Message: 1
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2021 05:00:41 -0600
From: Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo@gmail.com>
To: "amps@contesting.com" <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Triode Amps
Message-ID:
<CALWD7Z6zCfsgWs4j2Zt5EzrUsrwiMLKUuay9yTDuKbm1Hm-A-w@mail.gmail.com>
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My guess is that the hardware to withstand higher B+ Is hard to come by.
That's not a problem. Plenty of parts out there that can work. Lots
of AM rigs swing up to at least 4 KV DC on positive modulation. Then
the peak of each RF cycle goes higher. A couple guys, one now SK (Bob
W2ZN) run or used to run Continental power pebbles on 160. That was a
PWM rig that ran a pair of 3-500s in the final with a third one used
as the switch. 8 KV from the h.v. supply.
No, the problem isn't h.v. parts; it's stabilizing the PA so it
doesn't take off when the anode v. gets up over 4 KV. Cathode driven
is easier, one reason for its popularity, but even a g.g. 4-1000 can
get squirrely on the high bands with 5 or 6 KV on the plate.
BTW a pair of 3-500s will produce 1500 w. in g.g. cathode driven
linear service but it takes more drive than a lot of hams can produce,
around 130 watts. That's partly because modern amplifiers don't use
plug in coils for band changes which optimize the Q for each band.
The 3-1000 is a better choice because it's rated for higher plate v.
Harris and BTI used it.
73
Rob
K5UJ