[Swan] Swan 1200W amp question

[Paul Cleven]

Hi Gil;

I really enjoy using my 1200X with my 300B.
The 1200 series can be driven with less than 100watts. 
The nature of a linear amplifier is that there is a maximum drive level that allows the amp to stay in its linear range.  This implies that that the amplifier, driven correctly, will reproduce the transceivers signal without adding spurious signals.  Overdriving is the big problem.

The 1200x is looking for a 12V switching current in transmit.  I don' know what modern transceivers provide for outboard switching.

Also these amps don't have adjustable tuned inputs so the solid state stuff may not like driving into this load.  Back in the day tube rigs didn't mind driving a 5:1 swr as long as that voltages produced didn't cause arcing in the final stage.

Paul
N9XZ
---- Gil Woodside <wa1lad at cox.net> wrote: 

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Hi All.

A friend of mine just aquired a Swan 1200W amp. I have a couple of questions about it. I'm not an amplifier user so I couldn't answer his questions. 

1. Can it be used with a solid state radio (ie-IC706, TS140, FT840) ?

2. Can it be driven with less than the 100-120 watts the manual states without damage to the amp? 

Thanks, 73
Gil/WA1LAD