Carl Built

[TimmyTheTorch]

I have the 400hd. I replaced my wires with #4 awg and installed twist welding connectors. I would not splice the wires. Install some Anderson power connectors. A At-5555n ii may be a little too hot for this amp. the recommended power input for this amp is 40 watts peak power.

His amp is class B biased for SSB use.

I ordered some Anderson connectors a few days ago and they are supposed to arrive tomorrow.

The builder himself said this amp can be used with the Q5N2 and I was even running it at the same lower 30 watt PEP power level as the Lincoln II+. I based this on the dead key and PEP readings from my Daiwa CN-901HP meter. It's just a bummer that after doing so, the SSB audio output on it is now fuzzy when running barefoot. Oh well, stuff breaks when experimenting and finding limits.

 

[Elliott Hart]

I ordered some Anderson connectors a few days ago and they are supposed to arrive tomorrow.

The builder himself said this amp can be used with the Q5N2 and I was even running it at the same lower 30 watt PEP power level as the Lincoln II+. I based this on the dead key and PEP readings from my Daiwa CN-901HP meter. It's just a bummer that after doing so, the SSB audio output on it is now fuzzy when running barefoot. Oh well, stuff breaks when experimenting and finding limits.

If Carl says it's ok. Who am I to disagree. Good luck with your amp. 73's. Unit 406 from Cleve,Ohio. Hope to hear you soon in DX land. Lsb ch 36-38.

 

[TimmyTheTorch]

If Carl says it's ok. Who am I to disagree. Good luck with your amp. 73's. Unit 406 from Cleve,Ohio. Hope to hear you soon in DX land. Lsb ch 36-38.

So far I think you are 100 percent right to disagree. It definitely did not work well with the amp.

 

[Eldorado828]

Just trying to understand exactly what you mean. The q5n2 ssb audio is now bad when running it alone? Is it toasted like the kl503?

 

[TimmyTheTorch]

Just trying to understand exactly what you mean. The q5n2 ssb audio is now bad when running it alone? Is it toasted like the kl503?

When I run the Q5N2 just by itself and listen to the output on my monitor radio, the AM part is still nice and clear but now SSB is fuzzy and crackly. SSB used to be as clear as AM. This problem seems to have started after experiencing the odd behavior of the amp on high with the radio on SSB. The SSB audio sounds a lot like the garbled KL503HD mess. The radio just could not digest what was being fed back into it from whatever the source. It's too bad I forgot to pick up the dummy load last week but it's on the way now.

I am pretty aware of following guidelines and instructions especially post-RM Italy amp and it is not too hard to follow the 4 watt dead-key, 30 watt PEP test like I did with both the Lincoln and the Anytone. Maybe like another poster suggested, I'm just not intellectually capable of connecting the patch cables, adjusting the radio power level, flipping the toggle switches on the amp and running the amp in a manner I was told is safe.

The Anytone and 200HDC shall never meet again. It's Lincoln II+ and 200HDC for the win. Now to get the SSB issue on the Q5N2 resolved because it's definitely one I am keeping. It works great just by itself.

But this is a Carl Built thread and damn this amp sounds great on AM and SSB with the Lincoln!

 

[TimmyTheTorch]

I may have spoken too soon with the Lincoln II+. At lunchtime I was using it on SSB with the amp on high and when I un-keyed the mic, it did the same thing as the Anytone was doing i.e. nearly pegged the S-meter and only stopped doing it when I turned the amp off. This radio only puts out about 28 watts PEP so it's not even capable of exceeding the amps limits. I ask Carl's if I can send the amp in to them to get it checked over.

 

[linearone]

I may have spoken too soon with the Lincoln II+. At lunchtime I was using it on SSB with the amp on high and when I un-keyed the mic, it did the same thing as the Anytone was doing i.e. nearly pegged the S-meter and only stopped doing it when I turned the amp off. This radio only puts out about 28 watts PEP so it's not even capable of exceeding the amps limits. I ask Carl's if I can send the amp in to them to get it checked over.

You got some other problem.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I may have spoken too soon with the Lincoln II+. At lunchtime I was using it on SSB with the amp on high and when I un-keyed the mic, it did the same thing as the Anytone was doing i.e. nearly pegged the S-meter and only stopped doing it when I turned the amp off. This radio only puts out about 28 watts PEP so it's not even capable of exceeding the amps limits. I ask Carl's if I can send the amp in to them to get it checked over.

Sometimes in an effort to get the big watt numbers, the builder has to make compromises. This often puts the amplifier on the ragged edge of running away (oscillating). Add to that, there are too many variables in the possible radios and antennas that could be used. There are a few things that could be done to combat this, and Carl should be able to make it work for your setup.

 

[TimmyTheTorch]

You got some other problem.

You sound like my therapist.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

Here is the fun that I had when my XForce blew a transistor. Lots of good information including input and output tune and increasing the negative feedback to help stability.

X-Force 600HD Smoked

Hey guys, I need some advice. I have been running my X-Force 600HD with my Stryker 955 for about a year now. The other day I was talking on it on side band and noticed the output power disappeared. I unkeyed real quick and went over to the amp shelf and smelled an electrical smell. I unplugged...

www.worldwidedx.com

 

[AudioShockwav]

If you are going to send the amp back to carl, I would send the radio with it to see if he can recreate the problem.

73
Jeff

 

[groundwire]

before you possibly waste your time and money sending it back, you need to put it on a dummy load, make sure you have no ground loops and bad common mode current problems, then see if it still does it. i cant even tell you how many times i have seen people blame the equipment and send it back only to find out it is their station setup that is the fault, not the equipment.

 

[TimmyTheTorch]

before you possibly waste your time and money sending it back, you need to put it on a dummy load, make sure you have no ground loops and bad common mode current problems, then see if it still does it. i cant even tell you how many times i have seen people blame the equipment and send it back only to find out it is their station setup that is the fault, not the equipment.

Very good advice. I am still waiting for the one I ordered to arrive. I don't think our ongoing blizzard is going to speed things alone. Man it's ugly outside right now in NE Wisconsin.

 

[linearone]

before you possibly waste your time and money sending it back, you need to put it on a dummy load, make sure you have no ground loops and bad common mode current problems, then see if it still does it. i cant even tell you how many times i have seen people blame the equipment and send it back only to find out it is their station setup that is the fault, not the equipment.

This. You know how often I have customers tell me, "all my jumpers are new!", "My swrs are perfect!", It's always shitty jumpers, bad grounds, fucking 90degree so-239s, wet chipmunk chewed coax in a tree, a 50 year old antenna on 290ft of mini8 coax from the truck stop...
It's always the box...yeah right.

I'm not saying it's not, but honest to God, my brother in Christ, it's usually all the other shit.

 

[linearone]

before you possibly waste your time and money sending it back, you need to put it on a dummy load, make sure you have no ground loops and bad common mode current problems, then see if it still does it. i cant even tell you how many times i have seen people blame the equipment and send it back only to find out it is their station setup that is the fault, not the equipment.

To put it into perspective, guys can make mobiles key 50kw, but somebody has a 2 or 4 pill hang up and oscillate? I mean ...it's usually the operator and the install... Much bigger radio equipment is capable of being utilized without problems.