Has anyone ever seen one of these?

[Tinman590]

Just wondering if anyone new of one like this, good or bad? kinda tubes it takes?

[Slowdraw]

It looks a bit like a Firebird 500. Open the lid up and lets see a picture of the guts....

Slowdraw

[Tinman590]

I will work on that here in a day or so.

[preacherman]

Basically the same amp as a Thunderbolt 101...two tube amp
with sweep tubes in it. If tubes are good you should see anywhere
from 150-200 out of it.
Preacherman

[Tinman590]

Basically the same amp as a Thunderbolt 101...two tube amp
with sweep tubes in it. If tubes are good you should see anywhere
from 150-200 out of it.
Preacherman

Ok thanks, are they pretty good or no? 100.00 too much to pay for it? And what are sweep tubes?

[Night Crawler]

And what are sweep tubes?

Horizontal Deflection Tubes. Used for the horizontal output on the old tube tv's

[Tinman590]

And what are sweep tubes?

Horizontal Deflection Tubes. Used for the horizontal output on the old tube tv's

Easy to get? expensive?
I know nothing much about tube amps but thought Id branch out and try one.

[Slowdraw]

Are there not any tubes at all in the amp? If not, how many pins in the sockets and is there a anode or plate cap for the high voltage to the tubes? Again, a picture might help.

Slowdraw

[Tinman590]

Are there not any tubes at all in the amp? If not, how many pins in the sockets and is there a anode or plate cap for the high voltage to the tubes? Again, a picture might help.

Slowdraw

My wife has the dig camera on a trip she will be back fri and I will post the pics. But yes there is a set of tubes in the amp. 2

[Slowdraw]

Are the tube still labeled or are the tubes so old their labels have burned off?

[Night Crawler]

Easy to get? expensive?
I know nothing much about tube amps but thought Id branch out and try one.

This will give you an idea of the prices enter the tube number and do a search.
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Here is another site that will give you the operating characteristics of the tube and suitable subsitutes which might be cheaper.
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[Tinman590]

Got it up and running, seeing about a 10 watt deadkey and a 200 watt swing. That sound right?

[Tinman590]

OK, ive got this thing hooked up but I dont know how to tune it. It onl has a watt meter on the front of it. Ive got it hooked up and and maxed the load and plate on my watt meter. Am I doing this right? Im no tube man "yet"

[Tinman590]

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Here is the pic of the guts, 6lq6 tubes

[Slowdraw]

For best audio you will need to tune the amp for peak modulation which is not the same as tuning it for max power under a dead key.

Find a clear channel where you won't bother anyone. After tuning for peak dead key as you have done, rest the tubes a bit. Alway tune using short key times. Anytime the amp is out of tune, the tube run HOT HOT. This is how most operators flatten or burn up their tubes.

Next , key with a whistle, if you can or an open vowel while you turn your LOAD slightly clockwise (on most amps.) You will see the peak power on the meter climb and then peak. Rest the amp. You should have keyed no more than 4 or 5 seconds. Key the amp again with a dead key (no modulation) and peak the TUNE capacitor. You may have to do this a couple of times the first time.

Mark the spots where you ended up. This will not change much unless you move many channels or change antennas. The tuning spots may change as the tubes age, but you should always know the starting points in order to protect your tubes. They will be hard to replace.

There are alternate tuning methods. I've told you the old, tried and true and dirty method that should help you get started with the amp.

Slowdraw

[Night Crawler]

ive got this thing hooked up but I dont know how to tune it.

While Tuning Do Not Transmit for more then 30 seconds at a time or it will shorten the life of the tubes.

Use an External Watt Meter while Tuning the one in the amp might be reading the Plate Current on the tubes
.
If you tune for Maximum Plate Current
Bye Bye Tubes

Set the Plate and Load at the 12 o'clock position.
Press the mike button and Quickly Adjust the Plate control for Maximun Output on the meter.
Then Adjust the Load Control for Maximum Output.
Retune the Plate Control for Maximum output then the Load Control for Maximum Output.
Repeat until Maximum Output is obtained.
The amplifier is now tuned for SSB Operation for AM it will have to be overcoupled otherwise the audio will sound distorted or fuzzy.
To overcouple for AM Operation take the Load Control and turn Clockwise 1/4 of an inch.

[Slowdraw]

You are right about not keying for more than 30 seconds, maybe less until you get close to resonance. If you can pretune with low power, say 1 watt drive, that would be better.

I'm pretty sure that amp uses a peak power meter circuit. Never use the meter on a D&A amp or a MACO. Those will mess you up. They are just for looks.

Best way for your friends and neighbors is to make sure you have a well matched antenna (1:1) and tune the amp into a dummy load. Switch to antenna and double check the plate tune peak, it may have changed.

The amp uses 6LQ6/6MJ6's and it looks like you've got the original tubes in it (green OEM lables) , which is good. Take it careful till you tune it right the first time and you will have a reliable 200 watt amp.

Novel ways to tune an amp (just a joke, OK?):

Place a 3 or 4 foot florescent bulb a few feet away from the upper or outer portion of an antenna element. Wait till midnight and tune for peak glow.

Turn TV on channel five and say "audiiiiooooo.." tune for peak volume. You may have to readjust your volume.

Use an older telephone, pick up receiver... see above. (does not always have to be plugged into a wall)

Clock radio.... see above

Dogs ear. Lift and listen while tuning... Works best with Varmint 1K amplifiers and Beagles. (personal experience, neighbor complained about this one. I think he may have been serious... Wondered why that damn dog kept barking when I was on the radio!

Slowdraw

[Tinman590]

Thanks slow draw, I am getting about 200 watts of swing out of it but a 1 watt dead key my carrier is only 10 watts, what do you think?

[Slowdraw]

You will sound loud, but kinda scratchy. Tubes should last forever...

[Tinman590]

How much is too much deadkey? I would like to bring my carrier up a little. My radio has a variable.

[Night Crawler]

How much is too much deadkey? I would like to bring my carrier up a little. My radio has a variable.

A pair of 6LQ6's can take up to 10-15 watts in the AM or FM mode but 5 watts would be the nominal amount to run them cool. The Dentron GLB 1000 Amateur Ampflier used four 6LQ6's in the SSB mode and 75 watts pep was the recomended amout of drive. So divide that by four and that should give you a rough estimate of what the maximum amout of drive that should be used in the AM mode for two 6LQ6's.

[Tinman590]

So if I run my radio deadkey up to 4 watts and swing around thirty, im good?

[Night Crawler]

So if I run my radio deadkey up to 4 watts and swing around thirty, im good?

That should give you about 50 watts dk and 200 watts swing. Those tubes can handle higher drive but run cooler with less.
Tubes are alot more forgiving then transistors if you were to overdrive those tube what would happen is that they would get saturated with rf to a point where the harder they're being driven you would'nt see anymore output and the tube would just dissipate it in heat.

[boomerang]

Just wondering if anyone new of one like this, good or bad? kinda tubes it takes?

Never seen one myself.
It houses two 6LQ6 tubes.
See the schematic & tube photo I've included.

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[MysteryMan]

Tinman,

You found your self a nice amp. Good condition also.

If I remember correctly that design was actually taken from the Palomar 150, but much more improved! The 150 used 1 12JB6 as the driver for 2 6L6Q's. Using a Amateur amp gives you a much cleaner square wave and will not splatter as much as a CB amp.

In the late 70's early 80's some companies were making amps that were claimed to be a Ham amp so they could be sold and used in the 11M band. I am not sure if the Interceptor was one of those.

Either way, Have FUN with it... But do take good care of it and load it up as Night Crawler suggested.

Oh, do get a decent watt meter to use with it.