Hello George......Received the ARD-230 all ok....I have fired it up....The
first thing that happened is that the step start resistor blew up !!
BIG TIME! I found a wiring error on the terminal strip where the main AC
wiring comes into the amp....a wire had slipped off of the terminal and
someone just put it back on the terminal that they thought it went
on......Well it was the wrong terminal.....So the step start resistor was
connected from 1 side of 120 volts to ground....25 ohms at 120 volts is lots
of current! resistor lasted about 5 seconds. Blew apart and shot fire out
the end!......Was one of those gold enclosed Dale resistors....Replaced the
resistor and fixed the wiring error......Had to "jump start" the motor on
the loading cap with a battery. It did not turn.....I am sure that the
grease in the gearbox needs to be replaced......What did you use for grease
? I fired up the amp this morning and the motor on the loading cap took a
while to get going again......So, I will tear the amp apart and do
this.........I noticed that there is a small amount of grid current and
plate current reading on the meters......I am sure there is a metering
problem in there some where...I will try to investigate.....I also notice
that the panel "meter lighting" is very dim....What do you think that could
be ? Any suggestions would be welcomed......There seems to be a dark spot
on the plate choke....like it has over heated somewhat.....Is there any
indication as to what band this happens on ? The enamel of the wire seems
to be melted together at that point where it got hot.....I will check for
shorted turns....Fascinating how they switch a cap to ground with a vacuum
relay to prevent series resonance......
You are correct is saying that the amp uses top quality parts..
Just some thoughts and observations on the amp......
Oh, by the way.....the same document that you sent me on the mods for the
amp, I also received the same information with the amp!
Kind of interesting.....
Thanks again and 73!!
Jim W7RY
-----Original Message-----
From: George Benko <GBENKO@prodigy.net>
To: Jim <jdc@ieway.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
Date: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 6:21 AM
Subject: Re: [AMPS] ARD-230 Advanced Radio Devices Amplifer
>Jim,
>
>Attached are the docs for the ARD-230. Hope these help.
>
>73, George
>K8BRW
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jim <jdc@ieway.com>
>To: George Benko <GBENKO@prodigy.net>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
>Date: Sunday, August 22, 1999 7:09 PM
>Subject: Re: [AMPS] ARD-230 Advanced Radio Devices Amplifer
>
>
>>Thanks George....I will let you know if I need any mod docs.....Do you
have
>>them in soft copy ? Can you e-mail to me ?
>>
>>73
>>
>>Jim W7RY
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: George Benko <GBENKO@prodigy.net>
>>To: Jim <jdc@ieway.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
>>Date: Sunday, August 22, 1999 5:36 AM
>>Subject: Re: [AMPS] ARD-230 Advanced Radio Devices Amplifer
>>
>>
>>>Jim,
>>>
>>>FB. Jerry designed the RF section and Jim Garland designed the
>QSK/control
>>>circuits. Bob Sullivan, W0YVA and Chuck White did the autotune circuits.
>>>
>>>Let me know. I have all the mods documented by Mark Moon, N3AVA/0. He
>was
>>>a senior technican who worked on the amp..
>>>
>>>73, George
>>>K8BRW
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Jim <jdc@ieway.com>
>>>To: George Benko <GBENKO@prodigy.net>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
>>>Date: Sunday, August 22, 1999 1:05 AM
>>>Subject: Re: [AMPS] ARD-230 Advanced Radio Devices Amplifer
>>>
>>>
>>>>Thanks George....I did not know that Jerry had anything to do with that
>>>>amp....Intresting...I have been studying there work in the Bill Orr
>>>>handbook...Latest edition....The fellow that I am buying the amp from,
>has
>>>>lots of spare parts....Spare drive motors, display for the control
>module,
>>>>and some other misc. parts....He said that the only trouble that he had
>>was
>>>>the step start resistor going out.....
>>>>
>>>>He also advised that there were many factory mods done to this
>>>>unit.....updates and etc.
>>>>
>>>>I will try to ask Jerry Pittigner and Jim Garland about the amp, and
>ask
>>>>if there any other mods that need to be done........
>>>>
>>>>I dug the may 1983 issue of QST where it was reviewed....QST loved the
>>>>amp.....Believe that Mark Wilson did the write-up.......
>>>>
>>>>I noticed in a QST ad for the amp, Icom had blessed it......Must have
>been
>>>>the outcome of the "relationship"....
>>>>
>>>>Thanks again George, and will advise when it arrives.....
>>>>
>>>>73
>>>>
>>>>Jim W7RY
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>From: George Benko <GBENKO@prodigy.net>
>>>>To: Jim <jdc@ieway.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
>>>>Date: Saturday, August 21, 1999 9:37 AM
>>>>Subject: Re: [AMPS] ARD-230 Advanced Radio Devices Amplifer
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi Jim,
>>>>>
>>>>>I use the ARD about 6 months out of the year. I also use a Henry.
>>>>>
>>>>>The ARD 230A is a pretty good amplifier. It is an auto-tune to
>>pre-sets.
>>>>>The full auto mode does not work well.
>>>>>
>>>>>It will put out 1500 watts all day long. Built very well, quality
>parts.
>>>>>Most of them need to have the gear drives taken apart and the grease
>>>>cleaned
>>>>>and re-lubericated.
>>>>>
>>>>>They are know to have a few mechanical and electrical problems. The
>shaft
>>>>>couplers tend to come lose. The early ones had only one set screw.
Also
>>>>>there is an LM3900 on the power supply board that goes bad.
>>>>>
>>>>>Aside from that, other problems are sporatic. I have a list of
service
>>>>>notes if you decide to buy the amp.
>>>>>
>>>>>The amp was designed by K8RA and W8ZR... Was originally to be offered
>>>>under
>>>>>the ICOM name but that did not work out.
>>>>>
>>>>>Except for the grease, I have had no problems with mine.
>>>>>
>>>>>I like the amp very much. It does work well and is great for
>>>>band-hopping...
>>>>>
>>>>>73, George
>>>>>K8BRW
>>>>>
>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>From: Jim <jdc@ieway.com>
>>>>>To: George Benko <GBENKO@prodigy.net>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
>>>>>Date: Saturday, August 21, 1999 11:52 AM
>>>>>Subject: Re: [AMPS] ARD-230 Advanced Radio Devices Amplifer
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>I am thinking of buying one........ An ARD 230A......The man says it
>>>works
>>>>>>good, and he has owned it for about 9 years. Do you use your on a
>>>daily
>>>>>>basis ? Does the tuning work ok ? Have you had any troubles with
>>it
>>>>?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>What is your general opinion of it ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks and 73
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Jim W7RY
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>From: George Benko <GBENKO@prodigy.net>
>>>>>>To: Jim <jdc@ieway.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
>>>>>>Date: Friday, August 20, 1999 9:11 PM
>>>>>>Subject: Re: [AMPS] ARD-230 Advanced Radio Devices Amplifer
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Jim,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I own two of the "A" models and a "CA" (three tube) model. They are
>an
>>>>>>>interesting amplifier.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>What is your interest?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>73, George
>>>>>>>K8BRW
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>From: Jim <jdc@ieway.com>
>>>>>>>To: amps@contesting.com <amps@contesting.com>
To: <amps@contesting.com>
>>>>>>>Date: Friday, August 20, 1999 10:01 PM
>>>>>>>Subject: [AMPS] ARD-230 Advanced Radio Devices Amplifer
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>What if anything can you folks tell me about an ARD-230A amplifier.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Any of you ever own one ?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Thanks and 73!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Jim W7RY
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>--
>>>>>>>>FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/ampsfaq.html
>>>>>>>>Submissions: amps@contesting.com
>>>>>>>>Administrative requests: amps-REQUEST@contesting.com
>>>>>>>>Problems: owner-amps@contesting.com
>>>>>>>>Search: http://www.contesting.com/km9p/search.htm
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
--
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