[Johnson] DO NOT Solid State the Power Supply in your Ranger!!

peter A Markavage manualman at juno.com
Mon Oct 18 12:28:05 EDT 2004


We all danced to this same issue months ago. This concern is somewhat
analogous to a meteor hurling through space, striking earth, and
destroying it. It might happen, but not anytime soon. My Apache has been
running solid-state rectifiers since the middle 60's. My Ranger, Viking
II, Valiants, Thunderbolts, HO-10's, SB-610's, SB-620's, etc. etc. are
all running solid-state rectifiers. I don't believe I have any rig 50's,
60's, or 70's rig that doesn't run solid-state rectifiers. I'm still
waiting for this "cathode stripping". to occur. Sell your 5U4's and 5R4's
to the audio guys and have more money to buy rigs.

Pete, wa2cwa


On Mon, 18 Oct 2004 09:42:34 -0500 "Ross Stenberg" <k9cox at charter.net>
writes:
> Interesting Sherrill, my Hallicrafters SX-117 tube radio, Heathkit 
> SB-101,
> and Hammarlund HQ-170A all have solid state rectifiers in the 
> factory
> versions as do many others from that era. The B+ is applied 
> immediately and
> they are still working well! Large power transmitting tubes with 
> specific
> filament designs are another story.
> 
>         73 Ross K9COX
> 
> >>Dear Tim: I wished you had researched this matter before you did 
> the work.
> It
> is a serious mistake to solid state the power supply in any tube 
> radio.
> Several months ago I posted comments and reasons to this effect on 
> this
> reflector. This was based on the cautions and warnings that have 
> appeared in
> several article that were published in ELECTRIC RADIO MAGAZINE and 
> The OLD
> TIMERS BULLETIN. By doing so you are creating additional stress on 
> all the
> electronic components, creating more heat and damaging all the tubes 
> because
> of electron stripping from an instantaneous application of B+ before 
> the
> electron cloud has formed properly around the cathode. I urge you to 
> change
> it back to the original vacuum tube type! Also, do not allow the AC 
> line
> voltage to exceed 115 vac. (I don't care how many people have 
> converted
> their
> power supplies to solid state, it is NOT recommended by those that 
> really
> know vacuum tube technology and is based on fact! I you do not 
> believe me,
> then read the articles!) -73-Sherrill W. k4own.

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