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[TenTec] 3-500 plate cap question solved

To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: [TenTec] 3-500 plate cap question solved
From: "Mike, K9UW" <k9uw@wi-net.com>
Reply-to: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec@contesting.com>
Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 20:21:52 -0500
List-post: <mailto:tentec@contesting.com>
Figured this one out on my own. When the plate cap dissipators had been pulled off of the old 3-500's, the tube's plate cap came with it. Since this is my first affair with 3-500's, I foolishly assumed that the post was the standard configuration.

Sorry to have taken up the bandwidth.

73, de Mike, K9UW
Amherst, WI

Mike, K9UW wrote:

I recently obtained a used 422, complete with two Eimac 3-500Z's that were shipped separately. While unpacking the tubes, I managed to destroy one of them when it slid out of its tube of bubble wrap packing and bounced on the floor. Fortunately, the kids were not home when this happened, as the air in the shack got a bit blue before I calmed down. The surviving Eimac is now for sale, in case anyone is interested.

Sickened by the experience but determined to get this amp on the air, I ordered a pair of 3-500ZG's from RF Parts which, I'm told, are the same 3-500's that are being shipped with the new Centurions.. They arrived this afternoon, but I was surprised to find that the plate caps on the new tubes do not match the plate caps on old Eimacs. The old tubes had a slender shaft (~3/16 x 1/2") that poked out of the top of the tube and Ten-Tec provided a plate cap heat dissipator that fit over it. The heat dissipator included a screw that secured the plate connecting straps.

There is no way that the heat dissipator will fit these new plate caps.

Has Ten-Tec come up with a new means to attach the plate connecting strap to the plate caps on these new tubes? The new tube's plate cap is bell shaped and appears to be set over the same slender plate cap that the Eimac tube had, and this bell-shaped cap seems to be attached with some sort of set screw. A call to RF Parts got me a conversation with a receptionist who could not find the Tech Support person, but she advised against trying to remove the bell-shaped cap to get at the slender cap inside of it.

My guess, at tis point, is that Ten-Tec has redesigned the plate cap dissipator, but this issue has cropped up after they're closed for the day.

Can anyone offer any insights?
Mike, K9UW
Sleepless in Amherst, WI
k9uw at wi-net.com


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