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Nomeancity
Junior Member
Username: Nomeancity
Post Number: 18
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 3:40 pm: | 
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I'm trying to run my base 35a on a 52 amp pyramid
power supply, the 35 amp blowed & why wont this new 52 amp hold it on Sideband ?. Does good on am but I have to leave RF power down on 2950dx on ssb cause Anything over 600 watts on sideband & power supply kicks off & on . I figured if 35 amps holds it , why wont 52 ? Put a lot of money & time in trying to run this linear side of the 35a. Thanks for any suggestions. |
Kc0gxz
Advanced Member
Username: Kc0gxz
Post Number: 751
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 4:30 am: |
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Nomeancity
The Pyramid-52 is actually a 40 to 42 amp "constant" power source and chances of it handling a 600 watt amplifier is pretty slim.
You said and I quote, (the 35 amp blowed & why wont this new 52 amp hold it on Sideband?)
Just what "35 amp" are you talking about?? Are you refering to some other power supply or are you talking about a 35 amp fuse that's in your linear?
We just need a little more information to go on such as how many and what kind of power transistors are in your linear and what is its maximum amperage draw and recomended fuse requirement.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
Nomeancity
Junior Member
Username: Nomeancity
Post Number: 20
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, April 18, 2004 - 11:38 pm: |
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Jeff, It was a palomar 35a, A base linear. The power supply side went out. It was a 35 amp power supply running a 12 volt,transistor linear all in one,with 4 1446 transistors & two 20 amp fuses.I really dont know how it ran 600 watts of swing, but it did.,Now I bought a pyramid 52 amp power supply& I hooked it up on the linear side of the palomar 35a & I get more than 600 watts swing out of A.M.,& sideband swings more than before. Tries to swing 700 watts,But if i run it like I did before the 35 amp power supply blowed(RF power up all the way on ssb on my 2950dx,& all the way down on A.M.) when watt meter goes up to 700 or so,on sideband, the 52 amp power supply clicks off & on like it wont handle it. But,A.M. runs better than before.
Could I be right in assuming the 52 amp power supply actually lets the linear show its full potential ? & the 35 amp power supply that was built in it before was made not to kick out but actually slow down its supply to the linear & not kick out but simply keep the wattage down so it would run it ?
But to answer your question the linear has 4 1446 transistors. The linear also has two 20 amp fuses.
Thank you for your reply Jeff.
Sorry I did'nt make myself clear before though. |
Nomeancity
Junior Member
Username: Nomeancity
Post Number: 21
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, April 19, 2004 - 11:27 pm: |
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I guess no one knows what a palomar 35a is,
It's a linear.They sell em at coppers.
It's not a stupid fuse!!! |
Kc0gxz
Advanced Member
Username: Kc0gxz
Post Number: 761
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 4:37 am: |
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Nomeancity
If you're getting 700 watts out of that then you definately are driving it way too hard. That's why the power supply section died. On SSB, you don't want to hit your amplifier with anything more than around 15 watts maximum.
You never did say but I'm curious to know if you were running your radio off the Palomars' power supply too. It sounds to me as if you were over-taxing the supply.
As far as your new Pyramid goes, it is a far better power supply than was in your Palomar. The Palomar supply will die when over heated from being over taxed. Where as the Pyramid will safely shut itself down if over taxed and that's exactly what I think you are doing with it.
Back the power down on your radio so you see a maximun of around 400-450 watts of outpur power from your amplifier. Believe me, no one will EVER know or see the difference on the receiving end if you are running 400 watts or 800 watts of power because there is only a 1/2 S-Unit difference between 400 and 800 watts.
If you try to get the amperage draw from the Pyramid as you did from the Palomar, the Pyramid won't let you do it. You can defeat its safty devices but by doing so, the Pyramid will also die. In other words, when the Pyramid shuts itself down, that means that it has been over taxed.
In my opinion, you are also overtaxing your linear by over-driving it in the first place. It has very small pills in it and 4x1446s were not designed to do 700-800 watts. They will be the next thing to go.
One more thing. I have never been crazy about running a radio AND a linear on the same power supply. In the first place, it's just less amperage supply for the linear. Running a linear balls-to-the-wall only shortens its life span and eventual death to the power supply as you already found out.
Try this on for size. How about running stacked (paralelled) Pyramid 52s. When doing so, you have to be absolutely sure that the voltage from both of them are set identical. When you put them together you will still have your 14 volts but you're also going to have doubled your amperage capability. With that, now you're up to around 90 amps or more of power supply.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
Nomeancity
Junior Member
Username: Nomeancity
Post Number: 22
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 1:08 pm: |
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I run my 2950 on a seperate power supply.
You must only skip through what you read jeff.
It dont take a tech to know better than that . I run my 2950 on a pyramid 20 amp POWER SUPPLY.& furthermore Why are you insinuating I am.
You sound like a kid who has been to a cb shop with all this common sense advice.But I ceartanly know better than to run two things on 1 power supply. You've really been a lot of. So try to avoid reading any thing about power supplys or linears or radios ,.Jeff you just read what you want to hear so you can shoot that common sensed advise,I'm sure someone ocassionally says'hay jeff knows what he's talkin about'But I've been around to long not to know these basics
Besides I only push the linear(which is on its own power supply)with 3&1/2 watts on A.M. & it has always given 600 watts of swng, maybe thats just my meter though. But on sideband I've been puttin the whole 55 watts the 2950dx will do into it & it dosent even get more than warm to the touch FOR TWO YEARS. the power supply in my linear blowed when I was on a.m. the variable power was up on the radio on A.M. & I did'nt notice.Thank you Jeffrey |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 2207
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 3:28 pm: |
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OK,
I finally figured out what amplifier you have been Talking about.
It is The BOOMER 500 Base Amplifier / with a 35 Amp Power Supply built into it.
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodW90-BOOMER500+
I was going Nut's trying to find a Palomar 35A Amplifier and could find no listing's anywhere for one.
Sorry, but I have never used a Boomer Amplifier or worked on one that had the Built in Power Supply.
Now that we have the correct name for the AMP, maybe other's can help you as there are many Boomer AMP Owner's out there.
THANK YOU! Forummaster for helping with the Information.
Lon
Tech808
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Nomeancity
Junior Member
Username: Nomeancity
Post Number: 24
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 2:13 am: |
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Im dissapointed with this forum I personally
dont see how this forum could help anyone,especially when I know I made myself clear from the start.
P.S.I would like a reply on this problem from someone else Just dont act like your talking to newcomer .,beenaround since 1973 But truly ssb now
thanks a lot for any advice |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 2217
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 2:27 pm: |
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Nomeancity,
You might want to re-post your Question/Problem under the Name: BOOMER 500 Base Amplifier w/ Built In 35Amp Power Supply
Your post at the top says: Palomar35a How many amps to run ?
If people have Never heard of an amplifier named Palomar 35a before they have no idea what kind of amplifier you are talking about or need help with and may not even read the post.
Hope this help's.
Lon
Tech808 |
Spiderleggs
Junior Member
Username: Spiderleggs
Post Number: 18
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 9:23 pm: |
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You need not post this 808 if you like, but that dude seems to have an attitude problem. He's critical of you and Kc0gxz trying to answer his question and of the board in general but he's the one with the amp problem. If you need help with something don't bite the hand thats trying to feed you. But you went above and beyond being patient with him. |
Kc0gxz
Advanced Member
Username: Kc0gxz
Post Number: 777
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 2:02 pm: |
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Spiderleggs
Thank you for the kind words.
After being a CBer for 30 years, one would know that 55 watts coming from a RCI-2950DX is impossible.
But thank you anyways for seeing the true nature of where all that was coming from. I was in the CB Sales and Repair business for almost 35 years before my son took over the business. And no, that doesn't mean I know it all. I NEVER will.
On another note, I noticed in your profile that you own a President Madison. If that one has the original 858 chassis in it, you have one of the finest CBs ever built. And quite rare these days. Hang on to it. I wouldn't mind finding a real clean one for myself.
Jeff, kc0gxz. |
Sparkomatic
Intermediate Member
Username: Sparkomatic
Post Number: 287
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 8:06 pm: |
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SSB swinging to 600-700 watts on a Boomer 500???? Huhhh??????.......sounds like SEVERE overdriving or a BIGTIME SWR problem. That kind of SSB power will draw over 55 amps. |
Nomeancity
Junior Member
Username: Nomeancity
Post Number: 31
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 10:39 pm: |
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Spark, I got my watt meter off someone who tinkers in everything., I've known since I got it ,It's too free. It shows way too much, even on a barefoot radio. I think someone changed something in it to show more wattage & swing.
On the 10 watt scale, my ranger shows too much,
about 5 watts,& I know I've got it down to 3&1/2,
On the 100 watt scale ,It shows dead key of 18.,& thats with the variable all the way down. It's sick. |
