AMPLIFIER FUSE BLOWING OUT

[Sonar]

I've noticed many of the 11 meter amplifiers being offered on eBay have this common problem. When the amps turned on the fuse goes south.
I've seen a few well built amateur amps described as having this problem, but no where the amount of the CB tube amps of the craze era. Is there a common problem these amps share or are there many different issues that will cause the fuse to blow upon powering up? 73

 

[Robb]

Oh, maybe a blown protection diode, shorted final(s), or an insufficient fuse installed.
But that is just a knee jerk diagnosis.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Since you said CB tube amps perhaps the power supply filter caps have gone bad due to age. Some will short out and cause the fuse to blow. It could also be damaged tubes from running them so hard. The tube elements inside the tube itself could be shorted.

 

[sp5it]

Without schematic hard to say anything

 

[Sonar]

Since you said CB tube amps perhaps the power supply filter caps have gone bad due to age. Some will short out and cause the fuse to blow. It could also be damaged tubes from running them so hard. The tube elements inside the tube itself could be shorted.

I assumed since so many of those tube type CB amps made during the craze often have the same issue of the fuse blowing out upon start up it was most likely the fact that their capacitors were in need of replacement. After reading the replies to my question it's apparent the reasons could be and are most likely several. I think the people buying these amps have the technical ability to repair or refurbish these amplifiers. I've learned many things since becoming a member of this site and one I'd like to share with newbies is if you don't have the technical knowledge or plenty of those $50-$75 common sweep tubes these amps often called for STAY AWAY FROM THEM!! You'll be way ahead of the money game by purchasing a modern amplifier. And while on the subject get yourself a modern HF transceiver to go with that amplifier. These old CB radios are nothing but money pits. Like I said if you have the knowledge and equipment/parts knock yourself out. I've been there and done that and I am so beyond the nostalgia of the old gear. What I already own I most likely will be keeping but once they start acting up it's back to the closet from where it came. For $1,500 or less one could purchase a ft 950/1200 of TS 570/590 and ameritron 811h. That set up will outperform any Cobra 2000 d$a, Palomar, macco etc etc. Check out eBay and QRZ. It's a buyer's market. The price you'll pay for a wonderful station will be less then the shipping and repair cost without doubt. I really wish I would have done my research more thoroughly before taking all the oldies out of the closet and having them restored. I can't tell you the amount of money I spent on getting this stuff correct and they just always seem to need something else. It never ends. I could tell you what I've into the setup pictuured but it's honestly embarrassing. I've learned a valuable lesson and hope that any newbies reading this we'll get Beyond The Nostalgia of owning something you once already have or getting something you always wanted. Don't do it!! I will have an output issue addressed on my Madison and that will be the last time I ever put a penny into it or any any Antiquated equipment. I am so over trying to get my Phantom operating at the output it once used to. I use it dead Keying at 160 Watts with 500 to 600 watts pep SSB and AM. I will use it until it finally takes a shit. I'm going to build or purchase a showcase a wooden storage case and put everything that's not working on that shelf in the man cave. It'll always be nice to look at and that's where most of these items that aren't working belong I(MO) Thanks for all the replies. 73