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Class D 600 Watt Topband Amplifier Mods


After some tests on Topband a few modifications were made. The 40A bridge rectifier failed and was replaced with 50A one mounted on a better heatsink, the problem appears to be the ability to handle the peak repetitive forward current charging the 30mfarrad capacitors -the specs for the rectifier don't show this value - only average forward current i.e. 50A. A front panel transmit/receive switch was also fitted to replace (temporarily) the control from the FT817. The FT817 transmit control line currently does not provide sufficient delay (pretty sure it can be programmed for sufficient lead-in) to ensure the antenna relay is properly made before the amp delivers full power. The final mod was to the microwave oven step/slow start protection circuit. Instead of a 22 ohm series resistor limiting the primary current, the two 50 ohm resistors were connected in series giving 100 ohms which limits the primary inrush current to 2.4 amps (24 amps in the secondary). The protection relay timing capacitor was also increased from 50 microfarrad to 250 microfarrad.

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