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Moderator463
Moderator
Username: Moderator463
Post Number: 8
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 11:42 pm: | 
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Sorry, This is long, But I really need some advice..
I have a problem with my Skipper 300, It transmits just fine, but if I have it inline with the radio, I have no Recieve, It worked fine until a couple months ago, It started one day and my recieve was half of what it should be and the strong signals were very weak, I had to tap the relay to bring back the RX after each time I unkeyed, then it went out completly, The relay clicks and unclicks when I key and unkey or turn the Preamp on and off.. I tried cleaning the contacts of the RX relay and have since been able to get Very Very weak recieve and only a very strong station can actually make it through the skipper to the radio, If I have a station that is putting a a 7 or higher on me, when I put the skipper inline, he drops to below a 1 and I can just barely hear him... The Preamp makes no difference....
This skipper has 3 clear plastic relays that mount to the chassis near the rear and are soldered in with wire jumpers, It has two R10-E3-Z2 V185 12V Relays and another one which is a R10 - E2358-1185 12V, Which is a 4 DPDT ( I think thats right)
The RX relay is a R10-E3-Z2, I believe the RX also runs through the other relays from looking at the schematic, but Im not very good at schematics, I cant find any of these old style relays to replace them with anywhere, Is there a new style relay that will replace these... I think I will have to replace all 3 relays to try to fix this problem, But Im not quite sure, Im almost certain it has to be in the relays from whats its doing and how it started, Its like it had bad contacts, but like I said, I did try to clean the RX relay a little and that did manage to bring atleast a little RX back... Nothing else makes any difference, If its inline, there is almost no RX, Any Ideas and if it isnt the relays, then what else could it be... Like I said, The darn thing Transmits just fine and I get nothing but great reports on the other end, Its just the RX giving me a problem....
William (Shady)
CEF#463 Northwest Florida |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 2604
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 24, 2006 - 4:49 pm: |
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if you're VERY CAREFUL, you may be able to use an ohmmeter & confirm the rcv relay is no good.
try http://www.rfparts.com/relay.html#special or call rf parts. they have quite a few replacement relays available. |
Jp1116
Intermediate Member
Username: Jp1116
Post Number: 103
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:12 pm: |
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Relay 1, which is the larger one and closest to the transformer, switches one leg of the secondary output from the transformer into the HV doubler circuit. It also disconnects the 12v to the pre-amp relay so when you key up, it not only takes it out of line but shuts it off. Relay 2 is what switches the pre-amp in and out of the circuit. Relay 3 is the antenna change over relay. So your problem will be with either relay 2 or relay 3.
Can you see the pre-amp relay operate when you flip the switch or when you transmit and it is turned on? If it is stuck on, you will have the problem you describe if the pre-amp is not working. You could transmit with the amp on but not with it off or in standby. Receive would be dead either way.
If the receive amp relay operates, but you want to by-pass it to see if your receive will come back, then look at relay 3. That is the one with the coax on it, and find the 2 wires that go over to relay 2. Jump across those terminals on relay 3 and see if your receive comes back. If it does you have a problem with relay 2. You could just bypass it altogether if that is the case since the pre-amp doesn’t work anyway. Just jump the two terminals on relay 3 with a piece of wire.
If it doesn’t receive when jumped then your problem would be in relay 3.
You can work on this without turning the amp on by using a 12 volt power supply. It makes much safer than getting close to the first relay with the power on, not to mention the AC voltage in there when you are trying to trace the continuity in the circuit and moving the amp around with your fingers and probes inside. Just hook it up after the diode in the 12v power supply, keeps it from going to the tubes, and before or at the plus terminal of Relay 1. This will allow you to operate the relays with the amp off. While it may not be good to key into the amp without it on, it beats the alternative that can happen. All you want to do is click them to see if they work, not transmit, so you are talking a fraction of a second. |
Jp1116
Intermediate Member
Username: Jp1116
Post Number: 104
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 27, 2006 - 12:30 pm: |
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I hope these posts come up in order, I forgot to add that you can "key" any relay by putting the 12 volts on the plus side and grounding the negative side. That will hold it in so you can test for continuity or receive. Use the diode across terminals 1 & 2 to tell you which is which. |
Moderator463
Moderator
Username: Moderator463
Post Number: 9
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 - 9:28 pm: |
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Sorry I havent posted an update, I have been working almost 60 hours a week and havent had any computer time...
I found the problem, It is the Preamp relay.... I bypassed the relay all togather and it is back working like its always had, I never really use the preamp anyway, I had actually tried just jumping it with a wire, but I was getting chatter out of relay 1 and no power output, I took a toggle switch and wired it inline figureing i would have to toggle it on and off between keys, but once I put the toggle switch inline, It works great now without havuing to toggle on and off..... IM stil going to replace the relay in it, but it is back up and working again for now.... |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 1407
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 12:02 am: |
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try NTE's site and use their cross refference guide to find a replacement relay.
you'd be surprised how many they have replacements for.
matt |
Bullfrog13x4
Junior Member
Username: Bullfrog13x4
Post Number: 16
Registered: 3-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 17, 2006 - 4:34 pm: |
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i have a large box of n.o.s. relays and if you want the rx amp working and now excatly what the part #on the side of it is i can send one to you at no charge. My e-mail address is listed in my profile the other option is to find another relay that has the same value on the coil and the contacts and wire it in, it does not have to be the excact same part enless you want to keep it origonal as in a collector would. |
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