OK, I just aquired a Lafayette HA-270 linear amplifier
This is my first experience with tube type amplifiers and so far it has not been a good experience. (not that I'll let one bad experience ruin the rest)
Ok, so I hook it up. Put the coax from my radio to the input, coax from the output to my meter and meter to antenna. I have two 12gauge wires running from my van's battery to it. All hooked up, so far so good.
So i fire it up and the tubes glow. From what I understand I'm supposed to let it warm up for like 2 minutes, So I do before trying it.
Here's the part that confuses me. I key down and it emits a loud click, sometimes a squeal, but no signal comes out.... None... Zip, zilch... When I key the needle on my meter wiggles alittle then just sits at zero.
Now there are two knobs on the front. One says "Plate tune" and one says "Ant load" (Whitch i assume means antenna load). I've adjusted both to like every position and would re-try keying up... no luck.
My assumption:
I'm guessing that My battery isn't pushing enough power. I had A battery charger running on the battery so it wouldn't die. I'm willing to assume that maybe i need to have the van RUNNING so i get the full 13.7 volts? (van won't start, new fuel pump to be installed this weekend)
I don't know, maybe its just old junk to put on my shelf and look at.
also, anyone know how much power this is supposed to put out?
Any suggestions?
This is my first experience with tube type amplifiers and so far it has not been a good experience. (not that I'll let one bad experience ruin the rest)
Ok, so I hook it up. Put the coax from my radio to the input, coax from the output to my meter and meter to antenna. I have two 12gauge wires running from my van's battery to it. All hooked up, so far so good.
So i fire it up and the tubes glow. From what I understand I'm supposed to let it warm up for like 2 minutes, So I do before trying it.
Here's the part that confuses me. I key down and it emits a loud click, sometimes a squeal, but no signal comes out.... None... Zip, zilch... When I key the needle on my meter wiggles alittle then just sits at zero.
Now there are two knobs on the front. One says "Plate tune" and one says "Ant load" (Whitch i assume means antenna load). I've adjusted both to like every position and would re-try keying up... no luck.
My assumption:
I'm guessing that My battery isn't pushing enough power. I had A battery charger running on the battery so it wouldn't die. I'm willing to assume that maybe i need to have the van RUNNING so i get the full 13.7 volts? (van won't start, new fuel pump to be installed this weekend)
I don't know, maybe its just old junk to put on my shelf and look at.
also, anyone know how much power this is supposed to put out?
Any suggestions?