[Drakelist] Just thinking out loud

2009-10-03 Thread Mike Bryce

Guys and gals...

This is somewhat a pipe dream.

Just thinking. Would a new state-of-the art power supply for the Trxxx  
series be doable?


Talking about new transformers, improved design, fan cooling, maybe a  
automatic lost of bias shut down.


perhaps more. Same size as the ac4? perhaps smaller?

what would be a doable price?

Not looking at specifics, but think the $250 to $300 range. Perhaps  
less, perhaps more. the determining factor will be a good long lasting  
transformer with improved rating.


so.. input anyone?


Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems
The Heathkit Shop
http://www.theheathkitshop.com/
J e e p
o|||o
Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large  
number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced





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Re: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud

2009-10-03 Thread Tom Delano
Hi Mike,

I am not sure how much demand there would be for such a supply. AC-4s are
still fairly plentiful at usually $100 or less here in New England. With
your AC-4R upgrade kit, it make it into a very nice and reliable power
supply with many more years of service in it.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Tom, W1CC


On 10/3/09 2:09 PM, Mike Bryce proso...@sssnet.com wrote:

 Guys and gals...
 
 This is somewhat a pipe dream.
 
 Just thinking. Would a new state-of-the art power supply for the Trxxx series
 be doable?
 
 Talking about new transformers, improved design, fan cooling, maybe a
 automatic lost of bias shut down.
 
 perhaps more. Same size as the ac4? perhaps smaller?
 
 what would be a doable price?
 
 Not looking at specifics, but think the $250 to $300 range. Perhaps less,
 perhaps more. the determining factor will be a good long lasting transformer
 with improved rating.
 
 so.. input anyone?
 
 
  
 Mike, WB8VGE
 
 SunLight Energy Systems
 
 The Heathkit Shop
 
 http://www.theheathkitshop.com/
 
 J e e p
 
 o|||o 
 
 Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number
 of electrons were terribly inconvenienced
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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 Drakelist@zerobeat.net
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Tom Delano
tom_del...@comcast.net



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Re: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud

2009-10-03 Thread Ron Baker
Mike,   I am not sure how well that idea would sell because
the AC4 power supply is still a very common item to find.
I would think the AC4R upgrade kit would be the future for
the AC4.  I have installed about a dozen of those upgrade
kits this year in customer radios and I think this is a
definite plus.This kit replaces all the components with
new components which by design are much better components
than those manufactured 20-30 years ago.   I suspect with
the upgrade kit, the AC4 power supply will last another 30
years.
 
My two-cents worth.
 
Ron / WB4HFN
 
 

  _  

From: drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net
[mailto:drakelist-boun...@zerobeat.net] On Behalf Of Mike
Bryce
Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 2:09 PM
To: drakelist@zerobeat.net
Subject: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud


Guys and gals... 

This is somewhat a pipe dream. 

Just thinking. Would a new state-of-the art power supply for
the Trxxx series be doable?

Talking about new transformers, improved design, fan
cooling, maybe a automatic lost of bias shut down. 

perhaps more. Same size as the ac4? perhaps smaller?

what would be a doable price?

Not looking at specifics, but think the $250 to $300 range.
Perhaps less, perhaps more. the determining factor will be a
good long lasting transformer with improved rating. 

so.. input anyone?



Mike, WB8VGE

SunLight Energy Systems

The Heathkit Shop

http://www.theheathkitshop.com/

J e e p

o|||o 

Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message,
but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced





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Re: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud

2009-10-03 Thread Garey Barrell

Mike -

You have some really good ideas to improve the AC-4, especially the Bias 
failure shut down.  I'm not sure what design improvements you would 
make, the design seems pretty stable as it is.


As AC-4s are selling for around $100, with your kit added you have a 
pretty good supply for considerably less than your price range.  I don't 
think I've ever seen a power transformer fail in an AC-4 absent outside 
failures.   Even a lost Bias meltdown doesn't seem to harm the transformer.


I'm also not sure that fan cooling is warranted.  Although ANY reduction 
in temperature of electronic devices is always good, I'm not certain 
that the AC-4 gets hot enough to matter.  I ran three B-Lines in the 
60's on autostart RTTY, running 24/7 and with key down, full power 
transmissions lasting well over 30 minutes.   The only failure in 4 
years was a single 12BY7 which had a filament open.  The finals lasted 
about a year, and at $12 for a matched pair I replaced them when the 
output dropped to 100W on 20M AFSK.


It's too bad you didn't include a Bias shutdown feature in the AC-4R!  I 
would have suggested if I had known what you were up to.


73, Garey - K4OAH
Glen Allen, VA

Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line  TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
www.k4oah.com



Mike Bryce wrote:

Guys and gals...

This is somewhat a pipe dream. 

Just thinking. Would a new state-of-the art power supply for the Trxxx 
series be doable?


Talking about new transformers, improved design, fan cooling, maybe a 
automatic lost of bias shut down. 


perhaps more. Same size as the ac4? perhaps smaller?

what would be a doable price?

Not looking at specifics, but think the $250 to $300 range. Perhaps 
less, perhaps more. the determining factor will be a good long lasting 
transformer with improved rating. 


so.. input anyone?


Mike, WB8VGE

SunLight Energy Systems

The Heathkit Shop

http://www.theheathkitshop.com/

J e e p

o|||o 

Note: No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large 
number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced






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Re: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud

2009-10-03 Thread Mike Bryce

thanks guys for the input...

like I was saying, this is just wishful thinking.

as for the lost of bias voltage. that's bit rougher. A common problem  
is just having the plug come somewhat loose and you loose the bias.  
That would require some feedback or sense wire from the rig back to  
the power supply. Not a doable option


lost of bias at the supply is easier to do. But will require a bit of  
work. I don't know if the amount of hassle is worth the price of  
admission.





Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems
The Heathkit Shop
http://www.theheathkitshop.com/
J e e p
o|||o

A man with one clock knows what time it is. A man with two clocks is  
never sure.







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