Copper Talk » Product Reviews » Amplifiers » Palomar300 elite/Black cat HD ~ MY review « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla

Post Number: 421
Registered: 4-2005


Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 7:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Had the pleasure of testing a both of these little kickers over the last few weeks and helping friends set them up. Either one had twin SD1446 tranisitors which according to my specs show 90w out with 5w in. Palomar rates them 5-15w drive.

My initial set up was used on my Magnum Delta force and was used lightly...as in 4w in with mic gain set to swing no more than 20-25w. This produced the following:
Lo= 6w swing to 75w
Med= 20 swing to 150w
Hi= 50 swing 200w


I decided to up the input just to see if I could get the deadkey a little higher without doing harm. Not taking Palomars claims of "Hi Drive" Too seriously I was skeptical to say the least. Well it seems they are?

I set the Magnum to 7.5w dk and readjusted the mic gain to swing 30+ and shazam:
Lo=30dk swing 120w
Med=50dk swing 200w
Hi= 70dk swing 250w


We set up another on a friends Washington with Night eagle. Originally set for 3w input performance was lack luster but did get out ok. Raised dk to 6input and saw similar numbers as above without the higher peak average...maybe 190 on high with Washingtons 14 PEP average.
If we had put more DK into the Washington the radio itself would have started clipping and sounding bad so we went with the cleanest setting possible to drive the Black Cat well.
Bottom line is these kickers stay cool when driven lo and act much more like a modulator with large swing especially driven with a dual final rig.

Mine reached a high temp of 100 degrees from a read 70 degrees room temp after a 1hr skip shoot.

One thing to add is these preamps work great! I talk to locals in CT almost every night from across the sound and these amp bring them from S-3 to S-7 nicely when needed.

Out of the dozen we had at our disposal only one failed do to a sticking relay that did not allow it to go back to full recieve when unkeying the mic.

Soooo...for about the $100 price tag I would recommend it as a low cost relatively good quality kicker better used after a 10mtr radio.

If these outputs are what your targeting with a standard type CB you would be better of sticking with a low drive linear. It will work but really likes a larger driver to get the DK up and the swing swinging. Always stayed clean and cool even 10dk swinging 40w although I wouldn't do that for long :-O.

Respectfully sumbmitted for your viewing pleasure :-)

Hank CEF559
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious

Post Number: 1008
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 10:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

nice review,
i havent has any experience with these amps, and its nice to know what people i trust think.
im especially glad to hear that you liked the preamp, as i dont like the one on my amp.

GOOD INFO!
matt
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Allan
Member
Username: Allan

Post Number: 63
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Sunday, April 09, 2006 - 6:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have read that these 300 elites are a zero bias amp, and distortion on sideband is a given. There is a site out there that explains how to, with a few cheap ratshack parts, bias the amp for class B, AB1 or AB2 service and fix the bug. Just search "palomar 300 elite bias" for it... Looks easy enough. Has some clear photos, also. ...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla

Post Number: 522
Registered: 4-2005


Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 1:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hmmm...I do not currently have one in line but have tested 3 before selling for a friend. I was under the impression they were AB1?
They do have a SSB delay switch and have been told they sounded good by the buyers before purchasing.
Still interested in seeing these mods though.

Thanks for the heads up.
Hank CEF559
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Allan
Member
Username: Allan

Post Number: 66
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 7:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well, you know how radio checks can go. I take any, and all with a grain of salt....

The site also talks about how the Palomar Elite 300 does not filter RF from the B+ line, so the DC power leads can act like an antenna just like the regular output antenna coax connector. The RF running up the DC power
chord can trip out the power supply. Has a fix for that. (Large ferrite core from RS)

Then he discusses a fix for harmonics in the amplifier's output power that are outside of the bandwidth of the antenna (high VSWR's). The antenna may have a low SWR at it's design frequency, but the SWR will be out of sight at twice the design frequency or more.

All and all, looks like cheap fixes to put it 10-8. Sure couldn't hurt....
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ajm1571
Intermediate Member
Username: Ajm1571

Post Number: 195
Registered: 12-2004


Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 8:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The only palomar I have ever used was the skipper. Seems to be a real nice amp..have good reports on AM an SSb :-). Just my 2 cents

Allen
CEF565
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Allan
Member
Username: Allan

Post Number: 67
Registered: 2-2006
Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 9:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The old Skipper tube amp?
What the thread is referring to, are the new breed transistor pseudo amps that are flooding the market under the guise of old and famous , but retired names such as Boomer, Palomar and the like.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Allagator
Advanced Member
Username: Allagator

Post Number: 734
Registered: 9-2002


Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 6:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

ive got a Black Cat 300 HD and ive seen 310 out of mine running a Lincoln and a power cap on the amp ! Hey its in a older FORD ! LOL
done a recheck with another meter and got the same ! but with a Cobra 29 fixedup !
and only got the 200 !

Good small amps if you ask me !

hope it helps !
Allagator
CEF115
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Vanillagorilla
Advanced Member
Username: Vanillagorilla

Post Number: 557
Registered: 4-2005


Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 6:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yea..not the cream of the crop I'm sure but now 4 locals are using them and they sound great! HUGE swing and nice punch! "S" meter looks like a windshield wiper. :-).
A friends mobile signal from a stock Magnum S-9 at S3 swinging to S5 at 15mi away goes to 5 swinging 9 with BlackCat300 on "Lo".....audio sounds like a 50% improvement and just get warm. Nice clean box for $100. I still have one left for backup purposes in the event my lil Gray300 modulator goes poof.
...Gator.."power cap"? Please explain?

Hank
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Allagator
Advanced Member
Username: Allagator

Post Number: 736
Registered: 9-2002


Posted on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 - 7:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

some call them lightning caps for your big audio systems in cars it gives you the extra boost in power when its needed ! there is many brands out there but i got mine from Summit !
Hope it helps !

Allagator
CEF115

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action: