Heath kit SB 220 amp ?...

[Oatmeal]

What makes this amp appear to be the better amp to own these days or is it....Ive been reading and listening to guys talk about the base amps...
And theres a lot of guys who say they like this amp, and I was just wondering why this is since there newer amps out there in which are tube amps and transistor amps ..

What is so special about the SB amp ?..

 

[Robb]

1) It's a classic Heathkit amp

2) Has two 3-500Z tubes (amp will loaf at legal limit power)

3) Lots of info around for it

4) Lots of parts available

5) Mods available for it (needed to run with modern rigs)

6) Price is more than fair for a restored unit.

What's not to like?
I'd like to get one with the mods and upgrades too!

 

[RatsoW8]

A kilowatt amp with two 3-500Z tubes and resonably priced on the used market. There are also a bunch of mods for them to imporive the amp and make it keyable with a modern radio.

I've had several SB-200's but never found the 220 of my dreams.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

They are time tested and proven and like a Timex watch they take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. I wouldn't say that they loaf along at legal limit due to the power supply being maxed out at somewhat less than full legal limit but the tubes certainly are loafing along at the capabilities of the power supply in the amp.

 

[wavrider]

Plenty of them around, parts are available.
Harbach has mod kits and upgrades available.

It is a KW table top amp.

It might do 1200 PEP on some bands.

well designed and just a work horse.

Down sides is tuned input needs to be tweaked for modern transceivers, this may be just an adjustment for the coils.

PS is limited so not a good amp for AM use.

Does not have 160 meters.

the SB-1000 covers 10-160, 10 meters needs a wire cut to enable it. Change the plate choke and the WARCS are also use able.

I have the SB-200, the SB-220, and the SB-1000 in the shack.
After doing up grades they all work well.

If you can get your hands on any of the above for a decent price and do not over drive it they all will last a long time (some are over 30 yrs old all ready) and provide good service.

Not a legal limit amp but darn close to it.

I prefer the SB-200, nice 5 to 700 watts out depending on the band, little bit of rework on the tuned input circuit and the WARCS are use able also.

 

[W5LZ]

I think it's the 'mystique' more than anything. There really isn't anything special about HeathKit amplifiers. In most cases they require some work to be considered normally adequate, especially with newer radios. There are not 'standardized' by any means! Except for a very few, all of them were put together by amateur builders. That means that there's no telling how it was assembled. That doesn't mean they are all built terribly but don't expect the 'best' either.
The biggest 'deal' about these amplifiers is their reputations. None of them except for the highly modified ones will ever get close to 'legal limit'. Power wasn't measured by output, but by the input. Big difference there. A "sort of normal" SB-220 will be lucky to produce 800 - 1000 watts output. That's all it ever did.
I enjoyed the '220's I've owned (except when I was cussing them!). I seriously doubt if I'll ever own another one. "You're asking how much for a 30 year old amplifier?!?"...
- 'Doc

 

[Oatmeal]

10-4, Ive been talking dx on ssb and Ive heard a few guys who was running this SB 220 amp and they really sounded good, no over modulating them...good sounding amps...yea I understand the amp is over 30 years old, but just listening to guys using this amp and the way they make them sound has gotten my attention..

What kind of dk wattage one of those amps do ?...
What kinda dk does that amp handle ?..
Oh yea, is it a problem been able to use this amp on the 11m band ?..

 

[Robb]

10-4, Ive been talking dx on ssb and Ive heard a few guys who was running this SB 220 amp and they really sounded good, no over modulating them...good sounding amps...yea I understand the amp is over 30 years old, but just listening to guys using this amp and the way they make them sound has gotten my attention..

What kind of dk wattage one of those amps do ?...
What kinda dk does that amp handle ?..
Oh yea, is it a problem been able to use this amp on the 11m band ?..

Not a great CB /AM amp
Burn it up - trying . . .

 

[W5LZ]

There's no real point in using 'Pep' wattage figures with AM, Avg power just makes more sense and is easier to figure. An SB-220 on a good day may get something like 300 - 350 watts total on AM. Even then, you would be pushing it more than is healthy for it. AM is one mode that will show how inadequate the stock power supply is in that amplifier (not to mention the cooling).
- 'Doc

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

An SB-220 is more suited for a carrier of about 200 watts on AM. Unlike SSB where the amp is resting between syllables, it is still drawing a fair bit of current with zero modulation on AM. This strains the already under rated power supply transformer due to increased heat build up. If the power supply was beefed up as well as the cooling it would be capable of considerable more power.

 

[WA8ZYT]

I bought an SB-220 off Ebay. Some idiot blew out the band switch in the 10 meter position, cut the 10/15 coil down for 11 meters, and installed some sort of "AM Bias Board".

I rewound the 10/15 tank coil, got rid of the "AM Bias Board", and she does an honest 1400 watts out on 40 meters. And this is on 120V AC mains. I am going to go to 240 VAC mains and ground the grids directly, next.

There is a guy that converts them to 6 meters and gets 1500 out, no problem. Search on YouTube.