I did a survey about 15 years ago on CQ-Contest (then the only reflector
available). IIRC, there were essentially no complaints about the
Ameritron RCS-8 or the TopTen remote relay box. I used two TopTens for
maybe 10 years, often operating into >3:1 SWRs at >1200 watts (for
example, running an 80m array cut for CW up in the DX phone window) and
never had any relay problems. Currently using an RCS-10, which can have
up to 7 relays in the RF path. Will be interesting to see how it holds up.
Right now my Array Solutions Stackmatch has a bad relay (dirty?).
Symptom is occasional high SWR and a lack of received signal on the
lower antenna in my tribander stack. If I send a little high power RF
through it things are then fine.
73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at
reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000
On 8/7/2010 10:49 AM, Carl wrote:
> Most of the antenna switch problems were undersized traces, cheap connectors
> that melted, and VSWR related. Its been almost 20 years since Ive used any
> at power but one does duty switching Beverages 750' away. Maybe they
> improved them.
>
> Carl
> KM1H
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeff Blaine"<keepwalking188@yahoo.com>
> To: "Mike"<k4gmh@arrl.net>;<amps@contesting.com>
> Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2010 1:35 AM
> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>
>
>
>> Mike,
>>
>> I would like to have said that using them in my case was due to some
>> superhuman research attempt. But I just noticed that these were the
>> relays
>> in my Ameritron remote antenna switch. And I checked them out - using
>> them
>> as a sort of benchmark to compare with. Just never found a better relay
>> and
>> ran with them.
>>
>> There must be a lot of those Ameritron switches out. While the
>> manufacturer's reputation has it's issues, I do think generally users are
>> happy with the switches. This one has been ridden hard at about 1KW RTTY
>> service and seems to be holding up fine. So far... Fingers crossed.
>>
>> 73/jeff/ac0c
>> www.ac0c.com
>>
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Mike"<k4gmh@arrl.net>
>> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 8:32 PM
>> To:<amps@contesting.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>
>>
>>> Here the Tyco relays have been used without a failure for over five years
>>> in
>>> various homemade stack matchers, ant. switchers, etc. while running 1500
>>> W
>>> in RTTY contests. They are also used at a local M/M station in various
>>> HF
>>> contest modes for all sort of ant. and amp. selection without a failure.
>>>
>>> "Rappack Controller Design for Stack Match", National Contest Journal,
>>> Jan/Feb 2005 or Wiki,
>>> http://wiki.contesting.com/index.php/Category:Remote_antenna_switches,
>>> devices are used to make sure the relay control voltage is appropriately
>>> applied to keep from hot switching the relays. The single IC controller
>>> is
>>> based on the quad latch, CD4042.
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 3:37 PM, Jeff Blaine
>>> <keepwalking188@yahoo.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Carl, you are right. 400.000 W. So if that 12A version is good for a
>>>> US
>>>> 1500W, then the 16A version may be marginally acceptable for a guy
>>>> running
>>>> the AUS 400W.
>>>>
>>>> Now that I think of it, 2-3 in parallel may be the way to go if a guy
>>>> were
>>>> running 400.001 instead of 400.000 W as may happen - for the most brief
>>>> of
>>>> instances, of course. :)
>>>>
>>>> I run the 24V version because the current is half and the power
>>>> dissipation
>>>> in the wires is a lot less as a result. It's a great relay.
>>>>
>>>> 73/jeff/ac0c
>>>> www.ac0c.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>> From: "Carl"<km1h@jeremy.mv.com>
>>>> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 2:20 PM
>>>> To: "Jeff Blaine"<keepwalking188@yahoo.com>; "Paul Christensen"
>>>> <w9ac@arrl.net>;<amps@contesting.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> I thought the Emtron DX3 and 4 were the Aussie national amp(-;
>>>>>
>>>>> Carl
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Carl,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That relay is available in a 24V version. And there's a 16A contacts
>>>>>> rating option as well which may be the better choice especially if a
>>>>>> guy
>>>>>> is running at the full AUS/NZ-400w power level instead of the
>>>>>> domestic
>>>>>> 1500w power level.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73/jeff/ac0c
>>>>>> www.ac0c.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>>> From: "Carl"<km1h@jeremy.mv.com>
>>>>>> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 8:33 AM
>>>>>> To: "Paul Christensen"<w9ac@arrl.net>;<amps@contesting.com>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'll have to give those a try, I want to experiment with some 6M
>>>>>>>
>>>> antenna
>>>>
>>>>>>> phasing. The 12V coil may be a problem in a very long run, probably
>>>>>>>
>>>> have
>>>>
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> dial back a 24V PS.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Carl
>>>>>>> KM1H
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: "Paul Christensen"<w9ac@arrl.net>
>>>>>>> To:<amps@contesting.com>
>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 5:37 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Although not strictly an "automotive" relay, W8ZR has conducted
>>>>>>>> extensive
>>>>>>>> tests on the Tyco/Shrack RTB14012, available for USD $1.80 ea. from
>>>>>>>> Mouser
>>>>>>>> Electronics:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=RTB14012
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Jim is using these relays for high-power 1.5KW+ switching in his
>>>>>>>> new
>>>>>>>> StationPro controller.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.w8zr.net/stationpro/index.htm
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> He's seeing some very low loss and VSWR numbers up through 6m, with
>>>>>>>> decent
>>>>>>>> performance through 2m. Not bad for a $1.80 PCB sealed power
>>>>>>>> relay.
>>>>>>>>
>>>> I
>>>>
>>>>>>>> believe Jim has tested another similar relay with even lower loss
>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> same price class.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Paul, W9AC
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>>> From: "Dave Hachadorian"<k6ll@arrl.net>
>>>>>>>>> To:<amps@contesting.com>
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 4:54 PM
>>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Automotive Relays
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Below is some info from W2VJN on inexpensive relays for RF. They
>>>>>>>>>> are available for $2.43 each here:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>> http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/747811-relay-pwr-spdt-10a-12vdc-pc-mnt-jw1fsn-dc12v.html
>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
>>>>>>>>>> Big Bear Lake, CA
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The relays which we use in the Top Ten Devices boxes are 10
>>>>>>>>>>> amp,
>>>>>>>>>>> sealed power relays. They are very small and have very low
>>>>>>>>>>> inductance. The contacts are connected to the base pins with
>>>>>>>>>>> wide conductors. I have run many power tests on these relays
>>>>>>>>>>> and the pc boards they are mounted on with temperature monitors
>>>>>>>>>>> and they will take full amateur power (+) to over 30 MHz. We
>>>>>>>>>>> rate our boxes conservatively at 1.5 KW. The part number is
>>>>>>>>>>> JW1FSN-DC12V. They come with several different brand names on
>>>>>>>>>>> them. Similar relays are being used by other manufactures of
>>>>>>>>>>> amateur boxes and they rate them variously at 3 KW and 5 KW.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> George, W2VJN
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>> Amps mailing list
>>>>>>>>>> Amps@contesting.com
>>>>>>>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Amps mailing list
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> Amps mailing list
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> 73,
>>> Mike, K4GMH
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
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