[Elecraft] Elecraft Product Ideas

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/23/06 12:16:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time, k7mw at cmc.net 
writes:


> One reason Elecraft (or any other manufactor of kits) would be unlikely to
> offer tube amps is that they don't want builders putting "der fusin blowing
> fingers" in a rig with a kilovolt B plus supply.  Or multi kv supply for
> high power (QROo?) amps.  One big advantage of solid state rigs.

Well, sort of.

An amp of any serious power will require house current of considerable 
wattage, and 120 or 240 will kill you stone cold dead if you get careless.

On top of that, the current levels of SS power amplifiers are rather serious. 
To produce 1500W of RF out requires about 3000W DC input or more. If the 
supply is 50 volts, that's 60 amps or more. Get a ring or other metal object 
across that and you can fry off a finger or worse. Get a tool across it and the 
sparks and flying molten metal can be a hazard to your sight, while the boom can 
be dangerous to your hearing.

The dangers are different but the precautions are the same.

73 de Jim, N2EY