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5kW Mobile tube or solid-state?
- Thread starter Unit 148
- Start date
Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
What I want to know is how does a step up transformer work on DC power? Or is connected to the alternator before the rectifier? In which case, no amount of extra batteries will help.
They don't. A transformer on DC is direct short.
"Alternator" literally means alternating current generator. Our car alternators generate 3 phase AC power.
We think of them as DC simply because in auto applications (nowadays) they have built-in rectifiers.
Also, outside passenger cars you run into alternators with AC taps, or with no internal rectifiers at all.
In other words, you hit the nail on the head.
In other words, you hit the nail on the head.
Once you try to build a proper 32 pill mobile going ac makes alot of sense. Especially with the pills nowadays.
There is loads of trapped potential in an alternator once you make it unregulated and tap the ac. If you have never run ac you just have no idea what can be done . One alt on an ac box can make soooo much more power soooooo much eaiser than a pile of dc alts. The power comes so easy so fast you will sit there being mad that you ever did anything else. I mean shit, guys ran them in chevettes and mustangs right @Mustang 131 ?
There is loads of trapped potential in an alternator once you make it unregulated and tap the ac. If you have never run ac you just have no idea what can be done . One alt on an ac box can make soooo much more power soooooo much eaiser than a pile of dc alts. The power comes so easy so fast you will sit there being mad that you ever did anything else. I mean shit, guys ran them in chevettes and mustangs right @Mustang 131 ?
Had a 3000, now ive got a 6000. Thinking of changing to two 3000s. My daily driver is working on getting a 3 tube 3-500z
Just don't drive them hard enough to break the spot weld on a grid wire. The loose wire end is less a hazard in a base amplifier. If the loose end of a grid wire gets jostled and touches either the plate or grid, bad news for the other two tubes.
Maybe.
Far likelier in a mobile.
73
Never run AC mobile, probably never will. I think I understand RPMs affect the plate voltage, but why when you key and unkey? Is it because of the loading and unloading of the alternator/engine?
You are correct. The unloaded plate voltage will typically be much higher than the loaded plate voltage. You want to bring the RPMs up, only after the load is applied. The most critical part is when you unkey and remove the load. You want to be off of the throttle before you unkey the microphone otherwise the possibility of a large voltage Spike exists. Most of these systems are not voltage regulated and the ones that are, still experience what's called overshoot when the load is removed. That causes a brief voltage Spike which tends to take out rectifier diodes and capacitors. There are ways to avoid this like installing a large choke in the DC line however, the whole system is a bit of an inconvenience to operate.