Curt Nixon wrote:
... I am considering, for instance, a change to a solid-state audio amp. Yes, I know that the Drakes sound great and all, but I don't do AM and I use cans a high percentage of the time so solid state quality will be fine ;) ...The basic reason is to get rid of all the heat. I run my rig 18hrs a day, nearly every day, and I don't like the heat that that one tube radiates to everything around it. ...
I think you will be much happier with the tube AF Output. As for the "heat problem", I ran three 4/A lines on autostart RTTY back in the late 60's for about four years. These stations ran 24/7, and two were used as relays, running at full power for 30 minute or more transmissions. Each transmitter had a small fan on the back of the PA cage. There was another fan to exhaust air from the console that kept the air moving. The receivers had NO special cooling. Over all those years, the only failure was an open filament on a 12BY7 driver. The finals lasted about two years, with "end of life" being 100W output on 20M. Of course new ones were only about $5/pair, so not a big deal! I still have two of the sets, and one still runs 24/7, 100% CW, no more RTTY..... :-) Yes, they run "hot", but there is no apparent damage from this heat.
By the way, this set is on it's second pair of 6JB6s since retiring from RTTY service. The first set lasted over 20 years of regular use as a MAIN station. I've replaced four 12BA6s (gassy), two 6HS6s, and one 12AX7A. I last went through them about two years ago, right before the move, and they both still meet all original specs.
73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line & TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs <www.k4oah.com> _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
