[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 ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud
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 ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist Tom Delano tom_del...@comcast.net ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud
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 ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud
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 ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Just thinking out loud
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. ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
