[R-390] R390

[nryan at mchsi.com]

Hi, Mike,

1. Turn off the ovens and reduce the 3 amp fuse to 2 amps.  Reason being that PTO's thermostat can stick and totally cook the innards.  Reduced size fuse will enhance protection in case of, say, a filter capacitor failure.

2. Consider soft-starting the receiver with a Variac and setting it no higher than 115 volts but no lower than 110 volts.  

3. If a Variac is not an option, wire up a buck-boost arrangement by means of a 12 volt filament transformer so as to lower line voltage input.  See the "Pearls of Wisdom" in the R-390A Y2K online manual.

4. If it's a "non-A" in a rack with room for hanging an AC powered muffin fan off the receiver's left side, set its voltage by way of an AC capacitor wired in series to lower its speed and run silently.  Orient fan to draw heat AWAY from power supply module.  You won't need much air movement.

5. No need to run 24/7 unless you are sitting in front of the rig all that time.

6. Not heard anything about leaving receiver sitting on the same coils.  Keep it tuned to any frequency you like for as long as you like. 

Enjoy.

Norman, KG4SWM

Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right, or doing it better. -- John Updike

----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Jones <dustoff4 at sbcglobal.net>
To: r-390 at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:09:42 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: [R-390] R390

Thought I'd throw an email out for a question. I'm new to the Collins line, I do own several boat anchors,  and wonder what is considered the best way to run an R390? I have heard, leave it on 24/7, ovens off, don't let it sit on one set of coils, frequency, when I'm not listening to it, shut it off........etc. What kinds of experience have any of you had that works? 

Thanks in advance!
Mike
KD0KCM