[Drake] DRAKE L-4/L-7 Power Supply Board

[pulsarxp at earthlink.net]

Anyone out there with a DRAKE L-4 or L-7 Amplifier should consider buying a
new power supply board from Mike Bryce of The Heathkit Shop.  I like some
others have asked Mike to send me a free installation manual for his newly
designed L-4/L-7 power Supply board.  (Mike just announced there was not
enough demand for this board and consequently he has decided not do a run
of the boards.  Mike told us we could ask him for a free copy of his
installation instructions for this board).   I just read the manual and
looked at the pictures of the board and immediately got excited and told
myself I need 3 of them for my Drake amplifiers as an insurance policy.  
 
My Drake Amps work great but the filter caps are getting old and someday
(soon or later) they will need filter replacements.  Of course the old
style caps are hard to find especially fresh new units and cost an arm and
leg when and if available.  Mike's newly designed board uses modern fresh
and readily available caps plus the diodes and resistors are of modern
design and in tolerance too.  
 
I had an  AC-4 power supply for one of my C-line pieces of gear and the
filter caps were in really bad shape within the power supply.  In fact, two
of the caps were blown and the others were really dried out.  I recently
purchased one of Mike's Drake AC-4R power supply boards and installed it in
my AC-4 Power supply.  It works great and looks beautiful mounted in the
AC-4.  The parts are all better then original Drake manufacture.  I can't
say enough about this board and it was easy to install too.  Consequently,
I feel very comfortable about buying some of Mike's L-4/L-7 boards if he
ever decides to do a run of them.  They are designed the same way as the
AC-4R boards and will be easy to install.
You just need to make sure the power is off, not connected and the old
parts are completely discharged before getting your hands inside the amp's
power supply.
 
I think it would be a very good idea for all of us with a L-4 or L-7 to
purchase one of these boards from MIke as an insurance policy for our
treasured L-4 or L-7 Drake Amps.  Our amps and their filter caps are
getting old.  These parts will need replacing and I can't think of a better
way of doing that then buying a board from The Heathkit Shop (Mike Bryce).
If we could get enough demand for just the board without the parts, the
board cost would not be that expensive for us to tuck away the board for "a
rainy day" when it will be needed.  Then each of us could order the readily
available fresh component parts to stuff our boards when we decide to
install the board.  Or we could install the boards now as an insurance
policy against catastrophic failure.  I am sure Mike could sell us the
boards with and without board parts.  (Mouser sells all the parts we need
to stuff the boards).
 
I hate to see this great project die for lack of demand.  I am willing to
buy 3 of the boards from Mike for my amps.  I am not sure how many boards
need to be produced to make a run of them but I have to believe we as a
collective group could get the demand up to 100 or so.  Hopefully that is
enough for a 'run of boards".  Think it over.  We have a window of
opportunity here to protect our investment.  If you feel like I do about
this, drop Mike a line and let him know you would be willing to buy a board
from him for your amp as an insurance policy.  I am going to tell him I
would buy 3 of them from him if he would reconsider and do a run of them. 
I'm convinced we will be kicking ourselves for not taking advantage of this
great opportunity by letting this project die.
 
You can write Mike Bryce or visit his web site at; 
http://www.theheathkitshop.com
 
Please understand, I am not connected with Mike Bryce or his Company in any
way.  I have never met Mike but have purchased a number of his products and
they are all first class.   This letter was my idea and not Mike's.   I
have no insider information on the project.  He has not seen this letter. 
I just feel we a crazy if we don't get the demand up for this project
before it dies if it hasn't already died.  I would be buy my boards from
Mike like everyone else. 
 
Consider my post and if you agree, please drop Mike Bryce an e-mail and
let's  see if we can get him to do a run of these boards.
 
Lee