Duty cycle for a Dow Key relay

[The Slab Bacon]

Actually, some models of Dow-Key are not good for that application, as they have shorting contacts in them to ground the RX antenna lead on transmit. It is a small spring loaded fadiddlin in the NC side of relay. You can tell these type as they have a longer barrel on the RX antenner connector. They can be a little troublesome and would prolly wipe out the finals in a solid state rig if they didn't make (or break) properly.

As far as transmitter power that they will handle, I have used one with my 4X1 rig for many years.

[W2VW]

Some dow keys smell like burnt band aids when overheated.

[KM1H]

The HA-6 here had the original Dow Key inside when I bought it about 25 years ago and its still doing fine even with 2-4 hour VOX CW pileups.

The 1500W 2M amp uses a Dow Key transfer relay and has been abused as well in contests for over 25 years, same coil as the others.

Never had a failure in the AM days at the KW level either with long winded transmissions.

Ive read of several coil failures which I suspect is a manufacturing defect or RF got in.

Carl

[WA1GFZ]

lasts for ever as long as you don't wet switch the contacts.
I actually go for the mil relay with potted coil and N connectors. They are cheaper and built better. They also work well at 28VDC