[K6NCG] K6NCG Linear - California Kilowatt

[Don Shelton]

As a young lad in Oklahoma (K5VCZ) I used to hear stories about the
"California Kilowatts".  

 

In the fall of 1966 I found myself at TI as a SN T/E.  Remember when they
told you were no longer a T/E.  Now you are an ET! It did not take long to
notice and investigate the hamshack on the west shore.  I was always
impressed with how well we got out.  We had a good tower, 140 feet as I
recall, a TA-33 beam and one of those textbook ground radial systems. Some
of the radials actually extended into the water of the bay.  Talk about a
good ground!

 

The linear was built into one of those old gray Steelcase desks.  It
occupied the space normally reserved for the typewriter stand.  Across the
back of the desk was an impressive array of meters.  Grid current, Plate
voltage (2 KV), plate current (500 mils) and an array of other indicators.
It used four 4-400's.  I believe the Collins S-Line may have been the
exciter.

 

My father then K5YBP, later the original K5OK had a linear that ran 1 KW,
but it only used two 4-400's and they glowed a dull red.  K6NCG's four tubes
ran nearly white hot!  This could indicate a problem like spurious
oscillations.  My buddy (whose name escapes me) was also suspicious so one
Saturday night after every one left we decided to find out what the problem
might be.  We broke out the test equipment and discovered the plate voltage
was 4.4 KV and there was one amp of plate current. There were "funny
additions" on the back of the key meters.  I remember saying "So this is a
California Kilowatt!"

 

 

Don Shelton K5OK - EI8KE

Garland, TX

djs at donshelton.net