[Milsurplus] TCK-4

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 10 Feb 2017 at 23:07, Meir WF2U wrote:

> I like to run surplus equipment with the original power sources.

Me too....if I have them.

> All my
> originally dynamotor operated gear is running as designed, with dynamotors
> and the appropriate primary voltages.

That is VERY nice, Meir.

> Running the original MG would require a high current rectification and some
> sort of filtering from the 240 VAC line due to the required primary voltage
> of 230 VDC, at 30 amps starting current, and at 10 amps key-down current at
> full power output which shouldn't be a huge problem.

Not if one has an MG set....which I don't....yet.

> To run the original MG the magnetic controller unit is needed, either the
> original CG-211297 (I have the feeling that it is just about unobtanium), or
> a homebrew duplicate.

Homebrew controllers aren't that hard to build.

> Otherwise it is simple to build a conventional power supply for the TCK.

Well, in this case, since the TCK-4 originally used a conventional AC supply, and since I 
have the necessary supplies here, I think I'll be forced to use those.
 
> The power requirements are: 1800 VDC at 400 ma (PA plates);

I have that.

> 500 VDC at 350
> ma (PA screens, and plate supply for all the other stages);

My idea for those is to use some variable regulated HV power supplies I have here. I'll have 
to series-parallel a few, but I have plenty of them, and they work very, very well. Regulated 
voltages on the buffer and especially the oscillator will be "a good thing". Otherwise, I can 
easily enough build a good conventional supply for those voltages/currents.

> 115 VDC at 100
> ma (bias); 12 VDC at 2 amps (microphone supply and relays. 
> The filament transformers in the TCK are powered either by 115 VAC or 165
> VDC at 60 Hz (the MG has a 165 VAC output for that purpose)- the filament
> transformers have taps for these options. 
> The MO oven and thermostat controlled fan use 230 VDC. 

I have that too.

> 
> My TCK-7 is running with the 115 VAC input homebrew power supply I got it
> with. The power supply is somewhat anemic, as both high voltages are under
> the originally specified voltages (1500 VDC and 350 VDC), limiting the
> output power to just around 300 W. I need to rebuild the power supply with
> higher voltage transformers, which I already have.

Good for you. Boy, would I love to hear that rig when you get it finished.

> The power supply doesn't have a 230 VAC output for the MO temperature
> control, but the MO is stable at regular room ambient temperature without
> the oven and fan running.

Well, the ambient temperatures in most homes is fairly stable. On ships, it can be quite 
otherwise. I know the ovens in the R-390A's don't need to be run when it is used in the 
normal ham shack. And I never needed to use that huge regulated supply with my RAL-7 
either and it was very stable in the house.

> I didn't notice any chirp by listening to the keying, and didn't receive any
> reports of chirp on the air. I didn't check the waveform with a scope.
> Unfortunately my TCK came with the rotors completely shattered into small
> pieces, with most fragments missing in all 4 wafers of the bandswitch
> section of the PA tank circuit (the bandswitch is ganged for all stages, for
> single-knob bandswithching), beyond any possibility for repair,

Gee....that is too bad. 

> so I just
> strapped the PA tank coils for the 3.0 to 4.5 MHz band. In essence, It is a
> single band transmitter until I find a solution for that switch (or, if I'm
> very lucky, and find a parts unit or spares with that switch).
> It is a fun transmitter to use, and tunes into a 50 ohm antenna system
> easily. In fact, the manual specifies the power output into a 50 ohm system.

Neato. :-)

> I'm pairing it with the RAL receiver for CW.

Well, as I've said here repeatedly, I really, really like the RAL-7. It'll be nice to hear that rig 
on the air, Meir.

vy 73,

Ken W7EKB

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