If I recall correctly, the 32V-2 doesn't have a safety choke on the output which would short the HV to ground and blow a fuse if the coupling/DC blocking cap shorts. If not, I would add one while I was in there to protect the owner and antenna system from a failed coupling cap.
Several years ago, I repaired the HT-31 amplifier out of the Hallicrafters SR-500 console for its prior owner and the output coupling cap on it was shorted causing the fuse to open because it was connected to a dummy load. Had it been feeding a typical dipole without a balun, it would have happily put full plate voltage on one leg of the antenna.
I now own the SR-500 and the repair experience reminds me to add a safety choke to the output of vintage transmitters while I am going through them.
Rodger WQ9E
I’m converting an RCA broadcast transmitter and I’ve got a dilemma regarding a safety choke. In stock form, the modulation monitor output is derived from a coil tap, an auto transformer actually, on the output. This step down transformer also provided a DC path across the output as well as being a static drain.
However, it’s crap as an inductor at HF. It’s got many self resonances, some right in 80 and 40. I need some other device for a safety choke.
What criteria should I use to choose one? The plate supply here can deliver 3kV at more than 1 amp continuously, so in a fault condition, the part has to be able to blow the overload without the risk of it failing instead. Will an ordinary little pi choke like I see in ordinary ham lineages do the job, or do I need something else?