[Heathkit] My first station

[rbethman]

It is interesting that radios grow heavier as *they* age!

It seems the HRO-50 is gaining weight, along with the SP-600.

The Amp Supply LK-500ZB *must* be morphing the power transformer core 
from steel to lead!

These things just don't move like they used too! ;^)

It couldn't possibly be me could it?

Seems the antenna mast has increased in weight too!  All three of them.

The last piece of RG-213 seems heavier than the one prior to it. Even 
though both are the same length!   One piece *is* heavier!  I picked up 
a 150ft roll in lieu of a 100ft one.

That was an oops!  Oh well, the excess will get plenty of use! There are 
always short pieces between radios, antenna tuners, dummy loads, and 
amplifiers.

I find my 400W non-inductive dummy load extremely useful.  It being an 
old Military Surplus one, it has a wattmeter and VSWR meter built-in.

The radio has a VSWR function, as does the antenna tuner, the dummy 
load, and then the Bird Peak Reading wattmeter.

Keeping the *snake farm* under control is an entire different topic!

Then there is the Grounding System.  I put in 4 Copperweld ground rods 
that are 3/4" thick.  Ran 1/4" solid copper along them, Silver Brazed, 
*and* split bolted.  (Eight feet each!)

I looked at the Power Company ground.   Now talk about a joke!  I had to 
have that side of the foundation dug out and sealed due to a water leak 
in 2013.

Their ground rod *they* have in, is only 1/4" and only 4 foot long!

So if I tie my system to theirs, whose is gong to take the brunt of 
anything?

The Electrical Distribution System in this particular neighborhood is 
all underground.

They have had their underground feeders short out!  They have had their 
cable end connectors blow up inside the transformer pads.

I really don't feel comfortable tying mine to theirs!  Since my ground 
is better than theirs, I'd be begging for every surge that comes along.

Yes, my home is fed with direct burial large conductors.  The bloody 
things *ARE* Aluminum.  It was the *thing* when this house was built in 
'79.  [ Dates of installation on panel, and signed off on.]

I have been amazed at what all is wired on what breaker and where it runs!

I added breakers and new runs of wire to the Den/Shack when it was all 
renovated.  It has been an adventure to change three way switches when 
the wife decided the old style flip toggle would be replaced with these 
*paddle* ones!

The *hot* leg to the ceiling lighting in the Den/Shack, also feeds all 
the non ham receptacles down there!

Who in the world does all of that on *ONE* breaker?

Yes - I have added GFCIs in all bathrooms and other circuits such as the 
outside receptacles!

Regards, Bob - N0DGN


On 4/22/2015 2:15 PM, Don Stalkowski wrote:
> My first station was a Philmore NT-200 and a Heathkit GR-64
> although it was my grandfather's Rogers-Majestic that got me
> hooked on radio,
>
> The NT-200 was lot to a move (sigh) but I still have the GR-64.
>
> My newest rig is the 6AG7/807 transmitter from the 1949 handbook
> (also 1948 QST).
>
> And yes, I've also noticed that rigs get heavier as they age!
> I've always wanted a TX-1/RX-1 but the knees say no.
>
> 73, Don VE3HUR