Yes. That's correct. I have bought quite a few items through his website
and Tom has also provided valuable technical help at times.
73, Alek VK6APK.
On 18/02/2026 10:30 am, David Gow wrote:
He is the original designer of the Amertron amps.
On Tue, Feb 17, 2026 at 2:38 PM Aleksandar Petkovic via Amps
<amps@contesting.com> wrote:
Thanks mate.
73, Alek VK6APK.
On 18/02/2026 1:00 am, maflukey@gmail.com wrote:
> His ebay store is "W8JI CTR Engineering All Things Ham"
>
https://www.ebay.com/str/w8jictrengineeringallthingsham?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161211
>
> Matt
> KM5VI
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Amps <amps-bounces@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Aleksandar
Petkovic via Amps
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2026 10:42 PM
> To: amps@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [Amps] AL-1500 'thump'
>
> I wasn't aware of his ebay store. Can you provide a link please?
>
> Yes, I have his filter board and the EBM Papst blower in my
AL-1500, but I bought them directly from him. I would like to see
the ebay store.
>
> 73, Alek VK6APK
>
> On 17/02/2026 12:07 pm, maflukey@gmail.com wrote:
>> FYI, W8JI sells upgraded HD capacitor boards, upgraded HD
rectifier boards, and upgraded soft start boards for the big box
Ameritrons on his ebay site. IMO they are very well designed,
assembled, tested high quality boards that I seem to recall Tom
describing as the boards that would have gone into the AL-1500 had
production costs not needed to be considered. The boards have
several improvements from the originals and are relatively easy to
install.
>>
>>
>>
>> Matt
>>
>> KM5VI
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Rejean Leveille <rejva2am@gmail.com>
>> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2026 2:42 PM
>> To: maflukey@gmail.com
>> Cc: Steve Bookout, NR4M <steve@nr4m.com>; amps@contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] AL-1500 'thump'
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> In the past my soft start relay got defective, also with age it
may not read the right high voltage, easy fix be replacing the
Mohm resistance..
>>
>> Also if the HV was near 3600 volts, there is no safety
electrolytic margin at 450 volts. All equalizer resistors need to
be very close values. If their color doesn't look like new then
replace them all by ordering twice (16x). to pick up the 8x match.
>>
>> Unless you have some safety experience measuring each
electrolyte DC
>> voltage then do not do it. The diode pcb needs to be vertically
locked
>> and insulated
>>
>> Good luck
>>
>> Rejean va2am
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 16, 2026 at 12:52 PM <maflukey@gmail.com
<mailto:maflukey@gmail.com> > wrote:
>>
>> For safety's sake, be aware the soft start and safety interlock
on some of the AL-1500s were not factory wired per the schematic.
>>
>> Matt
>> KM5VI
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Steve Bookout, NR4M <steve@nr4m.com <mailto:steve@nr4m.com> >
>> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2026 8:48 AM
>> To: maflukey@gmail.com <mailto:maflukey@gmail.com>
>> Cc: amps@contesting.com <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] AL-1500 'thump'
>>
>> Hello Matt,
>>
>> I was wrong about the soft start. It IS in the AL-1500.
>> My mistake was I asked ‘AI’.
>> On the schematic, it’s obviously there (K3 and a 10 ohm R).
>>
>> Steve NR4M
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Feb 15, 2026, at 8:45 PM, maflukey@gmail.com
<mailto:maflukey@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Steve,
>>>
>>>>> 'If' it had a soft start to deal with initial current surge, I
>>>>> might think there was a problem there, but there isn't one.<<
>>> Did you remove the soft start relay and inrush resistor?
How old are your PS caps and are they original or upgraded?
>>>
>>> Matt,
>>> KM5VI
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Amps <amps-bounces@contesting.com
>>> <mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com> > On Behalf Of Steve Bookout
>>> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2026 12:39 PM
>>> To: amps@contesting.com <mailto:amps@contesting.com>
>>> Subject: [Amps] AL-1500 'thump'
>>>
>>> Hello all,
>>>
>>> Had a friend using the station this weekend, and while sitting
there with him, while operating on 40 meters, we both heard a
'thump' or 'thungg' from the amp while transmitting. Happened two
or three times or a period of a few hours.
>>>
>>> Reminded me of the sound the current surge makes when you
first turn the HV on in an amp.
>>>
>>> Puzzling to me cuz if that was it, why and why now? And, no
other follow up issues. I don't think a PS filter cap would
'sorta, kinda'
>>> short, then not and be OK. It would only be a small part of
a larger 'event'. (Been there; done that and still remember the
pucker factor.)
>>>
>>> Amp was being operated in a typical fashion, with resonant
load, 25 watts of drive, ~ 40 ma grid current, +/- 1200 watts RTTY.
>>>
>>> Dealt with many amps before, but have not heard anything like
this in the past. 'If' it had a soft start to deal with initial
current surge, I might think there was a problem there, but there
isn't one.
>>>
>>> Ideas?
>>>
>>> 73 Steve NR4M
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Amps mailing list
>>> Amps@contesting.com <mailto:Amps@contesting.com>
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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