Kicker 500 and misc

[IDIeselman]

Drinking a few beers while working on snowmobiles last weekend when the chatter turned to radios, turns out my fellow sledheads dad had some old equipment laying in the attic, notice I said had Kicker 500 with new tubes, pre amp, SWR/watt meter, Regency base, Cobra 29 and Palomar 300 all for the paltry sum of $173.00. Now then, I know I have read before and can not find again the reason but, When I key to talk with the 500 powered up everything swings as it should xcept the amp, DK at 300 then swings backward. Any advice would shure be great.

Thanks
Tim

 

[mackmobile43]

Is it back swinging or just the power supply falling off? The dead key shouldn't be that high, 50 watts or so.

 

[IDIeselman]

It's swinging backwards for sure, I see no dimming lights or signs of the power supply failing but it could be I suppose.

 

[443]

The meter on the front of the amp should be a plate current meter, if the plate current is going "up" as you talk, you should see forward swing on the meter, if not, try a different wattmeter, some of those old ones I have seen don't show forward swing unless you got a TON of forward swing (like from 1 watt to 100 watts).

 

[74IN]

A DK of 300W is far too high for that amp.

Drop it to 100W or less and it'll be fine.

 

[IDIeselman]

Thanks guys! I'll start trying everything posted. It is my understanding you are to adjust the amp everytime it's turned on/warm before broadcasting. If this is correct can someone give me a crash course? It may just be operator error:blushing:

 

[wavrider]

http://www.worldwidedx.com/amplifiers/26225-how-tune-tube-amp.html

Captain Kilowatt posted instructions on how to tune an amp in the above thread.

Hope this helps.

 

[Atlasta]

Agree with others that a 300w dk is too much. With a 4 watt input and decent tubes (>90%) that amp will dk around 200 and swing 3- 350 or so. Can it do more? Yes but it won't sound as good and you will burn through tubes a lot faster.

 

[IDIeselman]

Thanks guys. I have set it in the closet for now, I do not have a factory 4 watt radio to push it with. Would it cause much harm using it with a new Connex saturn base? 1.7 watts swinging to 60 on the lowest setting.

 

[mackmobile43]

Thanks guys. I have set it in the closet for now, I do not have a factory 4 watt radio to push it with. Would it cause much harm using it with a new Connex saturn base? 1.7 watts swinging to 60 on the lowest setting.

Sell the kicker to me and clear up some room in your closet.