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How much carrier output?

groundwire

Sr. Member
Jul 19, 2014
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Ok just for kicks, i posted the question on my Facebook groups, "for an hg 2879 amplifier, how do you know what output carrier to set the amp for that wont blow up the amp or push it to it's limit? 25w max output per transistor? The 4:1 ratio? Etc". And as expected tons of people had an opinion, all different and most of them the most ridiculous answers you have ever heard. What blows my mind is with any commercial or amateur amplifier, the manufacturer clearly knows and defines what the maximum drive, peak output and carrier levels should be to avoid damage and/or failure. Yet most of the cb people are all over the place with their answers and generally dont know what the hell they are talking about, as usual (sorry but its true). Even the guys that build the amps ALL have a different answer. So with that being said, there has to be a definite and correct answer to the question, "how do you know what the correct carrier output level from an hg2879 amplifier should be"?
 
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25 watt per transistor in the final stage. 1X4 = 100 max 2X4 = 100 max. The 25 per is the result of many a blown transistor and lifespan at different drive levels. Most every builder that has used Toshibas in builds found out the expensive way. One has gone as far as to run them at X watts, check the Hfe, step up to Y watts, then check Hfe and so on. If they found breakdown at Y, they'd go back to X and run it for awhile and check the Hfe. His findings were somewhere between 23-27 watts @ 14VDC provided the longest lifespan with reasonable output so, "25" is an easy number to remember.
Read this a few years ago so I have no way of providing a link though.
 
25 watt per transistor in the final stage. 1X4 = 100 max 2X4 = 100 max. The 25 per is the result of many a blown transistor and lifespan at different drive levels. Most every builder that has used Toshibas in builds found out the expensive way. One has gone as far as to run them at X watts, check the Hfe, step up to Y watts, then check Hfe and so on. If they found breakdown at Y, they'd go back to X and run it for awhile and check the Hfe. His findings were somewhere between 23-27 watts @ 14VDC provided the longest lifespan with reasonable output so, "25" is an easy number to remember.
Read this a few years ago so I have no way of providing a link though.
Thats what i do, 25w per device. Never had a problem or overheating issue ever.
 
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25 watts per Toshiba 2879 is what I have been doing for over 20 years now.

Original Dave Made 1x4 mobile I ran at a 100 watt carrier for round about 8 years in my 18 wheeler. Ended up selling it for more than what I paid for it.
 
25W for each Toshiba 2879?
Interesting, because manufacturer datasheet says max 10W PEP.
Mike
Data sheets are the suggested/recommended. The manufacture recommends an oil change every 5K miles, yet people will go 8K or more with no issues. Toshibas were built beautifully which allowed them to be pushed well beyond the spec sheet and survive. For longevity, the data sheet for the Toshibas is what should be followed for HGs to survive.
 
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Reactions: sp5it
Hahaha, so im assuming the reason these makers say like 175w carrier max on a 2pill or 1,100w on a 16pill is so you blow it up and buy another one. Lol
 

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