Dentron Clipperton aka 160-10L, 4 572B tube, 10 - 160 meter, linear amplifier unpowered walkthru
Вставка
- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- Just a non powered walkthru and thoughts of the Dentron Clipperton, aka 160-10L Linear Amplifier. I had one of these a very long time ago, but got rid if it about as soon as I had went thru it and got it going. After going thru this one, recapping it, tightened a few loose nuts and redid a few solder connections, away it went. I also have a Xerox paper copy of both manuals, 'Clipperton and 160-10L' so I compared them. The only differences I saw is:
Clipperton mounts the tubes horizontally, while the 160-10L mounts them vertically.
Clipper has SSB/Hi 2700 and CW/Low 1800, and 160L runs on 2000 only
Clipper power switch turns on amp, and 160L uses a relay
Clipper has no 10 meters from factory + a block or filter on the input for 11 meters, and 160L was factory ready to go on 11
I like the Hi/Lo that the Clipperton has, but I like the turn on relay the 160L has plus I like that the 160L has the tubes mounted vertically and is factory 11 meter ready to go. I guess if I had to choze one or the other, I would take the Clipperton because of the higher voltage taps and better components that could take that HV. Both are decent good amps but nothing special. No tuned input, no soft start, no Pi-L, just the basics.
A 572B tube is rated at 160 watts plate dissipation per tube, and I always calculate the output by using the plate X2, so 320 watts out per tube. Hence, around 650 out for a 2 tuber like the Heatkit SB-200 or Mohawk 10 and 1300 watts out for this one. Tubes can be found, are not cheap, but don't go for crazy money either. They are grounded grid Triodes only, so no Turbocharging, and aren't going to do a lot of swing unless you drive them that way, but if you don't abuse them, these tubes and this amp will get you a solid 800 Bird and last a long time. Push it harder and it will do a lot more, but not for long.
That amplifier looks to clean and complete to mono-band it. Thanks for the lecture Doc. Have a peaceful Sunday.
Thanks, I'll keep it multi banded as you know how the Hams are.
Back in the 70’s all serious CBers knew to leave the 11 meter filter out of the Heathkit. But I met a ham who confidently told me that the days of CBers using their amps was now gone! They were now unusable! What a shame that so many hams knew nothing about electronics but lots of CBers did.
The ironic part is that even today there are hams who believe that only they hold a monopoly on knowledge and skills.
That's funny as many Ham amps like Ameritron don't have l0 meters but the instructions remind me of the old days when CB amps would say don't clip this wire here and ground there as that would enable l0 meters.
EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT VIDEO!!
Thank you very much!
I love the old Dentron
Yep, this one might not do a ton of watts, but it is a workhorse compared to the other Dentron's.
Why is my Clipperton L different? I have a PCB under the plate that holds the tubes, and my doorknob capacitors are in a different location, where only the 40m is mounted to the plate.
IDK, but I said they made many different versions of these. Did yours have factory 28mhz 'l0 meters' in it?
I have it figured out, mine is a Clipperton QRO in a Clipperton L cabinet. This makes all sorts of sense not that I pulled up a QRO schematic and looked at it, there's a big difference. I have 6 caps instead of 8 like the L does. I bet towards the end, Dentron was running on fumes and started throwing whatever they could together. I ended up with this configuration that's given me 1200 watts for $250 bucks. 1200 watts out of some old Raytheon made in America tubes. I can imagine that those tubes are in the ballpark of 40 years old.
And yes, it is set up with 10m but hasn't been configured yet. It's a matter of bending a tab and removing 2 wraps on a coil on the board. I might do it while I have it apart but probably won't ever use it.
THANK YOU..I HAVE 160-10L,,,SERIAL #500....CAPS ARE GONE..CALLED HARBACK AND THEY SAID THERE KITS WONT WORK..DO YOU MAKE A DROP IN CAP REPLACEMENT BOARD?GREAT JOB ON YOUR VIDEOS.THANK YOU
No, I just do a little modding on the original board and put in normal thru hole caps.
@@tramdr THANK YOU
Looks like you're keeping busy your friend in Florida waiting on to hear back from you when you get a chance to look at that Glenn for me
I haven't been able to find my Glenn's yet.
I thought you said that you had s couple?....please keep looking for me
I will. My horde is huge.
Contrary to popular belief, Dentron provided a DTR-2000 amplifier for the 1992 Clipperton Island DXpedition, not a Clipperton-L. It was a great marketing move, and the amplifier sold like hotcakes. There is a large body of knowledge about them on the internet, so if you can find one for a good price jump on it. The 572B tubes are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.
agreed
Great video. Would love too see the power out
Sure, watch this video then: ua-cam.com/video/mfpkpjrRy_s/v-deo.html
I ran one of those for a few months till something happened to it!! I took it to my local tech n he said he couldn't figure out the issue..so I just gave him the amp!! I didn't have the time or money to send it off to someone else at the time!! To bad I didn't know u at the time!! Smh
You need a new tech. These are about as easy as they come though I don't do others anymore and even more so now. After Dayton Hamvention, it was said even before then and there too, by many people, "No one is spending money on this anymore." Hence, I'm just doing me.
I would like your advice. Im currently running my station with a 8 pill amp and the other radio with a 2x8 amp. I want to buy a tube amp. I am considering Ameritron. The RCI-2995DX radio has an output of 80 RMS and 185 PEP. Which amp would be a good match ? The RCI-69 BASE has an output of 40 RMS and 100PEP. Which amp would be a good match ?
I'm all for getting the biggest amp you can afford. AL-1500 then AL-82 I like a lot but they are pricey.
thx Dr. which is which radio ? 2995dx or 69 base with the AL-82 ?
2995
80 WATTS RMS AND 185 PEP WONT OVER DRIVE IT ?
just about right for the 82
Did you recap this yourself?
Probably but I don't remember for sure.
I like to buy or get one modified to key without the foot padded.if it can be done.
Nomad radio and others sell a keying circuit to mod any amp so they will key with the radio and not need a foot switch.
I ran one for a while, good amp but I found a Drake l 4 B and ran it a few years.
Drake L4B is a big bad amp.
@@tramdr I really like the 572b tubes,a true transmitter tube like the 3 500z One day I will have another amp with 572b,s I hope
572B's are good, but I like me some 500Z's
or 250B's even better. Low drive.
Hope you find one for me
Lots of interest in this one. First 850
The mad scientist....ha ha
That's accurate.