It has 270uf at 450v. I'd like to get 500v caps. Should I stay at 270uf or go 330uf?
thanks
thanks
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Recommended uF for AL1200 capacitor replacement
- Thread starter 357
- Start date
I installed this upgrade filter board in my AL1500 two years ago.
Designed and manufactured by the original designer of the Ameritron amplifiers.
Ameritron Upgrade Boards
Also see FC-220 3600 Volt for other applicationsAlso see Step Start (Soft Start)
Part Number F33-4500
This board is a superior direct drop replacement for the 50-01143-1 Ameritron AL-1200, AL-1500, and AL-82 filter capacitor board. The continuous voltage rating of the board is 4500 Vdc!
Before you buy a different cheaper board consider:
1.) This board exceeds accepted leakage path lengths of 0.1 inch per 1,000 volts for voltage gradients across any point on the board, including trace to trace voltages and voltages to mounting holes. Many boards do not do this, and are subject to long term failure from carbon tracking.
2.) The resistors in this board are high reliability. They are operated safely below voltage breakdown.
The ten 450Vdc capacitors in this board are special long life high current capacitors. The capacitors are rated at 5000 hours @ 105c with 1.98 ampere ripple current. The bleeders are high reliability metal film 5 watt resistors.
This fully tested board is superior to any other board on the market. This board was designed by W8JI, the original AL-1200, AL-82, AL-1500 series amplifier designer the way this board would have been made without cost restraints.
This drop in AL1200 AL82 AL1500 board has exceptionally long arc paths. The circuit board is a high quality USA manufactured board solder mask coated board. The ten high temperature long life rated electrolytics alone cost over $150 wholesale at last check!
This board is universal. It will never go obsolete, any standard size capacitor with either screw terminals or solder tabs will fit.
Specifications:
33 uF at 4500 Vdc
4 megohm metering
350 amp surge clamped rail
7.5 inches long, 3.750 inches deep, 3.75 inches of vertical space.
$269 USA mainland shipping included. PayPal purchase add 8%
Installation wiring Ameritron AL1200, AL1500, AL82 series amplifiers
AL1200 AL82 AL1500 filter capacitor board
Filter bank Ameritron AL-1200 bottom
Higher capacitance version:
Specifications:
33 uF at 4500 Vdc
4 megohm metering
350 amp surge clamped rail
7.5 inches long, 3.750 inches deep, 3.75 inches of vertical space.
$269 USA mainland shipping included. Specify AL1200/1500/AL82 or 33uF capacitance.
Order now
AL1200 AL1500 AL82 Ameritron filter capacitor board
Specifications:
54 uF at 4500 Vdc
4 megohm metering
350 amp surge clamped rail
7.5 inches long, 3.750 inches deep, 3.75 inches of vertical space.
$289 USA plus shipping Specify 54uF capacitance!
Order now
Using filter caps with a higher capacitance rating sounds like a good idea. Higher voltage rating is always a good idea, but if you boost the storage capacity of the capacitor bank, you can create surge currents higher than the design is meant to tolerate.
The biggest risk is the initial turn-on surge. This model amplifier has a built-in soft start, so it should not be an issue. Boosting this rating in a home-brew box might come back to haunt you. Mostly you'll find a soft-start circuit to limit that turn-on surge only in factory-built stuff.
The board shown above is the real McCoy. Tom knows his stuff. It should serve you well for a long time.
73
The biggest risk is the initial turn-on surge. This model amplifier has a built-in soft start, so it should not be an issue. Boosting this rating in a home-brew box might come back to haunt you. Mostly you'll find a soft-start circuit to limit that turn-on surge only in factory-built stuff.
The board shown above is the real McCoy. Tom knows his stuff. It should serve you well for a long time.
73
thanks guys. I did see those and the price is a bit much for my budget and the border costs are ridiculous nowadays.
I was thinking of these and call it a day:
Then maybe I could toy with the green tap but probably not.
It has these in it now but they are on the plus side of 20 years
I was thinking of these and call it a day:
Then maybe I could toy with the green tap but probably not.
It has these in it now but they are on the plus side of 20 years
Woof. That's pricey. I'd rather make it out of perf boardI installed this upgrade filter board in my AL1500 two years ago.
Designed and manufactured by the original designer of the Ameritron amplifiers.
Ameritron Upgrade Boards
Also see FC-220 3600 Volt for other applications
Also see Step Start (Soft Start)
Part Number F33-4500
This board is a superior direct drop replacement for the 50-01143-1 Ameritron AL-1200, AL-1500, and AL-82 filter capacitor board. The continuous voltage rating of the board is 4500 Vdc!
Before you buy a different cheaper board consider:
1.) This board exceeds accepted leakage path lengths of 0.1 inch per 1,000 volts for voltage gradients across any point on the board, including trace to trace voltages and voltages to mounting holes. Many boards do not do this, and are subject to long term failure from carbon tracking.
2.) The resistors in this board are high reliability. They are operated safely below voltage breakdown.
The ten 450Vdc capacitors in this board are special long life high current capacitors. The capacitors are rated at 5000 hours @ 105c with 1.98 ampere ripple current. The bleeders are high reliability metal film 5 watt resistors.
This fully tested board is superior to any other board on the market. This board was designed by W8JI, the original AL-1200, AL-82, AL-1500 series amplifier designer the way this board would have been made without cost restraints.
This drop in AL1200 AL82 AL1500 board has exceptionally long arc paths. The circuit board is a high quality USA manufactured board solder mask coated board. The ten high temperature long life rated electrolytics alone cost over $150 wholesale at last check!
This board is universal. It will never go obsolete, any standard size capacitor with either screw terminals or solder tabs will fit.
Specifications:
33 uF at 4500 Vdc
4 megohm metering
350 amp surge clamped rail
7.5 inches long, 3.750 inches deep, 3.75 inches of vertical space.
$269 USA mainland shipping included. PayPal purchase add 8%
Installation wiring Ameritron AL1200, AL1500, AL82 series amplifiers
AL1200 AL82 AL1500 filter capacitor board
Filter bank Ameritron AL-1200 bottom
Higher capacitance version:
Specifications:
33 uF at 4500 Vdc
4 megohm metering
350 amp surge clamped rail
7.5 inches long, 3.750 inches deep, 3.75 inches of vertical space.
$269 USA mainland shipping included. Specify AL1200/1500/AL82 or 33uF capacitance.
Order now
AL1200 AL1500 AL82 Ameritron filter capacitor board
Specifications:
54 uF at 4500 Vdc
4 megohm metering
350 amp surge clamped rail
7.5 inches long, 3.750 inches deep, 3.75 inches of vertical space.
$289 USA plus shipping Specify 54uF capacitance!
Order now
The board shown above uses what are called "snap-in" style capacitors. It has two angled, fairly rigid pins. If the holes in the pc board are sized and spaced correctly, they will literally snap into place, holding itself there until you solder the pins.
This package is significantly more economical than the "computer grade" package with the two threaded bushings a two machine screws.
If you plan to go perf board, you'll save money using snap ins.
They generally have just as low internal resistance as the expensive types.
73
This package is significantly more economical than the "computer grade" package with the two threaded bushings a two machine screws.
If you plan to go perf board, you'll save money using snap ins.
They generally have just as low internal resistance as the expensive types.
73
I have a question, how old is the amplifier? I'm just surprised anybody has one of these that requires filter cap replacement already.
Date codes on the original filter caps would reveal a lot.
20 years is only a little too soon to see failures. Mileage will be the determining factor. 30 years is well into the "awkward age" when you should expect failure.
73
20 years is only a little too soon to see failures. Mileage will be the determining factor. 30 years is well into the "awkward age" when you should expect failure.
73
The reason I asked about the age of the amplifier, was not because I was trying to poke fun at ameritron. I was really just curious, because in general i think the quality of electrolytics has seriously gone downhill. Especially in the last 10 years. I've had brand new caps from real manufacturers, not Chinese. No name, fail almost immediately.
its 20 years.
there wont be any caps in 10 years so I figure I better do it now.
Plus the capacitor bank is only good for 3600v, and thats what it gets, 3600v, no headroom.
Also just peace of mind
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