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Message |
    
Badboyboris
New member
Username: Badboyboris
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 01, 2005 - 10:55 pm: | 
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I just received my new palomar 300 elite amp. When I purchased this amp I was told it was a (HIGH DRIVE) but after hooking it up, I found that it sounds like garbage if I pump more than 4 1/2 to 5 watts into her. I am running this amp on a 36 amp Pyramid power supply and noticed that it is only drawing between 9-14 watts tops, while running the Palomar 300 on high. What gives? My Boomer 250 HD draws 13-18 watts on the same radio power setting, as when I was using the Palomar 300. I also noticed that after I unkey my radio while running the Palomar, There is a short delay (VERY ANNOYING). How come my Boomer 250 HD does not have the same annoying delay? Please help. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 4443
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, January 01, 2005 - 11:12 pm: |
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Badboyboris,
WELCOME TO THE COPPER FORUM!
Now for your question, someone gave you some VERY BAD Information as the Palomar Elite 300 is a LOW DRIVE AMP.
This information is also in the owners manual.
PALOMAR ELITE 300*
FEATURES:
(2) MRF455 Transistors
Input power: 4 Watts
Output power: 125/250 Watts Max.
3 stages of pwr High/Low/Med.
TX & Status indicators
If you are putting more than 4 watts into it you are Overdriving it.
As for the problems you are having you could have already hurt the amp it by overdriving it.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9OSN
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Torkrench
New member
Username: Torkrench
Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 04, 2005 - 5:27 am: |
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I have the same Amp and power supply setup. The amp works fairly well if run with really really low output from the radio. I have had to tune all of my radios WAY DOWN for them to work on this amp. As for the delay, there is a cap. that you can cut or wire a switch like I did to disable the delay when you aren't on sideband. The feature is called "Auto Sideband" I guess it costs less to wire in a cap than a switch???? LOL |
Badboyboris
New member
Username: Badboyboris
Post Number: 3
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 08, 2005 - 4:04 pm: |
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Torkrench, Tell me more about this cap that I can remove to get rid of the delay. |
Torkrench
New member
Username: Torkrench
Post Number: 9
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 31, 2005 - 4:41 pm: |
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Badboy, I'm sorry I didn't notice your response to the post earlier. I was surfing today and just found it. I will have to go home and pop the cover off again and find which cap it is, maybe take a pic for you, I unsolder my cap entirely and then wire a switch inline with it and secure the cap to the side of the case with a bit of hot glue to hold it. I've got a 250HD and a 300 both with this mod and it works great. I will post again with the rest of the info tonight |
Im4jc
Junior Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 47
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2006 - 8:15 pm: |
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I need to know which cap this is too please. I have a Palomar 250 Elite that does the same thing. (Auto Sideband) I want to wire a switch to it so that I can turn off the delay while running AM.
Thx. |
Therealporkchop
Advanced Member
Username: Therealporkchop
Post Number: 534
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 6:19 pm: |
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Inside in the left rear quadrant (just a little left and back from tx'ers) is a 33uf cap. You can change it to a 10uf, keep the delay, and it won't interrupt your rx as badly. Be careful making this change....it's easy but if you rush or use too much heat you'll have a mess on your hands
The way they are mounted to the board you cannot clip one leg. To lift one leg you would have to totally disassembel the amp.
Make note of the polarity and clip off the top of the cap gently. Remove the remains leaving the two pins. CAREFULLY solder your new cap and switch there. If when switched out of line your tx chatters, you'll know to add a smaller cap for AM. |
Im4jc
Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 53
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2006 - 6:38 pm: |
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Porkchop. You be da MAN! Thanks VERY much  |
Im4jc
Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 59
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 2:16 am: |
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Well, I did it. I put an on/off switch on the cap and viola!. SSB delay only when I need it.. It works great |
Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 439
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 4:03 pm: |
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Badboyboris..
It would seem there is a bit of a MESS out there in Cb land relating to these amps. In a nutshell it seems there are TWO versions of this same amp...one which has the MFR455's as Lon described and one (twin to the BlackCat300HD)that has the SD1446 transistors. Go to "product reviews/amplifiers" to see my personal experience with these versions titled Palomar300 elite/black cat300HD..MY review.
IF you were to pull the 4 face screws off yours and slide the bottom cover off I'd be willing to bet yours does in fact have the 455 transisitors thereby making it a low drive amp and a twin to my Palomar225...(before the resistor swap anyways )
I have a gut feeling that ALL the Palomar ones were to have the Elite sticker and be built with the "455's" for "low Drive" work and ALL the Black Cat HD's should have gotten the 1446's for a "higher" drive application. AT least THAT would make more sense! I guess when the 455 transistor went "disco" they replaced it with 1446's across the board...depends which batch you bought your kicker from!....again...speculation only .
All in all not a bad kicker BUT if you wanted a high drive then you CERTAINLY didn't get it....sorry!
Hope this helps!
Hank CEF559 |
Im4jc
Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 65
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 6:07 pm: |
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Related question: My Palomar 250 Elite has 2xSD1446. I turned my radio down to 2.5 watts DK and 11 watts PEP. Is this overdriving the 1446's? If not, can they handle more, or should I leave it where it is at?
All the reports say it's very clear and clean. The amp is showing about 33 watts key and 175 watts PEP on a Bird. I wish I could get it to do 40 watts key and 160 PEP for that coveted 1 to 4 ratio, but oh well. |
Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 440
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 6:49 pm: |
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Once again...please see HERE for my humble opinion...may answer your question
http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/discus4/board-auth.cgi?lm=1136950933&file=/29/86947.html |
Im4jc
Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 66
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 7:11 pm: |
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Vanilla, I just read your posted link. Very nice. So, after reading that, I take it that you could reccommend setting my Grant to 4 DK and 16 PEP and not overdrive the twin sd1446's, eh? Mine is labeled as a Palomar 250 Elite, and yours is a 300 Elite, but they have the same pills.
I've read elswhere on this forum not to put more than 2.5 DK into them, but your real world test speaks volumes |
Vanillagorilla
Intermediate Member
Username: Vanillagorilla
Post Number: 441
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:01 pm: |
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I just calls it as I sees it NO PROMISES!
Where your running it now will no doubt last you forever and stay super cool...thats a good thing..however if you'd like to see it sing then keep an eye on the temp and a fan never hurts.
I'm NOT an amp builder so its safe to say that there COULD be a difference in the circutry between the 250 and 300 Elite but I'd bet not. Creep up on it a little at a time till you see around 70DK on "HI" Maximum. Your overall PEP will be governed by what you put in.
I've since sold the one I had inline to a friend who "NEEDED" one MORE and is still going strong on his mobile Connex 3300HP DKing7 swinging 22. See's about 240Pep but sounds and swings best on LO where he Keys 50 and swings just about 200.
Your results may vary.
As for me...I'm back to my re-pilled 225 but I wanna sound like Hotwires base...saving for a 4 pill TS 
(Disclaimer MODE: Off )
Hank CEF559
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Im4jc
Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 71
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 8:08 pm: |
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Lol...rog-ee-oh! |
