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Re: Jumbo sized lytic stack for HV supplies ! Oil cap warning. DIODES
Frank Goenninger
Am 24.09.2006 um 10:47 schrieb pentalab:
--- In ham_amplifiers@..., Frank Goenninger <frgo@...>;-) It did help. All of them say "I'm the best". That's why I kept asking here. Tnx for sharing your experience! 73, Frank DG1SBG |
Re: How to Getter a 3CX-3000A7 / 6000 / 10,000 , etc !
pentalab
--- In ham_amplifiers@..., R L Measures <r@...> wrote:
drive is applied? ... or when both are applied? ### getter's [per Eimac and Svetlana] are ALWAYS working... as long as the fil is lit. HV + drive are not part of the overall process. none of them arced to the grid.ANY andI've fired up several gassy tubes, the insides glowed blue, but ### Are u talking about 3-500Z's and 4-1000's ???? [glass tubes] I have had new 4-1000's that glowed blue. It was not gas either.... it was an anomoly/defect in the glass....per Eimac. The glass would glow blue.... only when drive applied. ### Then I have also seen 4-1000's that glowed blue INSIDE the anode/screen/grid compartment..... dunno if that was with drive applied or not...... that was too long ago. ### With a big ceramic triode/terode.... I highly suspect... If it's gassy... and BOTH HV and drive are applied.... arcs MIGHT occur between anode to screen... or anode to grid. ### If the vac isn't good and hard in the 1st place.... that could easily create even more problems. ### I had several 4-1000's yrs ago... that looked like a smoke bomb going off inside.... when the fil V was applied!! They had either a lousy vac.... or..'had gone to air'. ### did u ever see a blue glow inside the ceramic portion of a metal tube ?? Kinda tough to see..with the chimney on. ### All I was trying to get at was.... if 16 guys say to use 48 hrs to getter a new/rebuilt tube.... and anything less is gonna be a problem... cuz they have tried many diff time frames... who am I to argue? ### Svetlana claims their tubes are proccesed at a higher temp than Eimac [during the construction of the tube]... one would think the Svetlana tubes would have less of a 'gas' problem than an Eimac ? ### The Svetlana tubes all use a 'spiral mesh fil' and where all the mesh criss crosses... they are welded. ... so u don't wanna slam the fil V on.. it can buckle the mesh fil sideways..esp with over rated fil xfmrs [eg: I use a 80 A rated fil xfmr on my 50 A rated 3000A7]......... another reason to step start em. ## I don't have the time or patience to inadvertantly destroy expensive new/rebuilt tubes. Later... Jim VE7RF R L MEASURES, AG6K. 805-386-3734 |
Re: Jumbo sized lytic stack for HV supplies ! Oil cap warning. DIODES
PA3DUV
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýYep, it does, I just
tried it.
On the crimp version one has to remove the outside
plastic?insulation in order to crimp it.
?
Cheers, Dick
PA3DUV
?
|
Re: Jumbo sized lytic stack for HV supplies ! Oil cap warning. DIODES
pentalab
--- In ham_amplifiers@..., PA3DUV <pa3duv@...> wrote:
### If that's the case... then it will also accept Teflon RG- 393 coax.... which is a bit smaller OD than 8-U/213-U [.390" OD for 393 coax.... vs .405" OD for 8-U /213-U Jim VE7RF Actually the H+S SHV is the same type as the Kings HT connectors,a bit flimsy. I just browsed the site. (ThanksGreg!) These look better to me, are mechanical sound, accept 11/12 mmcoax as well and can be supplied with nice bend restrictors.
|
How to manage Filament Voltage on a 3000/6000/10,000A7 triode or tetrode
pentalab
Gents
After reading the material from Both Eimac and Svetlana... [extending tube life via proper fil v management] a few yrs back... I thought I would give it a try. At my former workshop location... the power line regulation was terrible.... so I researched SOLA constant volatge xfmr's... and other ferroresonant xfmrs. I managed to obtain a used SOLA 750 VA unit that's kinda unique. It was not only regulated.... it was also 'harmonically neutralized'.[has a pair of small oil caps in it]. It also had 3 sets of primary taps.... for 120 vac... 208 vac... and 240 vac......slick. Good so far. The output of this thing is a constant 236/118 Vac [new ones are all 240 vac, mine's an old one]. It's 236 vac output... with a center tapped sec. The manual stated.. " all 3 x loads... leg 1 to neutral... leg 2 to neutral... and across the 2 x hot legs... when added up.... can't exceed 750 VA. Good so far. These things will handle a HUGE +/- voltage range on any of the 3 pri taps.... and still output a constant 236/118 vac. I tested it by wiring the pri for the 120 vac tap.... then used a 0-132 vac variac... with the variac's OUTPUT feeding the INPUT of the SOLA. With the variac set below 120 vac... the sola's output V was slightly higher than 236/118 vac. With the variac set HIGHER than 120 Vac..... the OUTPUT of the sola dropped a tiny bit below 236/118 vac. Even with the variac set as low as 50 vac... the sola still put out 238 vac. The constant output of the Sola is normally fed to the INPUT of a small 5 A variac [240/120, depending on the fil xfmr used]. The now CONSTANT Voltage output of the variac, is of course fed to the primary of the Dahl fil xfmr! Install a new 115 vac HOUR meter between one hot leg of SOLA and center tap of the Sola. [output of sola] I used either 1 or 2.5 mh rf chokes [100ma rated is plenty] , and placed one per leg.. at the socket. Other ends are fed to both a 0-10 vac panel meter and a pair of banana jacks [stuff ur Fluke 87-A true rms meter in there]. Both the panel meter and the banana jacks have a 1 k resistor in each leg + .01 uf bypass caps. The resistor's will limit the current to a safe level if anything shorts out... and won't affect ur reading's. We also use a simple DPDT toggle.... to switch the metering from the socket.. to the Fil xfmr Secondary. Reason is... so we can measure the V drop in ALL the wiring, lugs, any cross connects.. and the 80 A bifilar choke . You will typ see between .3v and .4v for the v drop. Most of that is coming from the bifilar. The point here is.. to get say 7.0 v at the socket.... ur gonna need 7.3 to 7.4 v at the xfmr secondary. Dahl fil xfmrs [and all other's] rate their fil xfmrs UNDER FULL LOAD. Typ no load on a fil xfmr is usually 10% higher. Factor this in, in any GG linear... that uses a high current Bifilar. Now Rich will tell you to float the xfmr.. and use a tiny bifilar in the 240 vac primary... and this works good...BUT... the floated xfmr MUST be installed in the RF deck.. below the chassis. That just adds another 23 lbs to the RF deck... tipping the scale... and making it very difficult for one person to get the RF deck in and out of the rack. I always use a high current Bifilar [80 A or less]... and mount the 66lb Sola, 5 A Variac, 23 lb fil Xfmr.... in the next shelf below the RF deck. Short, flexible heavy gauge pair of wires interconnect the two. [typ 2 ga] I also install a 25 ohm 100-150 w wire wound /metal finned resistor in one leg of the Dahl fil xfmr primary.... and also a 0-30 second... 8 pin octal time delay relay is used to shunt out this same resistor [ after 5-10 seconds] With a Dahl 240 vac primary on the fil xfmr.... it works out that the Fil V is exactly 75% of rated V ..[until the 25 ohm resistor is shunted] I include the fil step start so I can leave the variac alone. Also... in the event of a commercial AC power failure... the step start sequence just sequences again [when power comes back on]. If You are gonna use the variac as a 'step start'.. u have to remember to turn it DOWN after you shut off the amp. [also during a power failure] Now we can finally 'manage the fil V for extended tube life'. Both Svetlana and Eimac state that on these big metal tubes... [THORIATED TUNGSTEN FILS ONLY].... that fil emmission INCREASES in the 1st 150-200 hrs !! [new or rebuilt tube] . After gettering the tube for the 1st 48 hrs [at rated fil V measured at the socket, NO HV]... one can now fire up the HV ..and apply drive. Eimac and Svetlana state.. after 150-200 hrs [I use the 200 hr number], fil V can be REDUCED. Here's what I did. After the 200 hrs is up on the hr meter...... while pulse tuning the linear [amp running full bore, perhaps a BIT more than full bore] .. reduce the fil voltage, by turning down the variac... till PEP power output JUST starts to DROP !! THEN increase it a tiny bit... like .1 to .2 V. Now my buddy with the new Svetlana 3CX-6000A7 has just done this... and his fil V [measured at the socket] is now sitting at 6.0 volts !! [The rated fil V for a 6000 is 7.0 volts] Fil V is checked once in a while... and the idea here is... IF you see that the emmision has dropped off at all... you increase the fil V until power output is back up. IE: tweak the variac, until PEP power output is just on the 'hairy edge'... then increase the fil v another .1 to .2 v. Follow the above procedure... and you will easily get 35,000 hours from the tube !! [4 yrs in a 24/7 situation]. In a 'typ' 6 hrs per day scenario... that equates to 16 yrs !!!! Once the emmision is down, such that you have to increase the fil V ABOVE the tube's nominal rated fil V..... then you have 2 x option's. Either crank the variac UP, so fil V is now above rated fil V [never go more than + 5%] OR send it back for a rebuild. Both Eimac and Svetlana say to just send it back for a rebuild. I'm inclined to partially agree.. since once you have the fil V ABOVE rated fil V.... tube life will drop... FAST. As you can see, I and other's..take this .. 'filament management for longer tube life' very seriously.... ditto with the fil step start / commercial power failure scenario. One other important thing...when finished for the night [or day]... after turning OFF the fil... ALWAYS let the blower run for a good 10-20 mins. We use a blower.. 'over run' circuit.....consists of yet another Timer module... "delay on OFF" type. These are usually 11 pin octal types. Always remember.... when the fil is lit...'the clock is ticking'. Later........ Jim VE7RF |
Re: How to Getter a 3CX-3000A7 / 6000 / 10,000 , etc !
On Sep 24, 2006, at 2:18 AM, pentalab wrote:
After all that discussion on the ...'other reflector' aboutDo getters stop working when the HV is applied? ... when the drive is applied? ... or when both are applied? ANY andI've fired up several gassy tubes, the insides glowed blue, but none of them arced to the grid. R L MEASURES, AG6K. 805-386-3734 r@... |
Re: Silicone Rubber
PA3DUV
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýJim,
?
Between my remote 3 phase 400 VAC primary HT PSU
(in the garage) and the RF deck in the shack I run 25 ft silicone insulated high
voltage cable as used in the neon lighting industry.
Around that silicone cable a braid of an RG213
cable and a heat shrink tubing outside sheat is used. The HT cable is subject to
3.2 kV @ 3.5 amps in real life.
?
The HT cable runs inside of a PVC pipe which is
casted into the concrete ceiling in my garage.
?
Parallel to the HT cable there is a control cable
for: B+ voltage metering, plate current metering,
AMP?on/off, DC ground, AC neutral and?one 400 VAC phase to power the
filament transformer and the fans in the RF deck.
?
See the pictures in the picture
section.
Posting pictures on the
is easy. Just go
there and click create album (top right)
?
Cheers, Dick
PA3DUV
?
?
?
|
How to Getter a 3CX-3000A7 / 6000 / 10,000 , etc !
pentalab
After all that discussion on the ...'other reflector' about
gettering tubes, I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth. After reading about the detailled gettering info on Svetlana's website years ago... I made some enquires. Svetlana depicted the 4 x getter's on ur typ thoriated tungsten tubes [metal monsters] as 4 x discs... located at the TOP of the tube [the pix they had was with the anode cooler removed]. The 4 x getter's are HEAT activated by the FILAMENT ! I was gonna fire up the filament and blower [NO HV]... and let it run at rated fil V [measured right at the socket] for a good 8 [EIGHT] hours. I use 1-2.5 mh chokes... one per leg.. located right at the fil lugs to measure fil V. The test leads are brought up to both a 0-10 vac panel meter... and also some banana jacks [so my Fluke 87 can be used as well] . I used a 1 k resistor in each leg + .01 uf bypass cap's at the panel meter/banana jacks. If the jacks, etc were ever shorted... the resistors would limit the current. Then came a ton of e-mail from Economy Electronics + some amp builders plus a load of 11m QRO builders. Apparently.... the real method is to run just the filament[s] {NO HV] for a SOLID 48 hours !!! They all told me my origional 8 hr plan was flawed... and they had all gone through this dozens and dozens of times. After the 48 hrs is up.... HV + drive can be applied. ANY and all residual gas and junk is absorbed by the getter's... and you will never get any surprises... like any arcing from anode to the grounded grid !! My buddy [who I designed the 3CX-6000A7 for] followed the 48 hour sequence on a Svetlana 6000A7.... and we never have experience any arcing, or other anomolies... yet. I had him install a new hour meter on the primary of the Dahl filament xfmr. I thought the 48 hour gettering process was.. 'pie in the sky'... but it worked very well. I figured if a ton of fellows had allready experimented with various.. 'gettering times'.... and all had reached this 48 hour min conclusion, who was I to question it. They all told me this process pertains to both brand new tubes.. and also rebuilt ones you get back from Eimac / Econco. Just to recap... it's 48 hrs... with rated fil V [measured right at the socket], blower on.. NO HV. I have never had a 3000/6000 arc.... yet. Now, I dunno about tubes that went through the 48 hr process.... then down the road... were pulled from service.. and onto the shelf for a few years. I'd be inclined to re- getter em again for another 48 hrs... prior to application of B+ and applying drive. later.... Jim VE7RF |
Re: Jumbo sized lytic stack for HV supplies ! Oil cap warning. DIODES
pentalab
--- In ham_amplifiers@..., Frank Goenninger <frgo@...>
wrote:
Which ones would these be?### Probably either Alden or Kings or Rowe. All 3 x brands have good connectors rated at 25 kv and more. These red/black Millen's are just too mickey mouse. The Phenolic material will eventually absorb moisture. ### Perhaps a google on... " High Voltage connector's" will turn up some answers........ it usually does. later........ Jim VE7RF connector is rated at 3.5 kV rms / 5 kV DC only.connectors/ hs-p-rf-con-gr/hs-p-rf-con-gr-series/hs-p-rf-con-gr-series-shv.htm |
Re: Jumbo sized lytic stack for HV supplies ! Oil cap warning. DIODES
PA3DUV
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýAlso the SHV will accept?RG8U coax
only.
Actually the H+S SHV is the same type as the Kings
HT connectors, a bit flimsy.
I just browsed the ?
site. (Thanks Greg!)
These look better to me, are mechanical sound,
accept 11/12 mm coax as well and can be supplied with nice bend restrictors.
?
Cheers, Dick
PA3DUV
?
?
|
Silicone Rubber
pentalab
I have been using Belden 10 KV test prod wire for the last
several years.... comes in red/black. I use both red/black on everything......... vey flexible.... abot .21" diam.... silicone rubber. Many fine strands inside. Test V is 29 kv. Funny thing is, the smaller 5 kv test prod wire has a test V of 20 kv.... go figure. My real concern using this stuff EXTERNALLY like between RF deck and HV supply... or HV supply to an external cap box is it would appear to be very easy for something to cut through it. It needs to be re enforced on the outside. Back in 1976... our local emporium had 40 kv stuff.... but had a solid teflon dielectric... was stranded inside... and NOT very flexible. Anybody know the V rating on RG-303 TEFLON coax ??? My other idea was to place the Belden 10 kv silicone test prod wire INSIDE some plastic tubing. I also saw VERY flexible aluminium BX sheath material at home depot. Also saw the flexible plastic tubing with the slit all the way through it... to make life easier getting wiring inside it. I have seen some fellows place the HV supply very close to the main 200 A breaker panel..... then run longer lengths of HV wiring... sometimes inside conduit... to the remoted RF deck. The idea there was to minimize V drops in the 240 wiring. The peak current every 8.3 msecs in the 240 V ac line is unreal.... like almost 4-6 X. Later...... Jim VE7RF |
Re: Jumbo sized lytic stack for HV supplies ! Oil cap warning. DIODES
Frank Goenninger
Am 24.09.2006 um 09:52 schrieb pentalab:
### Millens are fine up to 5 kv. For the 5-10 kv stuff....Which ones would these be? I have found Huber+Suhner (Switzerland) but their SHV type connector is rated at 3.5 kV rms / 5 kV DC only. hs-p-rf-con-gr/hs-p-rf-con-gr-series/hs-p-rf-con-gr-series-shv.htm 73, Frank DG1SBG |
Re: More QRO secrets revealed.... 15 -20 kw baluns !! - Pictures, PLEASE
Frank Goenninger
Am 24.09.2006 um 09:38 schrieb pentalab:
--- In ham_amplifiers@..., Frank Goenninger <frgo@...> ### I'm going to attempt to post some pix in the photo area..Thanks, Jim! If you want me to post them in this group at yahoo please let me know! Meanwhile I was able to find a movie on WWW showing you in the shack with some pictures of homebrew stuff. I especially love that photo with the cat. Hi-Hi! 73, Frank |
Re: Fw: Jumbo sized lytic stack for HV supplies ! Oil cap warning. DIODES
pentalab
--- In ham_amplifiers@..., "Mike Sawyer" <w3slk@...>
wrote: HV connector's on it. IF using the Millen's.... either use#### Try a google on kings or rowe. SSON has some.... so does Jerry Thompson at Economy electronics... in Loanoke Ark. He has a website too. ..think it's Economyelectronics.com The only thing I have in my junk box are the Millen Red and the brown phenolic. I understand the brown ones *aren't* very good. ## They are not. Only use the red/black ones. However, my local parts jobber confided in me that the Millen connectors were supposedly rated for 4500 VDC. ### Millen rates em at 7 kv. U HAVE to mount em from the inside to use em at high V. Mount em on the outside.... and I had one arc to the chassis once... and another arc to the machine screw holding the millen down. ## Trbl with mounting em on the inside is... with 1/8" thick panels I use... the mating screw on connector will butt up against the panel 1st. ## If u mounted em on insulating material... they would never arc. ### If the RF deck/HV supply is all in one box.... don't mess with connectors... just hardwire everything with sta-kons [solder em, as well as crimp em] on each end.. and heat shrink. ### Millens are fine up to 5 kv. For the 5-10 kv stuff.... I'm going to go to a better connector. Later..........Jim VE7RF Mod-U-Lator, |
Re: More QRO secrets revealed.... 15 -20 kw baluns !! - Pictures, PLEASE
pentalab
--- In ham_amplifiers@..., Frank Goenninger <frgo@...>
wrote: you describe... Please be so kind and put some into the photos areaof this group on yahoo.### I'm going to attempt to post some pix in the photo area.. IF I can figure it out. I'm no PC geek. Worse comes.... I'll e-mail some to u direct. Jim |
Re: More QRO secrets revealed.... 15 -20 kw baluns !!
pentalab
--- In ham_amplifiers@..., "Paul Christensen"
<pchristensen@...> wrote: geometries can oftentimes get in the way. In the alternative, IThe boys on the contest reflector finally figured out the samething. The typ W2DU baluns using 303 teflon coax.. and the have successfully used a combination of #43 and #77 material on RG- 214. The #43 material is used on the ends with #77 beads sandwiched in between over a distance of ~ 60 inches. That can create some weight and manipulation problems too. In that case, it's tough to beat the W1JR or W2FMI technique of winding RG-303 (at 1.5KW level) onto large #31 mix cores. I believe the DX-Engineering baluns are constructed this way. #### Tnx Paul. The W1JR baluns on Array Solutions site are rated at 5 kw....... which is the rating of 303 @ 10 mhz ! ### Z goes up to the square of the turns. Of course... winding 393 on a torroid is impossible...... hence sliding beads over 393. ### Some have experimented with type 43 beads at the ant end.... followed by type 77. It's the beads closest to the ant feedpoint that are gonna heat up. ### The weight/bulk/windload of solenoid coax wound baluns is a real pig. I'd never do it again. Later.....Jim VE7RF |
Re: Fw: Jumbo sized lytic stack for HV supplies ! Oil
PA3DUV
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýGreg,
?
Thanks for info.
Your statement on the Powerpoles for HT use is
amazing. Did you test the small Powerpoles (30-45 amp) or the larger 75 amp
models?
?
One thing is very important though; for HT
connectors, beside the HT rating, it is VERY important to have the connector
arranged in such a way that ground makes contact long before B+ in order to
prevent the RF deck to become on B+ potential any time. I cannot see a Powerpole
meeting this.
?
Also I use a second ground connection from the HT
psu to the RF deck. This ground connection is wired in the control cable
connector and provides the needed redundancy.
?
Cheers, Dick
PA3DUV
?
?
?
?
?
?
|
Re: HIGH SWR / HIGH REFLECTED POWER SHUT DOWN CIRCUIT !!
On Sep 23, 2006, at 3:31 PM, Tony King - W4ZT wrote:
R L Measures wrote:I used a sledge hammer handle, a strap, a hook, helper-girl on one end of the handle, and me on the other end to lift it in place. R L MEASURES, AG6K. 805-386-3734 r@... |
Re: HIGH SWR / HIGH REFLECTED POWER SHUT DOWN CIRCUIT !!
Tony King - W4ZT
R L Measures wrote:
<snip> Lifting an 85lb transformer is not easy for this old fart.A small fold up Engine Lift can solve that and many other heavy lifting jobs. One of these helped me lift my mill and lathe when I brought them home and I have a 164 lb Peter Dahl to move too ;) 73, Tony W4ZT |
Re: HIGH SWR / HIGH REFLECTED POWER SHUT DOWN CIRCUIT !!
craxd
Dick,
You can buy a 1-2 ton chain fall hoist from harbor Freight for about $40.00. One can mount this in the ceiling stationary by the hook, and pull a pick up truck under it allowing the lift (if the ceiling is high enough). It takes about the same amount of room as a come-a-long, but is way easier to use. One can build some dollys to set the equipment on and move it around the shop where ever you want. Actually, One could mount the hoist outside to get it higher in the air for a larger truck if you have a hard top or corcrete drive way to roll the dolly on. They also make a set of wheels that riggers use to move heavy machinery the same way. You can sometimes find them on ebay at a cheap price. If I was to use a hoist of any kind, I'd strongly recommend obtaining a small I beam about 8 inches high at least, and set it atop two walls to carry the load. Then mount the hoist to it. You can run these between ceiling joists and set the ends on top of the sill plate. A lot of the time, you can buy one cut new pretty cheap. A scrap yard is another place to look. You only need one about the size that some place over double-car garage doors in place of a header when they use brick. A luxury is to get is a small fork lift if you have a garage. Here, they come in at the local two scrap yards all the time. To be honest, there's not much wrong with some. A buddy of mine who owns a small machine shop bought one from one of the yards that was electric and they threw in a charger. I rebuilt the drive board and got it going. I think he got it for $0.08 a pound which was $0.02 over what they paid. I think it was one by Yale, however it was white in color. They are very nice if your going to be doing a lot of heavy lifting. You can mount a boom on the forks and you have a built in crane. I ran my welding/repair portion of my machine shop with two lift trucks this way. Best, Will --- In ham_amplifiers@..., PA3DUV <pa3duv@...> wrote: through the steel reinforced concrete ceiling of my garage to get theLifting an 85lb transformer is not easy for this old fart.I just put an M24 2 metric tonne lifting eye on a 1ft studbolt 30 kVA 1500 rpm diesel genset and HT power supply on and off the trailer. Using a chain come along even a physically challenged person like the undersigned can do the job ;-) SHUT DOWN CIRCUIT !! and > the like. Some pics of your "QRP" amps (They also make the usual10 > kw 5 kw.. 2.5 kw qrp slugs.) would be very much appreciated.low VHF-Q parasitic suppressors and apparently put the amplifier togood use.about. >for the DC blocker cap at MF/HF. |