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[AMPS] Alpha 78

To: <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [AMPS] Alpha 78
From: w6ru@bak.rr.com (Terry Gaiser)
Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 09:25:53 -0800
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For the pair of 3CX800A7 conversion you cannot use the same sockets in a =
78 as you use in a 76PA ... with the broadband output networks the front =
tube socket location will not allow enough clearance for the tube anode =
cooler. You have to remove the tube chassis and cut out the top of it =
and replace it with a new one with the two tube sockets properly spaced. =
The original location of the rear tube socket works FB.

Terry W6RU
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Lamb=20
  To: amps@contesting.com=20
  Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 8:36 AM
  Subject: Re: [AMPS] Alpha 78


  Hello:

  I converted a 76PA (3 x 8874 tubes) to 2 x 3CX800 tubes.  I think the =
main reason I did it was just to see if I could do it.  It really is not =
difficult if you are not frightened with a project.  I do not think it =
devalues the amplifier, although I must say that I purchased a second =
amp real cheap and have left the 8874 tubes in it. =20

  The 78 is close to the 76PA for conversion purposes.  I think you have =
the hypersil transformer, which mine does not and I think your =
transformer is a bit smaller.

  With the conversion, the middle socket is plugged and a black piece of =
cardboard is taped to the underside of the top to cover the hole.  New =
silicon chimneys need to be made.  The filament voltage needs to be =
increased.  I found two surplus transformers to use in series with the =
existing filament voltage and stacked them along the right side =
transformer corner.  I build a bracket using existing holes, so thee was =
no holes drilled.  I used the two transformers because of size =
limitations.  Voltage was a bit high and dropped with a dropping =
resistor.  If you use a dropping resistor, each tube should have its own =
resistor so the voltage does not soar when one tube is pulled. =20

  Next, the startup delay must be increased from 2 minutes to 3 minutes. =
 This simply involves a capacitor in the timing circuit. =20

  That is about it.  Works fine.  I have seen one mod that has an =
external transformer and that looks stupid.  On the second Alpha, I =
actually moved my power transformer toward the center about 3/4" to give =
me more clearance to add a new board for some sophisticated extra stuff. =
 But, I did not change tubes.  The reason is that the "new" amp takes 3 =
minutes to warm up, while the "old" amp takes 2 minutes.  I prefer 2 =
minutes and bought some used 8874 tibes which should last a lifetime. =20

  That is about it.  If nothing else, the conversion proves you are more =
than an appliance operator worthy of an extra class license. =20

  73,  Colin  K7FM
    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: W4KEN=20
    To: amps@contesting.com=20
    Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2002 7:57 AM
    Subject: [AMPS] Alpha 78


    has anyone done a tube conversion on a 78 ?

    I have been told it is a real pin in the a** .

    I know it will devalue the amp but I plan on holding on to it for a =
long time

    I was thinking about using/converting it to 3cx800a7's.


    Im thinking it would be cheaper to convert it that to buy 3 new =
8874's

    any input would be helpful

    Thanks


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<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Diso-8859-1">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2712.300" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>For the pair of 3CX800A7 conversion you =
cannot use=20
the same sockets in a 78 as you use in a 76PA ... with the broadband=20
output&nbsp;networks the front tube socket location will not =
</FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2>allow enough clearance for the tube anode cooler. =
You have to=20
remove the tube chassis and cut out the top of it and replace it with a =
new one=20
with the two tube sockets properly spaced. The original location of the =
rear=20
tube socket works FB.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Terry W6RU</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Dk7fm@teleport.com =
href=3D"mailto:k7fm@teleport.com";>Lamb</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Damps@contesting.com=20
  href=3D"mailto:amps@contesting.com";>amps@contesting.com</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 23, =
2002 8:36=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [AMPS] Alpha =
78</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hello:</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I converted a 76PA (3 x 8874 tubes) =
to 2 x 3CX800=20
  tubes.&nbsp; I think the main reason I did it was just to see if I =
could do=20
  it.&nbsp; It really is not difficult if you are not frightened with a=20
  project.&nbsp; I do not think it devalues the amplifier, although I =
must say=20
  that I purchased a second amp real cheap and have left the 8874 tubes =
in=20
  it.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The 78 is close to the 76PA for =
conversion=20
  purposes.&nbsp; I think you have the hypersil transformer, which mine =
does not=20
  and I think your transformer is a bit smaller.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>With the conversion, the middle =
socket is plugged=20
  and a black piece of cardboard is taped to the underside of the top to =
cover=20
  the hole.&nbsp; New silicon chimneys need to be made.&nbsp; The =
filament=20
  voltage needs to be increased.&nbsp; I found two surplus transformers =
to use=20
  in series with the existing filament voltage and stacked them along =
the right=20
  side transformer corner.&nbsp; I build a bracket using existing holes, =
so thee=20
  was no holes drilled.&nbsp; I used the two transformers because of =
size=20
  limitations.&nbsp; Voltage was a bit high and dropped with a dropping=20
  resistor.&nbsp; If you use a dropping resistor, each tube should have =
its own=20
  resistor so the voltage does not soar when one tube is pulled.&nbsp;=20
  </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Next, the startup delay must be =
increased from 2=20
  minutes to 3 minutes.&nbsp; This simply involves a capacitor in the =
timing=20
  circuit.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>That is about it.&nbsp; Works =
fine.&nbsp; I have=20
  seen one mod that has an external transformer and that looks =
stupid.&nbsp; On=20
  the second Alpha, I actually moved my power transformer toward the =
center=20
  about 3/4" to give me more clearance to add a new board for some =
sophisticated=20
  extra stuff.&nbsp; But, I did not change tubes.&nbsp; The reason is =
that the=20
  "new" amp takes 3 minutes to warm up, while the "old" amp takes 2=20
  minutes.&nbsp; I prefer 2 minutes and bought some used 8874 tibes =
which should=20
  last a lifetime.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>That is about it.&nbsp; If nothing =
else, the=20
  conversion proves you are more than an appliance operator worthy of an =
extra=20
  class license.&nbsp; </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>73,&nbsp; Colin&nbsp;=20
  K7FM</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
  <BLOCKQUOTE=20
  style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
    <DIV=20
    style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
    <A title=3Dw4ken@tampabay.rr.com =
href=3D"mailto:w4ken@tampabay.rr.com";>W4KEN</A>=20
    </DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Damps@contesting.com=20
    href=3D"mailto:amps@contesting.com";>amps@contesting.com</A> </DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, February 23, =
2002 7:57=20
    AM</DIV>
    <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [AMPS] Alpha =
78</DIV>
    <DIV><BR></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>has anyone done a tube conversion =
on a 78=20
    ?</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have been told it is a real pin =
in the a**=20
    .</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I know it will devalue the amp but =
I plan on=20
    holding on to it for a long time</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I was thinking about =
using/converting it to=20
    3cx800a7's.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Im thinking it would be cheaper to =
convert it=20
    that to buy 3 new 8874's</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>any input would be =
helpful</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thanks</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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