Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod)
All this talk of rebuilding AC-4 supplies had me thinking... I have seen a mod(?) that said to turn up(down?) the bias when running CW (and FSK?) to set the finals more to Class C operation to save power dissipation. Is this a good idea? Wouldn't it be easy to add a switch or relay and another potentiometer while you are in there rebuilding? 73, Gary WB6OGD - Original Message - From: Mark Pilant n1...@arrl.net To: drakelist drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:52:42 - (UTC) Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 Hi John. That I've always done, as suggested by others, is to replace the two conductor cord with a more modern grounded plug and wire. You can see the one I used in the AC-4 rebuild I describe here: http://www.n1vqw.net/ac4rebuild/ BTW, it is a standard computer cord, and I cut off the female end with about 6 inches of cord in case I ever want to use it. 73 - Mark N1VQW ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod)
Gary - In a word NO. The PA stage is operated as a LINEAR amplifier, Class AB1, meaning the output signal is a reasonable facsimile of the input signal. The BIAS voltage is carefully chosen to 'center' the operation of the amplifier in the linear portion of the tube's operating region. Increasing the BIAS voltage WILL reduce the IDLE current, (between code elements,) but will shift the PA to a non-linear region. This will result in distortion of the signal, with the potential of spurious signals, clicks, and other 'junk'. This is one reason clicks were so prevalent in the older transmitters. A true Class C amplifier requires considerably more driving power, and relies on the 'flywheel effect' of it's output network to 'smooth' out the 'pulses' of drive that exceed the bias potential. 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 Gary Winblad wrote: All this talk of rebuilding AC-4 supplies had me thinking... I have seen a mod(?) that said to turn up(down?) the bias when running CW (and FSK?) to set the finals more to Class C operation to save power dissipation. Is this a good idea? Wouldn't it be easy to add a switch or relay and another potentiometer while you are in there rebuilding? 73, Gary WB6OGD http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] Drakelist Digest, Vol 43, Issue 65
Drake AC-4 Power Cord (Pete Juliano) Saw several posts about the power cord. to solve this problem I had used power cord buyed on ebay look sample http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-11-PIN-CABLE-HEATHKIT-HP-POWER-SUPPLIES-/380282681073?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item588a9d36f1#ht_4066wt_1123. good work Renato I1BEP ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod)
Well yeahh Garey I am not suggesting we change the bias for SSB (or AM), just for CW (and real FSK). So, you would need a switch or relay added and USE it to change modes. Yes, bias it past cut-off, will result in no emission between code elements, but also over part of the cycle. Key clicks could be delt with... The reason they had key clicks was primarily because they were cathode keying high voltages with no shaping as I recall. no? Bias is only on the finals, we don't key those or do we? Junk? Isn't our driver pretty clean? If not, wouldn't we have the same spurs and junk with a linear final? We DO have a tuned output tank circuit for the flywheel effect... no? BUT, if we don't have enough (voltage) drive, that might be a problem, but we don't really need full power... Don't ya think? Changing bias for CW wasn't my idea, but it did sound good to me. TIA, I am trying to learn here... There probably IS some reason nobody did this originally! 73, Gary WB6OGD - Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com To: Gary Winblad garywinb...@comcast.net Cc: drakelist drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:31:44 - (UTC) Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod) Gary - In a word NO. The PA stage is operated as a LINEAR amplifier, Class AB1, meaning the output signal is a reasonable facsimile of the input signal. The BIAS voltage is carefully chosen to 'center' the operation of the amplifier in the linear portion of the tube's operating region. Increasing the BIAS voltage WILL reduce the IDLE current, (between code elements,) but will shift the PA to a non-linear region. This will result in distortion of the signal, with the potential of spurious signals, clicks, and other 'junk'. This is one reason clicks were so prevalent in the older transmitters. A true Class C amplifier requires considerably more driving power, and relies on the 'flywheel effect' of it's output network to 'smooth' out the 'pulses' of drive that exceed the bias potential. 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 Gary Winblad wrote: All this talk of rebuilding AC-4 supplies had me thinking... I have seen a mod(?) that said to turn up(down?) the bias when running CW (and FSK?) to set the finals more to Class C operation to save power dissipation. Is this a good idea? Wouldn't it be easy to add a switch or relay and another potentiometer while you are in there rebuilding? 73, Gary WB6OGD http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod)
Gary - Obviously the bias would remain in the Class AB1 area for SSB and AM. Applying a keyed signal to a non-linear amplifier is a bad idea. Every time the drive is started or stopped there is the opportunity for additional distortion products to be generated. Some SSB distortion is caused by biasing the amplifier too high or too low, resulting in 'compression' or limiting the waveform to less than it's peak. More distortion. Perhaps we have an amplifier expert on here who can definitively respond to your question. There are no doubt MANY reasons why all transmitters switched to linear operation for CW, in spite of the 'power/efficiency savings. If nothing else than it takes large amounts of drive POWER, more trouble, including greatly increased Grid dissipation. To me, turning an input signal on and off to a Class C amplifier is asking for trouble. A Class C amplifier is essentially a switch, ON or OFF, and relies on the Q of the tank circuits to 'smooth things out'. A lot of potential headaches for a few percent efficiency increase. There are LOTS of 'ideas' on the internet that 'sound' good :-) Let us know what you find out!! 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 Gary Winblad wrote: Well yeahh Garey I am not suggesting we change the bias for SSB (or AM), just for CW (and real FSK). So, you would need a switch or relay added and USE it to change modes. Yes, bias it past cut-off, will result in no emission between code elements, but also over part of the cycle. Key clicks could be delt with... The reason they had key clicks was primarily because they were cathode keying high voltages with no shaping as I recall. no? Bias is only on the finals, we don't key those or do we? Junk? Isn't our driver pretty clean? If not, wouldn't we have the same spurs and junk with a linear final? We DO have a tuned output tank circuit for the flywheel effect... no? BUT, if we don't have enough (voltage) drive, that might be a problem, but we don't really need full power... Don't ya think? Changing bias for CW wasn't my idea, but it did sound good to me. TIA, I am trying to learn here... There probably IS some reason nobody did this originally! 73, Gary WB6OGD - Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com To: Gary Winblad garywinb...@comcast.net Cc: drakelist drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:31:44 - (UTC) Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod) Gary - In a word NO. The PA stage is operated as a LINEAR amplifier, Class AB1, meaning the output signal is a reasonable facsimile of the input signal. The BIAS voltage is carefully chosen to 'center' the operation of the amplifier in the linear portion of the tube's operating region. Increasing the BIAS voltage WILL reduce the IDLE current, (between code elements,) but will shift the PA to a non-linear region. This will result in distortion of the signal, with the potential of spurious signals, clicks, and other 'junk'. This is one reason clicks were so prevalent in the older transmitters. A true Class C amplifier requires considerably more driving power, and relies on the 'flywheel effect' of it's output network to 'smooth' out the 'pulses' of drive that exceed the bias potential. 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 Gary Winblad wrote: All this talk of rebuilding AC-4 supplies had me thinking... I have seen a mod(?) that said to turn up(down?) the bias when running CW (and FSK?) to set the finals more to Class C operation to save power dissipation. Is this a good idea? Wouldn't it be easy to add a switch or relay and another potentiometer while you are in there rebuilding? 73, Gary WB6OGD http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod)
- Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com To: Gary Winblad garywinb...@comcast.net Cc: drakelist drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Friday, January 20, 2012 3:24 PM Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod) Gary - Obviously the bias would remain in the Class AB1 area for SSB and AM. Applying a keyed signal to a non-linear amplifier is a bad idea. Every time the drive is started or stopped there is the opportunity for additional distortion products to be generated. Some SSB distortion is caused by biasing the amplifier too high or too low, resulting in 'compression' or limiting the waveform to less than it's peak. More distortion. Perhaps we have an amplifier expert on here who can definitively respond to your question. There are no doubt MANY reasons why all transmitters switched to linear operation for CW, in spite of the 'power/efficiency savings. If nothing else than it takes large amounts of drive POWER, more trouble, including greatly increased Grid dissipation. To me, turning an input signal on and off to a Class C amplifier is asking for trouble. A Class C amplifier is essentially a switch, ON or OFF, and relies on the Q of the tank circuits to 'smooth things out'. A lot of potential headaches for a few percent efficiency increase. There are LOTS of 'ideas' on the internet that 'sound' good :-) Let us know what you find out!! 73, Garey - K4OAH Glen Allen, VA There is a lot more than changing bias to converting a linear amplifier of any class to a Class-C amplifier. For one thing the plate impedance and thus tank requirements will be different. Its not trivial. There is a lot of information on designing Class-C amps in older handbooks, maybe even on the web, although I have not looked. The difference in output for a tube with given plate dissipation can be considerable. A Class AB linear has less than 66% efficiency and a Class-C amp around 78% (can be made higher with special tank circuits). Essentially, Class-C amplifiers are pulse integration devices. The plate efficiency is partly a matter of the pulse duration. I think if you want a transmitter primarily for CW or FSK building one from scratch might be best. -- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles WB6KBL dickb...@ix.netcom.com ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod)
Hi Garey, Thanks, good explanation. I'm not going to try it any time soon ;-) 73, Gary - Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com To: Gary Winblad garywinb...@comcast.net Cc: drakelist drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:24:40 - (UTC) Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod) Gary - Obviously the bias would remain in the Class AB1 area for SSB and AM. Applying a keyed signal to a non-linear amplifier is a bad idea. Every time the drive is started or stopped there is the opportunity for additional distortion products to be generated. Some SSB distortion is caused by biasing the amplifier too high or too low, resulting in 'compression' or limiting the waveform to less than it's peak. More distortion. Perhaps we have an amplifier expert on here who can definitively respond to your question. There are no doubt MANY reasons why all transmitters switched to linear operation for CW, in spite of the 'power/efficiency savings. If nothing else than it takes large amounts of drive POWER, more trouble, including greatly increased Grid dissipation. To me, turning an input signal on and off to a Class C amplifier is asking for trouble. A Class C amplifier is essentially a switch, ON or OFF, and relies on the Q of the tank circuits to 'smooth things out'. A lot of potential headaches for a few percent efficiency increase. There are LOTS of 'ideas' on the internet that 'sound' good :-) Let us know what you find out!! 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 Gary Winblad wrote: Well yeahh Garey I am not suggesting we change the bias for SSB (or AM), just for CW (and real FSK). So, you would need a switch or relay added and USE it to change modes. Yes, bias it past cut-off, will result in no emission between code elements, but also over part of the cycle. Key clicks could be delt with... The reason they had key clicks was primarily because they were cathode keying high voltages with no shaping as I recall. no? Bias is only on the finals, we don't key those or do we? Junk? Isn't our driver pretty clean? If not, wouldn't we have the same spurs and junk with a linear final? We DO have a tuned output tank circuit for the flywheel effect... no? BUT, if we don't have enough (voltage) drive, that might be a problem, but we don't really need full power... Don't ya think? Changing bias for CW wasn't my idea, but it did sound good to me. TIA, I am trying to learn here... There probably IS some reason nobody did this originally! 73, Gary WB6OGD - Original Message - From: Garey Barrell To: Gary Winblad Cc: drakelist Sent: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:31:44 - (UTC) Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod) Gary - In a word NO. The PA stage is operated as a LINEAR amplifier, Class AB1, meaning the output signal is a reasonable facsimile of the input signal. The BIAS voltage is carefully chosen to 'center' the operation of the amplifier in the linear portion of the tube's operating region. Increasing the BIAS voltage WILL reduce the IDLE current, (between code elements,) but will shift the PA to a non-linear region. This will result in distortion of the signal, with the potential of spurious signals, clicks, and other 'junk'. This is one reason clicks were so prevalent in the older transmitters. A true Class C amplifier requires considerably more driving power, and relies on the 'flywheel effect' of it's output network to 'smooth' out the 'pulses' of drive that exceed the bias potential. 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 Gary Winblad wrote: All this talk of rebuilding AC-4 supplies had me thinking... I have seen a mod(?) that said to turn up(down?) the bias when running CW (and FSK?) to set the finals more to Class C operation to save power dissipation. Is this a good idea? Wouldn't it be easy to add a switch or relay and another potentiometer while you are in there rebuilding? 73, Gary WB6OGD http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] AC-4
A number of years ago I bought about four AC4's, and installed 3-prong computer cords, with the ground attached to the AC4 chassis. I used the original strain relief, but carefully cut some of the plastic out of the original, just enough to accomodate the round cord. They all worked great. One thing I did not consider (and I need to go back and look), is the hot lead of the AC cord being on the fuse. I suppose for safety reasons I should have??? 73, Mark N5KAE From: Gary Poland gpola...@cinci.rr.com To: John Gartman johngart...@charter.net; DrakeList Zerobeat drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Thu, January 19, 2012 8:43:08 PM Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 John, As you suggested it would be easiest to just cut it off at the strain relief and re-terminate inside. You will only lose about 6 to 8 inches at best. 73, Gary___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] AC-4
Mark, For sure, the hot wire should immediately go to the fuse upon entering the AC4 chassis. I believe that the correct place for it is the tip of the fuse holder. 73, Ron WD8SBB --- On Fri, 1/20/12, Mark Nace n5...@swbell.net wrote: From: Mark Nace n5...@swbell.net Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 To: Gary Poland gpola...@cinci.rr.com, John Gartman johngart...@charter.net, DrakeList Zerobeat drakelist@zerobeat.net Date: Friday, January 20, 2012, 9:02 PM A number of years ago I bought about four AC4's, and installed 3-prong computer cords, with the ground attached to the AC4 chassis. I used the original strain relief, but carefully cut some of the plastic out of the original, just enough to accomodate the round cord. They all worked great. One thing I did not consider (and I need to go back and look), is the hot lead of the AC cord being on the fuse. I suppose for safety reasons I should have??? 73, Mark N5KAE From: Gary Poland gpola...@cinci.rr.com To: John Gartman johngart...@charter.net; DrakeList Zerobeat drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Thu, January 19, 2012 8:43:08 PM Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 John, As you suggested it would be easiest to just cut it off at the strain relief and re-terminate inside. You will only lose about 6 to 8 inches at best. 73, Gary -Inline Attachment Follows- ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist ___ Drakelist mailing list Drakelist@zerobeat.net http://mailman.zerobeat.net/mailman/listinfo/drakelist
Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod)
Guess I'll just toss in my 2 cents worth. Converting a Drake to class C in CW mode only by simply changing the bias of the PA may not be a good idea depending upon how it is driven and to a lesser extent how much Q and harmonic filtering is in the tank circuitry. I have not studied the schematic so I'll just leave it at that. But I really don't think class C operation in general should get a bad rap. It's a perfectly legit class of operation and like any mode there is a right way and a wrong way to implement it. It has a major advantage in terms of improving efficiency and thus reduction of heat in the finals. I have measured my Viking II PA with good instrumentation at 79 to 80% over the core bands on multiple occasions. We're talking 144W out for 180W in. The final is parallel 6146's, fixed plus drive-induced bias, and a heavy duty tank with continously optimized Q due to slaving a rollerducter to the plate tuning cap. As for driving power, you generally need a little more with class C, but not a lot more (assuming beam power tubes and assuming we're talking CW, not plate mod AM). To control clicks one should shape the drive signal shoulders softer than what one would normally do when driving a linear amp because the turn-on and turn-off characteristic of class C is more abrupt. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with class C for CW. In fact some cell phones use it. I think modern rigs avoid it simply because the PA is already linear for other reasons and already has a fan to get rid of heat. The maker would have to design the driver stage a little differently and the antenna coupling circuitry as well. I guess that is not worth adverstising additional 10's of watts of CW output power on the brochure. Dennis AE6C On 1/20/12, Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com wrote: Gary - Obviously the bias would remain in the Class AB1 area for SSB and AM. Applying a keyed signal to a non-linear amplifier is a bad idea. Every time the drive is started or stopped there is the opportunity for additional distortion products to be generated. Some SSB distortion is caused by biasing the amplifier too high or too low, resulting in 'compression' or limiting the waveform to less than it's peak. More distortion. Perhaps we have an amplifier expert on here who can definitively respond to your question. There are no doubt MANY reasons why all transmitters switched to linear operation for CW, in spite of the 'power/efficiency savings. If nothing else than it takes large amounts of drive POWER, more trouble, including greatly increased Grid dissipation. To me, turning an input signal on and off to a Class C amplifier is asking for trouble. A Class C amplifier is essentially a switch, ON or OFF, and relies on the Q of the tank circuits to 'smooth things out'. A lot of potential headaches for a few percent efficiency increase. There are LOTS of 'ideas' on the internet that 'sound' good :-) Let us know what you find out!! 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 Gary Winblad wrote: Well yeahh Garey I am not suggesting we change the bias for SSB (or AM), just for CW (and real FSK). So, you would need a switch or relay added and USE it to change modes. Yes, bias it past cut-off, will result in no emission between code elements, but also over part of the cycle. Key clicks could be delt with... The reason they had key clicks was primarily because they were cathode keying high voltages with no shaping as I recall. no? Bias is only on the finals, we don't key those or do we? Junk? Isn't our driver pretty clean? If not, wouldn't we have the same spurs and junk with a linear final? We DO have a tuned output tank circuit for the flywheel effect... no? BUT, if we don't have enough (voltage) drive, that might be a problem, but we don't really need full power... Don't ya think? Changing bias for CW wasn't my idea, but it did sound good to me. TIA, I am trying to learn here... There probably IS some reason nobody did this originally! 73, Gary WB6OGD - Original Message - From: Garey Barrell k4...@mindspring.com To: Gary Winblad garywinb...@comcast.net Cc: drakelist drakelist@zerobeat.net Sent: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:31:44 - (UTC) Subject: Re: [Drakelist] AC-4 (bias mod) Gary - In a word NO. The PA stage is operated as a LINEAR amplifier, Class AB1, meaning the output signal is a reasonable facsimile of the input signal. The BIAS voltage is carefully chosen to 'center' the operation of the amplifier in the linear portion of the tube's operating region. Increasing the BIAS voltage WILL reduce the IDLE current, (between code elements,) but will shift the PA to a non-linear region. This will result in distortion of the signal, with the potential of spurious signals, clicks, and other 'junk'. This is one reason clicks
