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My TL-922A, which has been working flawlessly for quite some time, is now going into transmit mode as soon as the switch is changed from standby to operate. What has changed is I rearranged the shack, so had all equipment disconnected for two days. The amp stood on end over in the corner of the room for that period of time. Reconnected everything yesterday, and used the TS-890S barefoot for a contact with C21MM (Nauru). The amp was connected but not powered on. When I went to use the amp this morning, this behavior showed up.
?
I have disconnected the RELAY and ALC connections. No change.
Powered off and on several times, No change,
Disconnected the RF INPUT cable from the TS-890S. No change.
?
Any ideas about what might be causing this and how to fix it?
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
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Obviously the key line is shorted to ground if you pulled the key line out then the short is inward of the amp somewhere on the key line, could be a shorted mosfet in a softkey if you have one. ?It’s a doorbell circuit, troubleshoot accordingly.
On Friday, October 18, 2024, 1:06 PM, Jim McPhee via groups.io <jmcphee@...> wrote: My TL-922A, which has been working flawlessly for quite some time, is now going into transmit mode as soon as the switch is changed from standby to operate. What has changed is I rearranged the shack, so had all equipment disconnected for two days. The amp stood on end over in the corner of the room for that period of time. Reconnected everything yesterday, and used the TS-890S barefoot for a contact with C21MM (Nauru). The amp was connected but not powered on. When I went to use the amp this morning, this behavior showed up.
?
I have disconnected the RELAY and ALC connections. No change.
Powered off and on several times, No change,
Disconnected the RF INPUT cable from the TS-890S. No change.
?
Any ideas about what might be causing this and how to fix it?
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Thanks Lou. I'll get the schematic out and investigate that circuit. I know it is not likely to have anything to do with it having been disconnected and moved for a couple of days but I can't help but wonder!
?
I do have a softkey module installed. I got it from you, early September last year. At that same time I grounded the grid pins directly, and did the bias mod that you recommended. It has been been working better than ever since then.
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Yes I remember and you did a great job documenting all that!!! ?Great job. ?Yup it’s crazy that things happen when just moving stuff around. ?But stranger things happen. ?If it’s the soft key I’ll just send you another one.?
On Friday, October 18, 2024, 7:37 PM, Jim McPhee via groups.io <jmcphee@...> wrote: Thanks Lou. I'll get the schematic out and investigate that circuit. I know it is not likely to have anything to do with it having been disconnected and moved for a couple of days but I can't help but wonder!
?
I do have a softkey module installed. I got it from you, early September last year. At that same time I grounded the grid pins directly, and did the bias mod that you recommended. It has been been working better than ever since then.
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
I have installed literally hundreds of soft key kits, I have yet to have an issue in any band 160-10. But I’m installing the proper way.
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On 2024-10-18 19:25, Louis Parascondola via groups.io wrote: Yes I remember and you did a great job documenting all that!!! Great
job. Yup it’s crazy that things happen when just moving stuff
around. But stranger things happen. If it’s the soft key I’ll
just send you another one.
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS [1]
On Friday, October 18, 2024, 7:37 PM, Jim McPhee via groups.io
<jmcphee@...> wrote:
Thanks Lou. I'll get the schematic out and investigate that circuit.
I know it is not likely to have anything to do with it having been
disconnected and moved for a couple of days but I can't help but
wonder!
I do have a softkey module installed. I got it from you, early
September last year. At that same time I grounded the grid pins
directly, and did the bias mod that you recommended. It has been
been working better than ever since then.
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
Links:
------
[1]
[2] /g/ham-amplifiers/message/40578
[3] /mt/109086005/8135091
[4] /g/ham-amplifiers/post
[5] /g/ham-amplifiers/editsub/8135091
[6] /g/ham-amplifiers/leave/12941173/8135091/773995006/xyzzy
|
Could you elaborate on what "installing the proper way" is? Without those details, this statement is not very useful.
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Lou,
?
If it is all right with you, I will email you directly about this behavior. With the CQ World Wide DX Contest coming up next weekend, I'm thinking I would like to order a replacement soft key module right now, so I have it in hand to replace the existing one if it turns out the existing one is suspect.
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Some people lengthen the key line wire so they can add a standby operate switch, they also may be staring with a inferior kit or have other existing problems in the pa to start with
If I lengthen the key line wire for a standby operate switch ,I add rf bypassing and ferrite beads.
Every pa I have installed one in was completely gone through prior to installing a soft key kit.
Again have yet to ever have an issue
Must beware of info online, there are a lot of people who want to make a buck or a name for themselves . I get pa’s in all the time with nonsense mods that cause more grief than good.
For your 922 I suggest you follow the 922 mods listed on w8ji’s site. Those are all I implement when I repair one. Once done will be one and done.
Great amp, my favorite out of any ham commercially made amp.
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John, that was an amplifier that belonged to me. ?I was sent an AL1200by a person up north of here to look at, he claim the amp was was problematic. ?I told him how to pack the tube for safe trip about??300 miles. ?I got the AL1200 safely. ?I put the tube in the amp and the tube was totally dead! ?Wouldn’t do anything. ?I called the guy and told him the tube?is totally dead and I couldn’t get a lick of power out of it. ?He said it was working. ?Anyhow I said you need a new tube. ?Trying to get a new one was out of the question. ?Finding a good used one is sketchy and I wouldn’t stick my neck out. ?Bad?situation??at this point. ?Told him I would take the 1200 and give him this AL1500 of mine which was working just fine. ?Did a swap on the RF deck and he just paid less money than he’d pay for a 3cx1200a7. ?Shipped him the AL1500. ?He got it and in a while mentioned issues much like he had with the AL1200. ?I told him with two amps acting strangely it sounded like antenna or feedline issues. ?Sounded like high common mode to me. ?Told him two amps not working properly is suspect of load or something. ?Again amp working fine at time of swap. ?Ends up he sells amp to a guy. ?That guy blows up radios. ?Amp guy gets it and finds it’s got a bad tube. ?Probably arcing plate to cathode sending power back to radio. ?So who knows what happened in the interim? ?Amp eventually got another tube. A bad tube problem the cause of guy #2 problem, probably blown like the original 3cx1200?in the amp of guy #1. ?Other issues like a line filter were already installed when I got that amp. ?A harmless line filter doesn’t blow radios but was removed. ?Step start relays always have a black spot over time ?but still work, doesn’t blow radios. ?The so called train wreck amp ?worked for me no problem. ?It seems to me the that amp fell victim to the same fate as the AL1200 with a bad tube. ??
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, 5:22 AM, John Sparkes <vk6jx1@...> wrote:
|
I wasn’t going to bake any names
The original owner blew finals in one radio, second owner blew finals in two radios.
I suspect the original t/r relay board to have been the culprit that caused the radio / radios issue.
Didn’t help the tube having the filament tapped to 220 as most have closer to 250
Correct that line filter did not cause the radio issue, but had poor solder work and is absolutely not needed. I found various poor solder joints , maybe the first owner tried to fix it.
All good now
Not sure I want to get involved with this model or the two others that use the same cabinet. Real pain to put together then break back down for shipping.
I’m just glad I didn’t blow the finals in my test radio, that would have been a first.
I’ve put that ft-950 through hell and it keeps chugging along
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 2024-10-19 05:01, Louis Parascondola via groups.io wrote: John, that was an amplifier that belonged to me. I was sent an
AL1200by a person up north of here to look at, he claim the amp was
was problematic. I told him how to pack the tube for safe trip about
300 miles. I got the AL1200 safely. I put the tube in the amp and
the tube was totally dead! Wouldn’t do anything. I called the guy
and told him the tube is totally dead and I couldn’t get a lick of
power out of it. He said it was working. Anyhow I said you need a
new tube. Trying to get a new one was out of the question. Finding a
good used one is sketchy and I wouldn’t stick my neck out. Bad
situation at this point. Told him I would take the 1200 and give him
this AL1500 of mine which was working just fine. Did a swap on the RF
deck and he just paid less money than he’d pay for a 3cx1200a7.
Shipped him the AL1500. He got it and in a while mentioned issues
much like he had with the AL1200. I told him with two amps acting
strangely it sounded like antenna or feedline issues. Sounded like
high common mode to me. Told him two amps not working properly is
suspect of load or something. Again amp working fine at time of swap.
Ends up he sells amp to a guy. That guy blows up radios. Amp guy
gets it and finds it’s got a bad tube. Probably arcing plate to
cathode sending power back to radio. So who knows what happened in
the interim? Amp eventually got another tube. A bad tube problem the
cause of guy #2 problem, probably blown like the original 3cx1200 in
the amp of guy #1. Other issues like a line filter were already
installed when I got that amp. A harmless line filter doesn’t blow
radios but was removed. Step start relays always have a black spot
over time but still work, doesn’t blow radios. The so called train
wreck amp worked for me no problem. It seems to me the that amp fell
victim to the same fate as the AL1200 with a bad tube.
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS [1]
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, 5:22 AM, John Sparkes
<vk6jx1@...> wrote:
Don’t be bashful - tell us all who ?
On 19 Oct 2024, at 10:30?AM, Amp Guy Llc via groups.io <kb1sel@...> wrote:
?Take a guess on who did the prior work to the al1500 I repaired in my last video on YouTube.
On 2024-10-18 19:47, Jim McPhee via groups.io wrote:
Could you elaborate on what "installing the proper way" is?
Without
those details, this statement is not very useful.
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
Links:
------
[1] /g/ham-amplifiers/message/40580
[2] /mt/109086005/8135091
[3] /g/ham-amplifiers/post
[4] /g/ham-amplifiers/editsub/8135091
[5]
/g/ham-amplifiers/leave/12941173/8135091/773995006/xyzzy
Links:
------
[1]
[2] /g/ham-amplifiers/message/40585
[3] /mt/109086005/8135091
[4] /g/ham-amplifiers/post
[5] /g/ham-amplifiers/editsub/8135091
[6] /g/ham-amplifiers/leave/12941173/8135091/773995006/xyzzy
|
Thank you for those details. I don't plan on making any more modifications to this amp. It has been performing well for the 12 years that I have owned it.? My only goal is to keep it running. Right now I need to solve this issue with it in time for the DX Contest this coming weekend.
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Lou, If only to be a fly on the wall! Amp Guy, You mentioned soldering. I remember B4 I retired working in the automotive field, watching pretty good mechanics soldering, was, well, lets just say funny!? Guys could rebuild a transmission?with their eyes closed but you better keep the soldering irons hidden!!!
Bob W4JFA
On Sat, Oct 19, 2024 at 7:01?AM Louis Parascondola via <Gudguyham= [email protected]> wrote:
John, that was an amplifier that belonged to me.? I was sent an AL1200by a person up north of here to look at, he claim the amp was was problematic.? I told him how to pack the tube for safe trip about??300 miles.? I got the AL1200 safely.? I put the tube in the amp and the tube was totally dead!? Wouldn’t do anything.? I called the guy and told him the tube?is totally dead and I couldn’t get a lick of power out of it.? He said it was working.? Anyhow I said you need a new tube.? Trying to get a new one was out of the question.? Finding a good used one is sketchy and I wouldn’t stick my neck out.? Bad?situation??at this point.? Told him I would take the 1200 and give him this AL1500 of mine which was working just fine.? Did a swap on the RF deck and he just paid less money than he’d pay for a 3cx1200a7.? Shipped him the AL1500.? He got it and in a while mentioned issues much like he had with the AL1200.? I told him with two amps acting strangely it sounded like antenna or feedline issues.? Sounded like high common mode to me.? Told him two amps not working properly is suspect of load or something.? Again amp working fine at time of swap.? Ends up he sells amp to a guy.? That guy blows up radios.? Amp guy gets it and finds it’s got a bad tube.? Probably arcing plate to cathode sending power back to radio.? So who knows what happened in the interim?? Amp eventually got another tube. A bad tube problem the cause of guy #2 problem, probably blown like the original 3cx1200?in the amp of guy #1.? Other issues like a line filter were already installed when I got that amp.? A harmless line filter doesn’t blow radios but was removed.? Step start relays always have a black spot over time ?but still work, doesn’t blow radios.? The so called train wreck amp ?worked for me no problem.? It seems to me the that amp fell victim to the same fate as the AL1200 with a bad tube. ??
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, 5:22 AM, John Sparkes <vk6jx1@...> wrote:
|
I plan on fixing stuff till I can’t , I really enjoy it.
If or when my soldering skills go to crud, that will be when it’s time to call it quits.
I’ve seen a lot over the years. ?
2024-10-19 13:20, Bob wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Lou, If only to be a fly on the wall!
Amp Guy, You mentioned soldering. I remember B4 I retired working in
the automotive field, watching pretty good mechanics soldering, was,
well, lets just say funny!
Guys could rebuild a transmission with their eyes closed but you
better keep the soldering irons hidden!!!
Bob W4JFA
On Sat, Oct 19, 2024 at 7:01?AM Louis Parascondola via groups.io [1]
<Gudguyham@...> wrote:
John, that was an amplifier that belonged to me. I was sent an
AL1200by a person up north of here to look at, he claim the amp was
was problematic. I told him how to pack the tube for safe trip
about 300 miles. I got the AL1200 safely. I put the tube in the
amp and the tube was totally dead! Wouldn’t do anything. I
called the guy and told him the tube is totally dead and I
couldn’t get a lick of power out of it. He said it was working.
Anyhow I said you need a new tube. Trying to get a new one was out
of the question. Finding a good used one is sketchy and I
wouldn’t stick my neck out. Bad situation at this point. Told
him I would take the 1200 and give him this AL1500 of mine which was
working just fine. Did a swap on the RF deck and he just paid less
money than he’d pay for a 3cx1200a7. Shipped him the AL1500. He
got it and in a while mentioned issues much like he had with the
AL1200. I told him with two amps acting strangely it sounded like
antenna or feedline issues. Sounded like high common mode to me.
Told him two amps not working properly is suspect of load or
something. Again amp working fine at time of swap. Ends up he
sells amp to a guy. That guy blows up radios. Amp guy gets it and
finds it’s got a bad tube. Probably arcing plate to cathode
sending power back to radio. So who knows what happened in the
interim? Amp eventually got another tube. A bad tube problem the
cause of guy #2 problem, probably blown like the original 3cx1200 in
the amp of guy #1. Other issues like a line filter were already
installed when I got that amp. A harmless line filter doesn’t
blow radios but was removed. Step start relays always have a black
spot over time but still work, doesn’t blow radios. The so
called train wreck amp worked for me no problem. It seems to me
the that amp fell victim to the same fate as the AL1200 with a bad
tube.
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS [2]
On Saturday, October 19, 2024, 5:22 AM, John Sparkes
<vk6jx1@...> wrote:
Don’t be bashful - tell us all who ?
On 19 Oct 2024, at 10:30?AM, Amp Guy Llc via groups.io [1] <kb1sel@...> wrote:
?Take a guess on who did the prior work to the al1500 I repaired in my last video on YouTube.
On 2024-10-18 19:47, Jim McPhee via groups.io [1] wrote:
Could you elaborate on what "installing the proper way" is?
Without
those details, this statement is not very useful.
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
Links:
------
[1] /g/ham-amplifiers/message/40580
[2] /mt/109086005/8135091
[3] /g/ham-amplifiers/post
[4] /g/ham-amplifiers/editsub/8135091
[5]
/g/ham-amplifiers/leave/12941173/8135091/773995006/xyzzy
Links:
------
[1]
[2]
[3] /g/ham-amplifiers/message/40588
[4] /mt/109086005/8135091
[5] /g/ham-amplifiers/post
[6] /g/ham-amplifiers/editsub/8135091
[7] /g/ham-amplifiers/leave/12941173/8135091/773995006/xyzzy
|
I thought I should let the group know that the issue with the TL-922 has been resolved. The problem was with the phono jack that the keying line from the transceiver plugs into. The center conductor was shorted out to ground. Looks like it was exposed to some excessive heat, not sure why. I was able to find a used one locally and replaced it. Amp is working properly again.
?
And, thanks to Lou getting one sent to me so quickly, I now have a spare soft key module!
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Glad all is good now Jim! ?Good luck on the contest this weekend!
On Thursday, October 24, 2024, 12:45 PM, Jim McPhee via groups.io <jmcphee@...> wrote: I thought I should let the group know that the issue with the TL-922 has been resolved. The problem was with the phono jack that the keying line from the transceiver plugs into. The center conductor was shorted out to ground. Looks like it was exposed to some excessive heat, not sure why. I was able to find a used one locally and replaced it. Amp is working properly again.
?
And, thanks to Lou getting one sent to me so quickly, I now have a spare soft key module!
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Glad it was something simple. Bob W4JFA
I thought I should let the group know that the issue with the TL-922 has been resolved. The problem was with the phono jack that the keying line from the transceiver plugs into. The center conductor was shorted out to ground. Looks like it was exposed to some excessive heat, not sure why. I was able to find a used one locally and replaced it. Amp is working properly again.
?
And, thanks to Lou getting one sent to me so quickly, I now have a spare soft key module!
--
Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Hi Bob, ? Yes, me too. I am not an expert diagnostician or technician. Lou provided me with several tests to perform, and the first one revealed the issue. I really appreciate his help. ? Jim McPhee Placitas, NM W5ABA ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bob
Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2024 2:47 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [ham-amplifiers] TL-922A transmits when switched from standby to operate.? Glad it was something simple. ? I thought I should let the group know that the issue with the TL-922 has been resolved. The problem was with the phono jack that the keying line from the transceiver plugs into. The center conductor was shorted out to ground. Looks like it was exposed to some excessive heat, not sure why. I was able to find a used one locally and replaced it. Amp is working properly again. And, thanks to Lou getting one sent to me so quickly, I now have a spare soft key module! Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
-- Jim McPhee
Placitas, NM
W5ABA
|
Bob