Using a switched outlet strip with equipment having a separate power supply you can go even further by bypassing the power switch entirely and hard wiring the supply on. Then the contacts don't have to carry the startup surge even while closed.
73, Bob AD3K -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Garey Barrell Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 11:14 PM To: Kris Merschrod Cc: drakelist Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Yet another AC-4 rebuild (now :-) completed Excellent job. The relay is certainly an effective way to protect that switch. However ... A simple power strip with enough outlets for a single station solves the AC switch problem. The key is to switch the equipment on -OR- off _only_ when the power strip switch is OFF. None of our boatanchor equipment has an easily power switch, most are on the back of a potentiometer. I don't use ANY boatanchor power switches 'hot' any more. 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs <www.k4oah.com> Kris Merschrod wrote: > Mark, that is a nice description of the AC-4 rebuild. Thank you for sharing it with us. > > I have done a few of them but using Mike's (Solar) approach. I > confess that I did not strip it all down and scrube the chassis! Very good idea to use new bushing etc. > > I have gambled on the old switches holding out - so far so good. > > Kris KM2KM > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Pilant" <[email protected]> > To: "drakelist" <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, January 08, 2012 11:05 AM > Subject: Re: [Drakelist] Yet another AC-4 rebuild (now :-) completed > > >> OK, now the rebuild is really complete. Yesterday I added the relay >> to take the load off the On/Off switch. Here are pictures and a >> description of what I did: >> >> http://www.n1vqw.net/ac4rebuild/#phase2 >> >> Before the addition of the relay, I measured a current draw of about >> 325 mA with the power supply unloaded. This would also be the >> current on the On/Off switch contacts. Since this was on an unloaded >> power supply, I would expect this to rise when transmitting. >> >> After the addition of the relay, this current (from the relay coil) >> seen by the switch contacts dropped to just a bit over 10 mA. This >> is a substantial drop, and should make the switch contacts last much >> longer. >> >> Oh yes, comments, corrections, and suggestions welcome. >> >> 73 >> >> - Mark N1VQW > _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist _______________________________________________ Drakelist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
