Collins 30L-1

[Turk182]

Inherited one...will it do SSB ch.38? it seems like it will tune lower. Don't want to chance it until i ask. If so, could i drive it with a smaller amp putting in around 75-80w?

[De_Wildfire]

Hey Turk182, hope this helps. I found some information. You can drive it with 70-100 watts. I would gradually tune it in stages. When I tune my AL-82, I start with a 20 watt tune, then a 40 watt tune and finally a 70 watt tune. I start off low to get a "ball park " the peak tune first. Also, if I am going to run it hard for contesting, I throw a five inch Orion fan on top. Looking at the Collins Pics, if you are going to run it hard, I would throw two fans on top for long key downs while rag chewing. I look at the external watt meter and tune the amp to peak wattage using a CW keyer at 70 words per minute speed and laying on the "dit's" on and off real fast to "ball park the tune first." Others us this 3898 **Censored** pulser to tune the amp which is more hassle and more work involved. I don't like tuning it on AM but that is my preference.

https://collinsradio.org/cca-collins-hi ... xes/30l-1/

Link to the **Censored** pulser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV1dFGBi84Y

[Turk182]

Thanks for the response De_Wildfire,...and sorry it's taken me this long to respond. I finally had time to look closer, and realized on the back of this ancient amp there's only one coax connector, and it's not an SO-239. The RF in looks like the female type of an old stereo plug.???? Apparently the Collins works only with other Collins radios??? Anyway, I have a standby Ameritron 811H that has the right coax connectors for both in and out. Knowing I probably will need more input than 4 or 12W to key this amp. Would it be possible to use a smaller amp like say an RM-Italy and set it for about 60-70W drive into the 811H for a final output of 500-700W?

[MDYoungblood]

Yep, old Collins amps used RCA connectors but they can easily be switched out with panel SO-239's, just be careful not to get any of the case shavings inside when punching the holes out to 3/4". Also they don't have a keying circuit like a CB amp, you will need to fashion a PTT.

3's

Greg

[443 Arizona]

wait a minute, isn't this a continuous amp?

[MDYoungblood]

wait a minute, isn't this a continuous amp?

You are absolutely right, this amp back in the day was operated just by the on/off switch, that is why I said a PTT would have to be fashioned, a better word would be constructed.

3's

Greg

[Turk182]

After some more internet research, and digging through some of my leftover HAM stuff, i just realized i had an Ameritron Arb-704 interface buffer. Could this be used as a keyer, and how would it hook up?

[Turk182]

Thinking this out, i've decided to leave this amp in original condition, cause it'll be worth alot more that way some day than to modify it. i'll just consider amp options out there already set up for 11m. Thanks All

[443 Arizona]

from what i remember, on old big rig shtuff,, ,there would be a receiver that you would have to make sure was diconnected from ant. while transmitting. the transmitter would only engage with the amp during transmit,
amp was continually on,,you would watch plate temps(heat sinks)and hope all voltages stayed steady to make sure you didnt "fry your chickens." ,
this was AM mode stuff,
input was 25-50 minimum with continuous warmed up use the infeed at 100 +/-
always ran after warm up otherwise it was hard on the tubes .
i think you buffer is just a buffer.
make sure everything is clean, your dealing with canned lightning(almost)

[De_Wildfire]

Your're very welcome Turk182. I searched around on this site and stumbled upon it.