Copper Talk » Ask The Tech » Amplifiers » Changing out pills for stronger ones.... « Previous Next »

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Groundcontrol1
Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2003 - 10:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

hello I have a superstar 250 it has 2 srf3749 in it. my question is what are its subsitutes and how do I go about finding info on this amp? thanks joe blazer620@yahoo.com
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Bigbob
Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 9:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Those are according to rfparts 211-11 size pills at 85 watts you will need to know how to tune the set up after you put in 2sc2879 at 120 watts,but remember to make your amp twice as powerful(or loud)you would need pills at 170 watts and there are none,so go to coppers catolog and check out the kl5oo amp,you can get that for about the same price as an upgrade and have exactly twice as much power anything less and no one will know the difference.Bigbob
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Tech8541
Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2003 - 9:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

here is how i would go about doing that...1) sale that amp and 2) buy a bigger one.

you just dont swap out trans and instantly get more power. you have to change several other components also.

its like taking a 5.0 out of a mustang and dropping in a bored out 5.7 winsor. if you don't change the transmission, you can kiss that trans. goodbye after you have 'dumped' the clutch a few times.
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Crafter
Posted on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 1:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

8541,I know you have seen as much as me nothing suprises me anymore, But yes you have to change some other components like the caps depends on which pill you go with some are 250pf others are 350pf so figure that in your cost.
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2600
Posted on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 2:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I'm with 8541. The money you will spend to "upgrade" an amplifier to larger transistors involves upgrading the parts that feed INTO them and the parts that feed OUT of your new, larger transistors. Not only might you overheat some of them with the newer, higher power level, but you could end up with the new transistors being "choked" down to the original power level, even with the higher "textbook" ratings.

We refer to the "bigger pill upgrade" as a "Re-Design", since that's what you are really doing. If you have someone else's tried-and-true "upgrade", complete with ALL the additional parts to be changed, ask how many of the last TEN of them worked the first time. If all ten of them did, it's a safe bet for you to try. If they haven't done ten of that model total yet, it's not so safe a bet to try.

8541 used the auto transmission to convey the "weak link in the chain" aspect of doing this. I would add that replacing a 4-cylinder motor with a V-8 is only effective if you also change the tiny one-barrel carb to a bigger one. JUST changing transistors alone can leave you with the same kind of so-so result that a tiny one-barrel will show if you bolt it to a big motor.

If you're just in love with the idea of an "upgrade", figure out how much the idea is really worth to you. Odds are, a bigger amplifier will end up being cheaper if you compare "Watts per dollar" spent to get the additional power. Amplifiers have NEVER been cheaper. Never.

73
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Bigbob
Posted on Thursday, January 01, 2004 - 10:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What the heck did I just say,in less words I told him its a waste of time and money,and he'd be better off buying a newer and bigger unit from copper.Bigbob
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Johnhenre
Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 7:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I THINK YOU ALL ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE PILL FACTOR,BUT I USE (6) OF THE KL-300/P IN DUMP TRUCK'S MAKE SURE OF YOUR SWR?IS GOOD THIS IS WHAT I DONE FOR UP GRADE.REMOVED THE PCB HOT GLUED TWO 1000UF 16V CAP TOGETHER WIRED THEM +TO+ AND -TO- SOLDERED THEM TOGETHER WITH ABOUT 5IN. OF SMALL WIRE ROUTED IT ALONG THE SIDE UP TO(C26) AND SOLDERED +TO+ AND-TO- TO (C26) ON THE BOTTOM SIDE THEN HOT GLUED THEM DOWN TO THE PCB AROUND THE PCB NUMBER STAY CLEAR OF(R11)( HEAT) THE CAP'S HAVE TO BE SMALL ENOUGH TO LET BOTTOM COVER SLIDE BACK ON,I USED (6K32)CE THEN I FIRED IT UP AND SURPRIZE WATCHING THE RF METER SWING AND HANG UP! THERE AND DIDN'T WHAT TO COME DOWN AND THE WATTS? THERE ONE MORE UP GRADED THAT I WILL TELL LATER TO THIS AMP'S.TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE TRUCK'S I'M VOLTED UP AND RUN 14.25 VOLTS THIS AMP TRANSISTOR ARE DAMAGED AT 16.VOLTS.

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