have a need to do some cabling work. There is always a scrap or two of CAT5 cable here and there because I'm a packrat as well. If you pull the individual wires out you have some nice small hookup wire and if you need to shield one just take a long piece and wrap it around a short piece and you have shielding. Now, this is not a transmission line and should be grounded at one end only. It is just a static shield to reduce capacitive coupling into the audio wire. The same should be true if using coax for this purpose. You only ground one end. I now use this home brewed stuff for about every shielding application I need under an audio chassis. And it makes for real pretty colorful work. You can wrap the solid wire on the outside or the striped wire can be the shield. This gives you 8 colors to work with. The link below shows the orange pair used in this way. http://wa5bxo.shacknet.nu/HAMPICTURES/HBshieldedwire.jpg John, WA5BXO __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.0/305 - Release Date: 4/8/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.4.0/305 - Release Date: 4/8/2006
