Big Rig update

[W8ACR]

I have made some cosmetic changes to the big rig (Buzzard Baby). I have moved the two large variacs to an external location which has given me room to install a large window above the 160-80-40 RF deck giving a full view of the Taylor 822 final amp. I have also installed a (temporarily) empty RF deck #2 above the 822 RF deck. This deck will eventually house a pair of 254W's for 20, 15, and 10 meters. I have also posted a pic of the current operating position showing the Viking I exciter, monitoring equipment, and receivers.

Ron

[W8ACR]

More photos

[Opcom]

That's a great looking set there! Too bad about moving the variacs. Do they need adjustment or are they set-and-forget?

[flintstone mop]

The W8ACR catches my eye and almost looks like the old RCA logo.
Nice work there
Fred

[W8ACR]

Patrick,

One variac controls the line voltage to all transformer primaries except the final amp filament, and final amp plate. This is adjusted for 120VAC and does not need adjustment very often. I just check it once in a while. The other large variac controls the final amp plate voltage primary. I usually do initial tune ups with this variac adjusted for about 1000VDC on the plate, then turn it up to operating voltage for fine tuning and operation. There is a small 2 amp variac on the bias deck for fine tuning of the final amp filament as well. So there are a total of three variacs in the rig.

Fred,

Very astute. Since my callsign is an anagram of RCA, I chose to use the RCA logo as the basis of my own personalized logo. I designed it myself, and what you see attached to the rig is a freehand painted first attempt that I did myself. If you don't look too close, it looks OK, but close inspection is not pretty. I tried to get a professional rendition, I was going to have several of them made, but I couldn't find anyone here in the tundra that could do it. Maybe I need to contact K1NSS................

Ron

[K5IIA]

Thanks for the pictures Ron. Awesome!

[w1vtp]

These pictures are art, Ron.  I'd love to have a sched working you on 75 some time.  Thanks for sharing.  I'm going to download these pics and save them.

Thanks, Al

[W8ACR]

Well, gee, thanks guys for the kind comments.

Al - "Art" might be a bit of hyperbole, but I appreciate the sentiment. Being the perfectionist that I am, it seems that I am never completely happy with things. This transmitter is no exception. Actually, I am thrilled about its performance so far. It has given me very little operational trouble (knock on wood), and the signal/audio reports have all been very good. When I started this project, my goal was to get a functional medium power transmitter on 40, 75 and 160. I believe I have accomplished that. Cosmetics were less important, but I did want a transmitter that at least looked organized, neat and laid out in a logical manner. Again, I believe that I have accomplished that much at least. Now that I have some confidence that I really can build a 500W transmitter that works well, my ultimate goal is to build an authentic 1930-40's transmitter that not only works well, but truly is a piece of radio art - no extra holes in the chassis, verniers on all the knobs, all panels freshly painted in black wrinkle, chrome trim, etc etc etc.

I have enough parts to build two or three more transmitters of this size. First, I am going to build the second RF deck for this transmitter. After that I will probably build a single band 40 meter transmitter with a single ended or parallel 254W. I have about 15 of these tubes. Finally, a 160 meter transmitter with push pull 808's or perhaps HK-54's. By the time I get to the push pull rig, I hope to be refined enough to truly build a work of art.

Al, give me an idea of a time and freq when you tend to get on the air and I'll give a listen.

Ron

[W3GMS]

Very nice pictures of the new layout Ron!  Its amazing how sometimes the simple things make the station look so much better.  Some op's just don't care how things look but that has not been the case for me.  I find it more enjoyable when things look good and also important is how well they play.   Having worked you on 40M with your lash-up I already heard first hand how well that HB rigs works.

Do all your rack screws point in the same direction  ?

73,
Joe, W3GMS   

[W8ACR]

Hi Joe,

At the moment, all screws are pointing toward the rear. However, I must admit that some are flat and some are Phillips head.

Ron

[W7TFO]

Ron,

I think he is teasing you about all the screw heads lined up straight...

73DG

[W8ACR]

Yeah Dennis, I know. I was just playing along.

[W3GMS]

Yeah Dennis, I know. I was just playing along.

Ron,

Well when people that know me come into our home they look at the screws on the outlet and switch plates and they all point in the same direction.  Vertical polarization of the slot is preferred! 

Years ago when I home brewed a repeater back in 1976, the folks would notice that the screw slots all pointed in the same direction!  So when I had someone helping me at the site, I would always asked them to make sure the screw heads all point in the same direction! 

Fortunately I am not that way about everything and that's a good thing, but its become part of my signature and I dare not change it now!!

My mentor W3FDY always told me if you pay attention to the aesthetics your probably will give enough thought about the electrical design that the final project will work well!!  He always told me to "Make it look Commercial"!

73
Joe - GMS 

[N2DTS]

What is the GREY box at the top?

And DIFFERENT types of black paint!
You have a long way to go!

One of the hardest things to deal with is finding matching meters, moreso if you like to have a lot of meters on your gear.

I went the easy route and bought up a LOT of radio shack meters, knobs and switches back when they still sold parts.
I think I have 40 meters in use....

[W8ACR]

Grey box at top is a Lambda 300VDC regulated PS for the speech amp. As far as different types of black paint, yep guilty. As I said, cosmetics were not my #1 priority at the time of original planning and construction. I was just hoping that the transmitter would actually work! I learned a lot about building transmitters during this project. Next project from scratch will have a bit more emphasis on appearance................. Actually, I suppose that I could tweak things here little by little. Paint the cabinet and front panels black wrinkle, get all matching knobs, some chrome trim. Yeah, Buzzard Baby could still be purtied up a bit - I accept the challenge!! Maybe next summer during the thunderstorm season.

Matching meters not a problem here. Got lots of old meters. Can somebody point me to instructions on how to do black wrinkle paint?

Ron

[N2DTS]

I started out black wrinkle paint, spray it on and bake it in the oven at low temps gave a nice tight wrinkle.

But I went to grey paint, wrinkle holds dirt and looks nasty and faded after a while, and it does not take labels well.
Grey paint is easy to keep clean and takes P touch labels nicely.

I also do not have to worry about baking it, my wife was not into me using the oven for industrial things....

[ka4koe]

It's nice to have someone to look up to. This is fabulous!

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

It's looking great, Ron. Can't wait to work you on it. Might even get a chance to hear it through your old J-4. 

Been busy with the baby and another project here (not to mention Christmas), but am hoping to get some time on the air for the KD0HG HMR. I seem to recall you were running a frequency quite well the last time I was able to participate. Hope to hear you soon.

[steve_qix]

Hi Ron,

It was good to work you this evening (into morning) on 75 meters!  Signal was very good with the shortened dipole and all those radials.  Works quite well.

Rig sounded good here in New England - a long way from N.D. for sure!

I'm sure we'll hook up again this winter.  The rig looks great - nice pics.

Regards,  Steve

[W1IA]

Nice work Ron, guess its time to get back on the air? Finished my deer hunting by filling three tags and still have to finish butchering my last kill.
See ya soon.

Brent W1IA
Derry, NH