[Boatanchors] Fwd: OT Astron PS

[bonddaleena at aol.com]

Let me try this again....

ron
N4UE


-----Original Message-----
From: bonddaleena at aol.com
To: BoatAnchors at eham.net; boatanchors-request at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Mon, Nov 16, 2009 8:40 pm
Subject: OT Astron PS


Hi, I have an Astron RS-35A, that I bought at a yard sale a loooong 
time ago. It has always worked flawlessly. I have added small fans to 
keep the Pass Transistors cool, and added meters to it. It's been a 
rock. 
 
The only use it's had in the last couple of years, has been to power my 
756Pro and other radios of that power level. When I got the VHF station 
going a couple of months ago, I noticed that when keying my 200W 2M 
brick, the radio (Icom 271A, throttled back to 10W) also powered from 
the Astron, almost shut off. OK, I added a large Marine deep-cycle 
battery in parallel with the Astron, 'Kinda like a 'reserve'. All was 
well, the amp put out the full 200W and the radio was happy. 
I do NOT leave the battery connected all the time, it has it's own 
'float' charger. 
 
The other night, I did have the battery connected and was working some 
2M Meteor Scatter. There was a fire in a small woodworking shop about 
1/2 mile away. That fire took out the power line that feeds my street. 
(I'm the last house on the line). 
Anyway, the Astron died. Doing a little research on-line, I found the 
GREAT site called "repeater-builder.com". 
WOW, what a lot of great info there! There was even a simple mod to do 
to the Astron, to 'float' batteries and prevent the regulator from 
being damaged if the AC goes out. Exactly what happened to me!!! 
Anyway, I have a couple of 723 regulators coming. However, the Astron's 
inability to not power the 2M amp made me wonder. 
Sure enough, one of the 48,000 uf / 25 VDC caps is FUBAR. Since they 
are in parallel, they discharge immediatly. 
 
OK, I'm retired and beyond that I'm 'frugal' like the typical ham. 
 
The whole point of this note is this: 
 
Does anyone know an inexpensive place to get replacement caps? I looked 
at Mouser, and although they won't break me, they are 2X what I paid 
for the whole supply. However, since it's served me well, I don't mind 
fixing it right. 
 
Thanks in advance!!! 
 
ron 
N4UE