[AMRadio] Ameritron amps on AM (was Ongoing Quest: Legal Limit AM Amp)

[Rick Poole]

At 09:11 AM 1/24/2012, Ross Stenberg wrote:

 >>>>>
>I used to run a Ameritron AL-82 easily at full legal AM limit. That amp,
>which uses a pair of 3-500's run at 3800 volts or so with a very hefty
>power transformer, could just as easily run 1500 watts PEP output all
>day long.
<<<<<

Yup, that's what their specs say.  And, Ameritron has at least one 
other amp (the AL-1500, single 3CX1500/8877) that should loaf at 1500 
watts PEP all day and all night.

Interestingly enough, though... I engaged Ameritron in a discussion 
on that topic over the last several days, and they completely disavow 
AM operation at anywhere near legal limit with any of their amps... 
not the AL-82, not the AL-1500, not anything.

In our discussion, they continued to describe their amps in terms of 
X carrier and 2X PEP, e.g. 400 watts carrier and 800 watts PEP 
(AL-82) or 600 watts carrier or 1200 watts PEP (AL-1500).  I'm not 
sure they even understand the concept that on AM, PEP = 4x carrier.

In any case, I'll certainly take their word for it... no Ameritron 
amps for me (other than the AL-811H I already have that is on its 
third set of tubes).

Rick WA1RKT