Yeah, I'd bet money that he's got a flakey PTT switch, and that everything 
else is extraneous to the problem.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 14:45
Subject: Re: Still troubleshooting my ocasional AL811 relay tripping issue


> Steve,
>
> I do think he is pushing things a bit too much, and as I said in another
> post, have a suspicion about the ptt button on the mic.
>
> It's nice to see great minds think alike.
>
> 73, Steve KW3A
>
> On 3/12/2014 2:38 PM, Steve Dresser wrote:
>> Steve,
>>
>> The fact that he's overdriving the radio might cause the amplifier to go
>> non-linear, in which case something might trip.  Even if overdriving the
>> radio isn't causing the relay to trip, it might be a good idea to reduce 
>> the
>> mic gain a bit.
>>
>> I'm also wondering about the PTT switch in his mic.  I'd try using the
>> button on the front of the radio instead of any other switch, just to see 
>> if
>> the problem goes away.  Changing mics at this point will just compound 
>> the
>> problem.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 14:02
>> Subject: Re: Still troubleshooting my ocasional AL811 relay tripping 
>> issue
>>
>>
>>> Tom,
>>>
>>> This may come as a shock to you, but "over" means "over".   You are off
>>> the scale and overdriving.    i doubt if this has anything to do with
>>> your amp problem, but you may want to back things down a bit.
>>>
>>> I don't think carrier level affects SSB, but I have mine set at 20.   It
>>> varies by band, but at that setting I'll get at the most a couple of
>>> pips on the ALC meter (2,3,4) Other bands I get 1 or zero.    This keeps
>>> the power spike under control  on CW/FSK.  At the least, you should have
>>> your XYL tell you where the sweet spot in the ALC range is by looking at
>>> the meter and try and keep things there.
>>>
>>>
>>> Getting the buffer out of line  for a test is a good idea, but you would
>>> have to get a cable to connect to the 7 pin din.    Try some of the
>>> other suggestions first.  Be sure the control cable to the amp, buffer,
>>> and the din to the radio and buffer are all seated fully.
>>>
>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>
>>>
>>> On 3/12/2014 1:40 PM, Tom Behler wrote:
>>>> Bob:
>>>>
>>>> I'll do that.
>>>>
>>>> I know that at that level, the TS590 still says A over, though.
>>>>
>>>> I am not quite sure what that means.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> To get it to stop giving me the A over  reading, I have to drop the
>>>> carrier
>>>> all the way down to something like 13 or 14, which seems really strange
>>>> to
>>>> me.
>>>>
>>>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>>> On Behalf Of Bob, K8LR
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 10:24 AM
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>> Subject: Re: Still troubleshooting my ocasional AL811 relay tripping
>>>> issue
>>>>
>>>> Tom,
>>>>
>>>> another thought, try dropping your carrier control to 40, that might
>>>> help!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask]
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 10:10 AM
>>>> Subject: Still troubleshooting my ocasional AL811 relay tripping issue
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi, all.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As you may recall, I have a problem here where my AL811H amplifier 
>>>> relays
>>>> occasionally trip when I am transmitting, and I'm trying to figure out
>>>> why
>>>> it happens.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I have checked all of my connections between the TS590, my ARB704 
>>>> buffer
>>>> box, and the AL811, and they seem to be firmly in place.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'm now starting to wonder if my amp relay tripping issue has something
>>>> to
>>>> do with my TS590 rig settings.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> As I think I said before, I use between 60 and 65 watts to drive the
>>>> amplifier, which, as far as I understand,  is well within the limits
>>>> prescribed by Amaritron.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I checked some other settings on the TS590, though, and wonder if one 
>>>> of
>>>> those is creating my problem.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Currently, I have my mic gain set at 50, and my carrier set at 50.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I have the PF2 button set for voice 2, which reads SWR and something 
>>>> else
>>>> when I press the meter switch button and transmit.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'm not sure what that other function is, but I have noticed that when 
>>>> I
>>>> back the carrier way down to say 13, that other meter function says A 
>>>> 13
>>>> or
>>>> 14, rather than A "over" when I have the carrier set to 50.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'm wondering if my carrier is set too high, and if I should back that
>>>> down
>>>> considerably.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Over the week-end, when I get more time, I'm going to follow Kelvin's
>>>> earlier-posted procedure for determining the maximum input power for
>>>> driving
>>>> the AL811H, and hopefully, that will help further.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'd appreciate any suggestions anyone might have for other things I 
>>>> might
>>>> try.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> And, if someone can clarify the alternate voice 2 meter function, that
>>>> would
>>>> be helpful as well.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>