Thank you Tom, Yes, I would like to have the cheat sheet.  I guess I've sort 
of developed my own method but one can always learn.

The other Howard, WA9RYF
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet


>    Howard:
>
> I have been sending the cheat sheet to whomever wants it, but am doing it
> privately because I find it best to send it as a file attachment which, to
> my knowledge, you can't do on this list.
>
> If you want the file, I'd be happy to send it your way.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Howard Traxler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 9:59 AM
> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>
>
> I keep seeing messages about Kevin's cheat sheet but I never se the cheat
> sheet.  Did I miss its postin?
> The other Howard, WA9RYF
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 3:09 PM
> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>
>
>> Steve,
>>
>> I probably wouldn't look at plate voltage very often, but I'd sure like 
>> to
>> know more about grid current, and maybe even plate current.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Steve" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 15:41
>> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>>
>>
>>> Yeah, I have my tuning aid connected to the amp.  I don't look at the
>>> plate
>>> voltage very often.
>>>
>>> But, when I tune, I dip the plate tuning knob, and then turn the plate
>>> load
>>> until the plate current starts to rise a bit.
>>>
>>> I don't know, without seeing his cheat-sheet, how reliable that is 
>>> except
>>> as
>>> a rough guide.  This is because your antenna rig characteristics will
>>> influence that somewhat.
>>>
>>> I did slightly damage my 811's a couple years ago when I forgot to 
>>> change
>>> the band selector on the amp.  I now get about 590 watts out instead of
>>> 690,
>>> but that isn't a big deal.  But, when it comes time for a replacement,
>>> I'll
>>> grab the 572's.
>>>
>>> I would expect that one needs to neutralize those and the plate caps 
>>> have
>>> about 1800 volts on them.  Not sure I'd want to be probing around that
>>> area
>>> much even with an insulated driver.
>>>
>>> Steve, K8SP
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 9:48 PM
>>> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>>>
>>>
>>>> Tom,
>>>>
>>>> You don't need an additional meter--the ones you need to read are
>>>> already
>>>> on
>>>> the amplifier.  I don't think I'm quite ready to change the tubes,
>>>> especially for a $200 price, although I'll probably do so if I have to
>>>> replace them.
>>>>
>>>> Steve
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 21:21
>>>> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>    Steve:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Well, so far, your experiences come pretty close to mine.
>>>>>
>>>>> Like you, I want to get someone sighted over here sometime with a
>>>>> meter,
>>>>> and
>>>>> a familiarity with the amp and its characteristics, so I can determine
>>>>> how
>>>>> I'm actually doing.
>>>>>
>>>>> All of this adds up to why I bought the 572B's.
>>>>>
>>>>> I figured that with more robust tubes, I at least have less of a 
>>>>> chance
>>>>> for
>>>>> all heck to break loose if I happen to make a blunder in the tuning
>>>>> process.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> To: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 8:34 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Tom,
>>>>>
>>>>> Since this is my first tube amplifier, I attribute my success more to
>>>>> luck
>>>>> than experience.  Nevertheless, a few things seem clear to me:
>>>>>
>>>>> First, as long as you try to run the amplifier within specified 
>>>>> limits,
>>>>> you
>>>>> probably won't get into trouble.  For that reason, I avoid driving it
>>>>> with
>>>>> more than 70 watts of continuous carrier.
>>>>>
>>>>> Second, things break down in a hurry if the plate current is high.
>>>>> Therefore, I adjust the plate current so the amplifier is putting out
>>>>> maximum power, which means the output circuit is in resonance, which
>>>>> means
>>>>> the plate current is at minimum.
>>>>>
>>>>> Finally, I worry about the grid current which, from what I understand,
>>>>> should be high enough to keep the finals biased properly, which means
>>>>> that
>>>>> I
>>>>> adjust it to the point where the output power begins to decrease.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thus far, I haven't blown anything up, and nobody has ever reported
>>>>> that
>>>>> my
>>>>> signal is non-linear, which I hope means that I'm operating things
>>>>> pretty
>>>>> close to where they should be.  One of these days, I'll be lucky 
>>>>> enough
>>>>> to
>>>>> have someone sighted around to read the meters and see how close I
>>>>> really
>>>>> am.  Meanwhile, I'll just be alert for smoke, and hope I don't smell
>>>>> any.
>>>>>
>>>>> Steve
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> To: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 19:59
>>>>> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>    Well, Steve, you are much more experienced than I am with these
>>>>>> things,
>>>>>> and my thought at this point would be:  "If your strategy works, 
>>>>>> don't
>>>>>> change it.".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have to admit that I still get a bit apprehensive when doing the
>>>>>> tuning
>>>>>> procedure, but I just take my time, and work through each step, 
>>>>>> giving
>>>>>> things periodic breaks in the process and, so far, so good.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>> To: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>> Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 5:51 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: Kevin's amplifier tuning cheat sheet
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks, Tom.  I have considered connecting a VCO across the
>>>>>> amplifier's
>>>>>> meters so I could actually read the plate and grid current, but my
>>>>>> "maximum
>>>>>> smoke" method seems to work, and laziness prevails.  Nevertheless,
>>>>>> it's
>>>>>> good
>>>>>> to know the actual current info.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Steve
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>