[Heathkit] SB 220 on AM

[Jim Brannigan]

Duane,
I was not the original builder of my SB-220.  I bought it over 20 years ago 
from a fellow who bought an Alpha and needed the money. (and regretted the 
purchase)
A few years after I purchased it the transformer blew (in the middle of a DX 
contest), fortunately, Heath was still in business and I was able to get a 
new replacement.
It has Harbach capacitors, fan and soft start, "Silicon Alley" rectifiers, 
Rich Measures parasitic suppressors and a timed relay start-up.
In the early 90's The SB-220 and an S-line won the NLI section in the ARRL 
CW DX contest two years running.
These days it works great with a TT OMNI-VI+ trying to keep me on the Honor 
Roll.
For the money it is the best amplifier, bar none. I've tried for years to 
talk myself into a "better" amplifier, but it doesn't add up.

With all this history I am very reluctant to over-stress my old friend on 
AM.

73,
Jim
PS: it has the original finals, but they are getting a bit soft



> Suck it up James! The Heathkit SB-220 is a decent HF amplifier, a real 
> work horse in fact. So unless the former owner/owners assembled her 
> incorrectly you should be as happy doing eons worth of DX bank shots off 
> the D layer of the ionosphere as Ben Franklin was after that solid Brass 
> key he was holding between his wet lips evolved into the dance step of the 
> century that historic electron Cha Cha, Proton puddle piddle and neurotic 
> Neutron necromancy when that inspired bolt of wisdom from the great blue 
> beyond ignighted his mustache, abundance of 12 gauge nose hairs and bushy 
> eyebrows transforming his bifocal parking place into what put one in mind 
> of a seriously char burned super sized marshmellow! So Jim should a 
> 'Headless Horseman' pull up in a horseless carriage and deliver into your 
> trembling hands an envelope bearing your Colonial family monogram. Easily 
> verified as an authentic manual, bold sprawling script listing slightly to 
> starboard from Peter The Scholar of Schematics, the Master of manuals and 
> Lord Laffayette the only guy in Benton Harbor, Michigan who could 
> seamlessly solder up a sword shank withouta cold shoulder joint!
>
> James, this final tidbit that I trust will help you distinguish the 
> properly assembled Heathkit from one that really should be used to anchor 
> a boat! If when you remove the bottom plate that covered the inside of the 
> chassis, turn it back rightside up and observe what gifts befall you. The 
> General class rule of thumb is, assuming you still have said digit, having 
> niether burned it off due to poor soldering iron habits or slipped with a 
> razor blade knife and whittled flesh and bone into a living toothpick, if 
> you can fill the Anthrancite Coal car of a 1952 Tom Thumb 1/50 scale model 
> with loose solder, don't buy it! Because some kit clutz kid, or Bozo The 
> Clown drop out, lived in a joint with no heat and a lot of cold solder!
>
> If you should need them Jim, I still retain copies of the original 
> assembly and service information manuals. A great amp, 'provided' you DO 
> NOT overdrive it. If you let her run about 800 watts keydown and watch the 
> grid current, the 3-500Z's can last twenty years. According to a note from 
> Jim H., he was still using the original finals he put in his SB-220 in the 
> early seventies.
>
> If you need "good" quality original, or reproduction, manuals then utilize 
> WA2CWA, Pete or NI4Q, Al Bernard. Excellent detail, sharp contrast, well 
> bound, reasonable prices and prompt shipping. Two gentlemen! There are 
> others who also do nice work, but Pete and Al get the old blind dude's 
> "thumb and a third" up! (LOL!)
>
> Duane Fischer, W8DBF