[Heathkit] DX-60 Plate Resting Current with VFO (Ken Miller K6CTW)

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi,

It looks like somebody has a question about plate current with VFO for
the DX-60. The question has been posted a couple of times but apparently
was in HTML format and NOT in plain text so the entire message content
was *empty*. 

The DX-60 uses grid block keying and so I am guessing that the question
might be about "grid current" instead of "resting" plate current. In the
tune position with either the VFO (on) or an xtal the grid current is
NOT to exceed 2.5 mA. When the drive circuit is tuned the drive control
is set to 2.5 mA for maximum drive (maximum power) but in practice will
be reduced to stay within the maximum plate ratings of the final amp.
There will be NO plate current as the final is off.

If the question is about grid current with the VFO while transmitting,
it's the same as for xtal control. 2.5 mA maximum. Maximum plate current
is 150 mA. We are all allowed to run lower power. In practice I find I
have to reduce the drive level to keep from frying the finals when I run
the maximum power from my 6146 rigs. The grid current will be
substantially less than 2.5 mA whether using xtal control or a VFO even
while pushing the 150 mA plate current limit.

Maybe the OP is asking about plate current when using the "spot"
function. In that case it will be zero because the VFO is keyed on but
not the transmitter. If your spot function drives produces plate current
you have a problem. All of these numbers were taken from the manual for
the DX-60. I have a DX-60.

I don't know if this helps or not because we have to guess from the
subject line what is really being asked and the subject line is
thoroughly ambiguous (there is no plate current just because there is a
VFO). Try setting your mail client for plain text and try posting again.
Or email me direct to wrcromwell at gmail.com and maybe we can get your
real question answered AND get your posts going to the mail lists.

73,

Bill  KU8H