[Elecraft] OT: Astron linear PS regulation issues

[Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP]

I have had very good results with Astron, but I treat their products 
like MFJ's: When I get a new one, I always open it up, check that 
everything is tight, remove paint if needed, look at the soldering, etc. 
It is worth checking the tightness of the connections to the capacitors 
every 20 years or so.
The alternative to an Astron linear supply is usually a switcher, and I 
try to avoid switchers when possible for reasons of electrical noise and 
reliability.

73,
Victor, 4X6GP
Rehovot, Israel
Formerly K2VCO
CWops no. 5
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
On 26 Feb 2019 00:51, Fred Jensen wrote:
> I've given up on Astron despite the fact that many people say they never 
> have troubles.  Apparently, Astron does not have a supplier for inside 
> star washers for screw/bolt connectors, I've found almost crumbly, 
> crystallized cold solder joints on the point-to-point wiring terminals 
> [in one case, it wasn't soldered at all], and often the case is not 
> bonded well [or at all] due to paint and/or no star washers.  These are 
> all basic steps in quality electronic construction, there's just no 
> excuse for it.
> 
> 73,
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
> 
> On 2/25/2019 2:26 PM, Rose wrote:
>> I've found instances of regulation failures caused
>> by loose hardware.  In particular the nuts atop the
>> filter caps that hold the regulator PC board loosen
>> and simply tightening then will cure the issue.  This
>> appears to be caused by compression of the PC board
>> material …"cold flow" to some readers.
>>
>> There are several other common failures of this series
>> of PS's, but this one is perhaps the most prevalent.
>>
>> While you have the cover off, check for paint under the
>> lug on the green power cord wire …
>>
>> 73!
>>
>> Len Kopp- K0PP
>>
> 
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