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Drzuo
Member
Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 63
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 9:20 am: | 
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I'm looking to add a Texas Star dx500 to the summer setup (hoping for a decent solar cycle start). I am trying to find a good power supply match without going overboard $$. I have seen Texas Stars DX 500 fuse ratings as 45 amp and 2x35amp. The latter obviously shoots the whole 50 amp power supply out of the mix. Please don't quote Texas Stars cheesy wattage / current chart. I am hopping to find someone who has actually used this setup before and can give some real life wattage/ current specs. I will be driving it with an RCI 2950, so I wont be slamming it with a mosfet Magnum or anything. I know some power supplies have an um more accurate real life current rating than others, and some switchers are real balsy just as long as you can play "dodge the s-9 hash noise game." The RCI is run off it's own samlex 20 amp switcher, so this supply would be just for the amp.I am being cautious due to the release of the specs for their tx1000 and 1600 that require just massive amounts of current/watt. So if anyone could give me some real-life examples I would appreciate it. Thanks guys. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 16401
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 9:32 am: |
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Copper Talk
» Subscriber (Preview)
» Articles
» WHICH POWER SUPPLY DO YOU NEED?
Hope this help's,
Lon~Tech808
CEF#0808/HAM#001/CVC#0002
Tech808@copperelectronics.com
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Drzuo
Member
Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 64
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 10:40 am: |
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Thanks Lon. There are tons of choices out there now trying to find out the works best / bang for buck ratio. Currently looking at the nippon line, great power and reliability, nothing mentioned about hash, Astron (pricey) and I was never thrilled with them. Pyle, cheap, probably too cheap. Samlex expensive when you get to 50 amp. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 4920
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 8:08 pm: |
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I use a Diamond GZV4000 which powers 90% of my station ... not cheep but very stable even with RF in the room.
Astron 50 amp is unstable so it sits .....
On 6 since 66
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Foxhunter
Intermediate Member
Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 153
Registered: 4-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, December 28, 2008 - 9:48 pm: |
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Drzuo I hope the holidays have been kind to you. One of my favorite little combinations I frequently use for 11M is a MOSFET modded Cobra 29 into a Texas Star DX500V. The DX500V amplifier is powered by a Pyramid PS52KX which is rated for 46A continuous and 52A peak duties.
I run the DX500V at 15V, and although it nearly maxes out the power supply, it is almost perfectly suited & adequate for the DX500V. I can run the DX500V on either variable or high without any issues. The Cobra 29 is on it's own small 5A supply. Hope it helps you.
Pyramid PS52KX |
Drzuo
Member
Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 66
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, January 05, 2009 - 8:38 am: |
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Fox, thank you very much thats exactly what I'm looking for. I have heard that that model pyramid is probably the best built one they make. A friend has the big 80 amp rack mounted one and it will not run the 667v he has. I can see with the mosfet your driving it probably very close to how a 2950 would with stock finals. Thanks again.
PS-on Bruce's Astron comment: I used an Astron 35m for a while on the bench and found it would start folding back at about 26-28 amps.
Back in the early 90's I ran my RCI 2950 (turned way down) with a 1 x mrf455 "deer hunter box" (with padded input) for 15 watts AM Dead key swinging to about 80 watts pep, off a Tripp-lite pr10b. SSB would get warbly though if I didn't back down the mic gain. To me the Tripp-lite was a balsy supply. A few years ago just for kicks we ran a cobra 29 and a mod v off a 35 amp power supply and used a 60 amp Tripp-lite to power a dx1200. We got 850 watts out of it, and it worked fine. Just don.t know of the long term effects on that power supply. Since then Ive heard nothing but bad about Tripp-lite, not sure if they changed designs or what. Thats why Im looking for real world examples instead of manufacturers claims. |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 2725
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2009 - 3:12 pm: |
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Drzuo, Currently my base setup is a 50 watt S-9 driving a Texas Star DX500v. The radio has its very own power supply and I use the Pyramid PS52KX to run the Texas Star DX500v.
I can go full power all day on AM. SSB works pretty good BUT if I go at full power with SSB the Pyramid is really straining.
I go easy when running sideband because the DX500V really pulls the amperage.
Other just standard radios like a Cobra 148 I have no problem with SSB.
Its when I really put the Texas Star to the test that the Pyramid falls a little short.
Kenny
CEF491
Reading the mail around Indianapolis Indiana!
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Drzuo
Member
Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 68
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 5:13 pm: |
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Thanks Kenny. It seems that model pyramid is the work horse of their line up. It also tells me Texas star is pretty true to their 45 amp claim (with a stock radio) and it looks like 50-55 amps with an dual final radio. The Astron 70 a will probably work (50 continuous, 70peak). I was hoping the Jet stream 45a would work, but at 40 cont, 45 peak, I would probably be swearing a lot. If some other people find this interesting, maybe we can get some others to post their mobile amp/power supply combos. I know most supplies will say like: 30 amps, good for 100 watt transmitters, and most of us are saying "Darn, I run a DX350 with that supply!" etc... |
Jjk9
Junior Member
Username: Jjk9
Post Number: 48
Registered: 1-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2009 - 7:33 pm: |
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I've tried several different supplies with a TS500 (Pyramid 52, Astron etc...) and settled on an Iota 55amp switching supply; runs it without a glitch even on ssb. My next one will be the Iota 75amp; wish I would have found them sooner. |
Drzuo
Member
Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 69
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, January 11, 2009 - 8:34 pm: |
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jjk9, Ive heard of them , but never saw any info on how they perform hash wise. Do you pick up any rf noise generated by them? Are they quiet? What Issues did you have with the other supplies and the TS 500? what radios, how much drive, how much total output were you experiencing. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 4953
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 6:41 am: |
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Strangly
I have had no noise problems with switching supplys.
On 6 since 66
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Drzuo
Member
Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 70
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 7:47 am: |
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Checked out the IOTA's and read several posts with favorable reviews. I might have just found my power supply. Thanks.
My Samlex 20 amp does give some hash every few channels. But it is well below 1 s-unit and hasn't been a problem. |
Jjk9
Member
Username: Jjk9
Post Number: 50
Registered: 1-2008
| | Posted on Monday, January 12, 2009 - 10:36 am: |
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I've never found any hash on 10 or 11m; I have seen posts at different groups stating they had a few on 20 and 80m I believe... I am running the TS500 and an Omega; seeing 480+PEP out and the PS never flutters... I tend to let it cruise in the 350 - 400 range. Strangely, I've gotten excellent reports with the Top Gun on... The TS500 will get warm if you push it or are long winded!!! |
Drzuo
Member
Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 72
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 3:45 am: |
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Ill put a fan on it. The TS500 primary use will be for a ssb net that covers a lot of local area with some stations 100-150 miles out. Im making it now, but would like the extra punch. Between upgrading the antenna to a 5/8 and using a dx 500 things should be nice. |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 2732
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 1:44 pm: |
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Drzuo,Without a fan the DX500 gets very warm during ragchew, especially running at higher power levels. I run a small brushless PC fan into my DX500 and it does a great job at keeping it cool. Only problem was that the heatsink is on the bottom and as a base amp this is an issue. Two ways I have had success was mounting the amp with the bracket on the underside of a shelf so that the heatsink is exposed. I also fabbed some small legs attached to the sides of the amp that lifted it up high enough to fit the fan under.
Kenny
CEF491
Reading the mail around Indianapolis Indiana!
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Drzuo
Member
Username: Drzuo
Post Number: 74
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2009 - 8:57 pm: |
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I built my radio bench (see my pics under pictures of setups)and will mod it for the swap out. I was thinking of cutting a square hole underneath the amp that wouldn't be visible from the surface with the fan mounted underneath. Things are still in the planning stage. The new antenna will come first. |
Mrclean
Intermediate Member
Username: Mrclean
Post Number: 124
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 1:40 pm: |
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Love my 70 amp Astron |
