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I have in my collection of “stuff” two Drake AC3’s. One is a really early version and the other is a later version with a lot of iron. My question is, are all AC versions capable of driving all versions of 4-Line transmitters and transceivers?
Thanks,
Tony - W9JXN
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Yes. You can use them interchangeably.?
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
On Mon, Jan 27, 2025 at 02:14, Tony Sokol via groups.io < tony.sokol@...> wrote: I have in my collection of “stuff” two Drake AC3’s. One is a really early version and the other is a later version with a lot of iron. My question is, are all AC versions capable of driving all versions of 4-Line transmitters and transceivers?
Thanks,
Tony - W9JXN
|
Yes.? There are even rebuild hardware for each type available. David Assaf III W5XU, VP8RXU ?
? ? ?I have in my collection of “stuff” two Drake AC3’s. One is a really early version and the other is a later version with a lot of iron. My question is, are all AC versions capable of driving all versions of 4-Line transmitters and transceivers??
? ? Thanks,
Tony - W9JXN
|
Perfect. That’s what I thought but I wanted to make sure. I did see KE9PQ’s rebuild kits which look really good. I was sorry to see that Harbaugh seems to be winding down since I have installed many of his over the years.?
Thanks ? Tony
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On Jan 27, 2025, at 7:37?AM, David via groups.io <david.w5xu@...> wrote:
? Yes.? There are even rebuild hardware for each type available. David Assaf III W5XU, VP8RXU ? ? ? ?I have in my collection of “stuff” two Drake AC3’s. One is a really early version and the other is a later version with a lot of iron. My question is, are all AC versions capable of driving all versions of 4-Line transmitters and transceivers??
? ? Thanks,
Tony - W9JXN
|
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jan 27, 2025, at 7:37?AM, David via groups.io <david.w5xu@...> wrote:
? Yes.? There are even rebuild hardware for each type available. David Assaf III W5XU, VP8RXU ? ? ? ?I have in my collection of “stuff” two Drake AC3’s. One is a really early version and the other is a later version with a lot of iron. My question is, are all AC versions capable of driving all versions of 4-Line transmitters and transceivers??
? ? Thanks,
Tony - W9JXN
|
I believe that the Harbach set is what's sold on Nationwide.? Harbach was sold on to keep it going.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Monday, January 27th, 2025 at 2:03 PM, Tony Sokol via groups.io <tony.sokol@...> wrote:
Perfect. That’s what I thought but I wanted to make sure. I did see KE9PQ’s rebuild kits which look really good. I was sorry to see that Harbaugh seems to be winding down since I have installed many of his over the years.?
Thanks ? Tony On Jan 27, 2025, at 7:37?AM, David via groups.io <david.w5xu@...> wrote:
? Yes.? There are even rebuild hardware for each type available. David Assaf III W5XU, VP8RXU ? ? ? ?I have in my collection of “stuff” two Drake AC3’s. One is a really early version and the other is a later version with a lot of iron. My question is, are all AC versions capable of driving all versions of 4-Line transmitters and transceivers??
? ? Thanks,
Tony - W9JXN
|
I suspected that might be the case. His website is still up probably to dispose of left over odds and ends.?
Tony
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On Jan 27, 2025, at 1:44?PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...> wrote:
? I believe that the Harbach set is what's sold on Nationwide.? Harbach was sold on to keep it going.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Monday, January 27th, 2025 at 2:03 PM, Tony Sokol via groups.io <tony.sokol@...> wrote:
Perfect. That’s what I thought but I wanted to make sure. I did see KE9PQ’s rebuild kits which look really good. I was sorry to see that Harbaugh seems to be winding down since I have installed many of his over the years.?
Thanks ? Tony On Jan 27, 2025, at 7:37?AM, David via groups.io <david.w5xu@...> wrote:
? Yes.? There are even rebuild hardware for each type available. David Assaf III W5XU, VP8RXU ? ? ? ?I have in my collection of “stuff” two Drake AC3’s. One is a really early version and the other is a later version with a lot of iron. My question is, are all AC versions capable of driving all versions of 4-Line transmitters and transceivers??
? ? Thanks,
Tony - W9JXN
|
Don't waste money on those pcb rebuild kits.
?
I was able to put new (and cheaper) radial caps under the chassis.? New caps are waaayy smaller!
?
See the photos of an AC-3 I rebuilt a few years ago.? The new caps, diodes, etc. fit the existing
terminal strips like they were made for them.
?
And someday in the distant(?) future it will be easier to replace the caps than it would be if they were
on a pcb.
?
The AC-3 has a big resistor.? It got too hot under the chassis so I mounted it on top and made an
aluminum heatsink/safety shield over it.
?
Even though this was an early Drake supply, I paired it with a TR-4C and it worked great.? The AC-3
is actually a better supply with its big choke.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
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Harbach was bought out due to Jeff's health issues. ?They are still in business.
I suspected that might be the case. His website is still up probably to dispose of left over odds and ends.?
Tony
On Jan 27, 2025, at 1:44?PM, Steve Wedge, W1ES/4 via groups.io <w1es@...> wrote:
? I believe that the Harbach set is what's sold on Nationwide.? Harbach was sold on to keep it going.
Steve Wedge, W1ES
Time flies like an arrow.? Fruit flies like a banana.
Sent with secure email.
On Monday, January 27th, 2025 at 2:03 PM, Tony Sokol via groups.io <tony.sokol@...> wrote:
Perfect. That’s what I thought but I wanted to make sure. I did see KE9PQ’s rebuild kits which look really good. I was sorry to see that Harbaugh seems to be winding down since I have installed many of his over the years.?
Thanks ? Tony On Jan 27, 2025, at 7:37?AM, David via groups.io <david.w5xu@...> wrote:
? Yes.? There are even rebuild hardware for each type available. David Assaf III W5XU, VP8RXU ? ? ? ?I have in my collection of “stuff” two Drake AC3’s. One is a really early version and the other is a later version with a lot of iron. My question is, are all AC versions capable of driving all versions of 4-Line transmitters and transceivers??
? ? Thanks,
Tony - W9JXN
|
Really? Wow.
That's awesome. I can do that.
Thanks!
On 1/27/25 15:07, Gary WB6OGD via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Don't waste money on those pcb rebuild kits.
?
I was able to put new (and cheaper) radial caps under the
chassis.? New caps are waaayy smaller!
?
See the photos of an AC-3 I rebuilt a few years ago.? The new
caps, diodes, etc. fit the existing
terminal strips like they were made for them.
?
And someday in the distant(?) future it will be easier to
replace the caps than it would be if they were
on a pcb.
?
The AC-3 has a big resistor.? It got too hot under the
chassis so I mounted it on top and made an
aluminum heatsink/safety shield over it.
?
Even though this was an early Drake supply, I paired it with
a TR-4C and it worked great.? The AC-3
is actually a better supply with its big choke.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
|
Is this PS list correct?
Note: The lettering only refers only to installation in a MS-3 or
RV-3,
there's no mention of a MS-4 or RV-4 (it lacks the early AC-3
choke).
PARTS LIST
(2) 150ufd @ 400v
(2) 40ufd @ 150v
(1) 100ufd @ 150v
(1) 100ufd @ 400v
(3) Diode 2.5 amp 1000 volt rectifier diode (1N4004 or 1N4007)
(3) Resistors - 150K @ 1 watt
(2) Resistors - 200 Ohms @ 10 watts (in parallel) - R3
On 1/27/25 15:07, Gary WB6OGD via
groups.io wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Don't waste money on those pcb rebuild kits.
?
I was able to put new (and cheaper) radial caps under the
chassis.? New caps are waaayy smaller!
?
See the photos of an AC-3 I rebuilt a few years ago.? The new
caps, diodes, etc. fit the existing
terminal strips like they were made for them.
?
And someday in the distant(?) future it will be easier to
replace the caps than it would be if they were
on a pcb.
?
The AC-3 has a big resistor.? It got too hot under the
chassis so I mounted it on top and made an
aluminum heatsink/safety shield over it.
?
Even though this was an early Drake supply, I paired it with
a TR-4C and it worked great.? The AC-3
is actually a better supply with its big choke.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
|
David,
I am not positive but I think there were two (or more) versions of the AC-3.? I think mine was the really early one,
with choke input filter for better regulation at the drawback of extra cost.? The later AC-3 is pretty much like the AC-4.
I think this is the one that you have.? That's why it refers to the MS-3 and RV-3.? The AC-4 did have an aluminum cover,
that might be the reason they changed the designation.? The paper covered caps in yours could lose their covers and
then would have 400v exposed, why I think Drake added the cover.
I'd try to find the schematic that matches what you have, then order caps, etc. to match.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
|
I've been hunting and sifting through all the schematics I can
find online - I think this parts list matches what I have.
There appear to be two different types of diodes - four that look
like resistors and three odd-shaped silvery-metal ones.
Is about any diode with similar values to the ones that I listed
are?
OK for all 7?
Thanks
On 1/27/25 18:25, Gary WB6OGD via
groups.io wrote:
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David,
I am not positive but I think there were two (or more)
versions of the AC-3.? I think mine was the really early one,
with choke input filter for better regulation at the drawback
of extra cost.? The later AC-3 is pretty much like the AC-4.
I think this is the one that you have.? That's why it refers
to the MS-3 and RV-3.? The AC-4 did have an aluminum cover,
that might be the reason they changed the designation.? The
paper covered caps in yours could lose their covers and
then would have 400v exposed, why I think Drake added the
cover.
I'd try to find the schematic that matches what you have,
then order caps, etc. to match.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
|
Diodes were new fangled expensive things back in AC-3 days.? Now they are much better and very cheap.
I think I used all 1n4007s in mine (1KV, 1Amp).? Drake had to use two types to keep the cost down back then.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
|
Makes sense.
I was 8 in '63 when they made the TR-3 then was graduating
college when
the TR-4C came out.
Thanks,
David KD4E
On 1/27/25 18:55, Gary WB6OGD via
groups.io wrote:
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Diodes were new fangled expensive things back in AC-3 days.?
Now they are much better and very cheap.
I think I used all 1n4007s in mine (1KV, 1Amp).? Drake had to
use two types to keep the cost down back then.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
|
David,
Ha ha.. I am 4 years older.
Us old guys like to get the radios we couldn't afford back in the day.
I sold my TR-4C (flipper) to a guy in the bay area.? He went to UC Berkeley, the TR-4C was their club radio,
he remembered it so fondly he wanted to experience it again even though he had an IC-7300!
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
BSEE UC Davis '73
?
?
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I just found a baggie of 1N5408's.
They seem way over-rated - am I missing something, or are they
fine to use?
I also have a bunch of 1N4004's but they seem under-rated.
WDYT?
Thanks,
David KD4E
On 1/27/25 18:55, Gary WB6OGD via
groups.io wrote:
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Show quoted text
Diodes were new fangled expensive things back in AC-3 days.?
Now they are much better and very cheap.
I think I used all 1n4007s in mine (1KV, 1Amp).? Drake had to
use two types to keep the cost down back then.
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
|
5408s are 3Amp IIRC.
?
That is fine, you can go up rated but not down.
Same with the voltage and capacitance of the the caps and wattage rating on the resistors.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
|
Cool. (I didn't want to miss something about other
characteristics of the diodes).
I think I found what I need on amazon:
Chanzon 50pcs 1W 150K Ω ohm Metal Film Fixed Resistor 0.01 ±1%
Tolerance
?? ?
Tsnamay 100 Watt 100 Ohm Resistor Aluminum Case Wirewound Chassis
Mounted 2Pcs
10PCS 47uF400V Radial Electrolytic Capacitors Volume 16x25 mm
Generic 4 pcs 150uF 400V 18x35mm Electrolytic Capacitor
0.71x1.38in Aluminum
Cermant 5PCS 400V 100UF Capacitor 18x30MM (0.71x1.18in) High
Frequency Aluminum Electrolytic
Total for all $35.91 and free shipping.
It will leave me with some spare parts for other projects.
Thanks,
David KD4E
On 1/27/25 20:14, Gary WB6OGD via
groups.io wrote:
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5408s are 3Amp IIRC.
?
That is fine, you can go up rated but not down.
Same with the voltage and capacitance of the the caps and
wattage rating on the resistors.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
|
David,
Diodes are so much better than they used to be.
Now, buying from Amazon..? I think is pretty much the same as ebay..? Those parts may be good, or they may
be re-labled questionable parts.? YMMV.
?
I think if you go to a real supplier, the price won't be that much higher and you can be sure they are good parts.
Your labor(!) cost is higher, if you have to replace them later you will wish you go good ones in the first place.
I typically use Mouser.com or Digikey.com.? In caps, I get the longest life, highest temp rated ones, again, price is
not much more.? You will be saving a lot over those pcb kits anyway.
?
I don't think I have found a bad cap or diode in the gear I have restored.?? The old (USA made) caps actually test
better (Ufd, ESR) but I can't test leakage at high voltage.? After changing, I have never noticed a change in the device
operation.? Maybe I have just been lucky.? I do change everything though if I am going to re-sell, buyers want to see
that.
?
73,
Gary
WB6OGD
?
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David
Gary WB6OGD
DavidC KD4E