If it were me, Richard, I would do as Steve suggested, and I would also
contact Astron and explain your problem and see what they tell you. Since
this seems to be a problem shared by other hams, I suspect Astron is aware
of it and might have a relatively easy fix. Also, I would explore the common
mode current issue to which I referred in my previous messages. Your
ALS-1306 is sensitive to reflected power; that is, your reflected power
cannot exceed a certain level, and if it does, your amp will kick off. I
have an ALS-600 that kicks off if the reflected power gets even close to 50
watts. I also have an ALS-1306, but I don't have it operational yet; so, I
don't know what the critical cutoff point is for that amp.
Ron, K8HSY
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of David Weigel
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 9:55 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power Supply?
Hi, Richard, Steve and readers:
It is always interesting to learn about the various ways to reduce or
eliminate RF in the radio room. I was wondering if it would be a better
practice or at least worth a try to NOT connect the 2 ground rods together
electrically. I was thinking that the 120 VAC ground rod might create a low
volume "buzz" or spiky noise, coming back on the separate equipment-ground
rod pathway. But I could be wrong. And, as Steve suggested earlier, my
preference is to place ferrite clamps on all cables, jumpers, etc. "Line
Isolators are recommended by The Radio Works, particularly when there are
extraordinary length connections to ground rods, or when there can be no
ground rodds whatsoever. although I have never used them. Just stirring the
pot, slowly.
Dave Weigel KD4JEZ
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve Forst
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 10:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power Supply?
Ok, I misunderstood. The way I had read the other post, I had thought
that you were running several wires from the shack to the outside rod,
one for each piece of gear. That wouldn't be a good idea. Sounds
like you have a good handle on the ground side of things.
73, Steve KW3A
On 1/15/2016 9:55 AM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
> Hi Steve!
>
> Yes, indeed, this whole RFI thing looks to be not just a bitch (pardon
> the
> French) but also a bit more art and trial and error rather than science!
> Following is a bit more of an explanation of my present ground wire setup.
>
> Inside the shack is a ground bus (I think that is what it is called,
> a.k.a., a "common point") that has about five terminals. Attached to
> each of these terminals is a length of 14 gauge insolated stranded
> copper wire that attaches to equipment either by its ground post (wing
> nut) or in the case of my PC and TS-2000's power supply by attaching
> the ground wire to a chassis screw (because they have no dedicated
> grounding post). The length of each of these ground wires varies from
> ~3' to ~7' depending on the distance of the respective equipment to
> the bus. From the bus there is a single ~6" ~10 gauge insolated wire
> that goes through the wall into my garage and attaches to an 8' copper
> ground rod which is sunk into the ground with only ~6" of it sticking
> up. About 6" away from this ground rod is a second ground rod
> attached to which is AC grounding for all AC power into the shack.
> Then, both of these ground rods are connected together by heavy copper
wire. This electrical work was done by a professional electrician.
>
> So, I do not think it is really possible to shorten the lengths of
> these separate ground wires, and then attach all of them to a single
> wire running to the bus. These wires are already about as short as
> they can be. I do understand and agree that, in most situations, the
> distance from the bus and the ends of separate ground wires is longer;
> in which case a single wire
> *should* bridge that distance.
>
> HTH & 73,
> Richard KK6MRH
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 6:41 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power Supply?
>
> Richard,
>
> Grounding questions are one of those things in the hobby that will
> get you a multitude of contradictory suggestions.
>
> If you try them all, you will probably find one that works for you.
>
> I think all would agree that running multiple ground wires from each
> piece of gear in the shack to a ground rod is a bad idea. Usual
> practice is to run short pieces of grounding wire from each piece of
> gear to a common grounding point in the shack, with wires being as
> short as possible. Then a single heavy conductor to the ground rod.
>
> Another problem is the length of the wire (or wires in your case) from
> the equipment to the ground rod. If the wrong length, it (they) will
> radiate like an antenna.
>
> What is the length from the shack to the ground rod?
>
>
> Good luck, 73, Steve KW3A
>
> On 1/14/2016 9:08 PM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
>> Hey Steve!
>>
>> You said it! This high power stuff is gnarly! I will try ferrite if
>> it persists. The antenna is about 40' from the shack.
>>
>> following is information about my grounding system. About 10' from
>> the shack, I have two copper 8' ground rods sunk into the ground.
>> All 120V AC into the shack is grounded to one of them. Connected to
>> the other ground rod is a terminal; attached to which are about five
>> separate 14 gauge copper wires each of which goes to equipment in the
>> shack (rig, tuner, PC, amp, etc.). then, both ground rods are
>> connected with a 10 gauge wire. For the power supply which is
>> shutting down, I just attached yet another ground wire, and I also
>> wrapped its AC power cord in tin foil. I have not yet tested to see
>> if it still shuts down with these new two grounding/shielding
> improvements.
>>
>>
>> 73,
>> Richard KK6MRH
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
>> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 7:27 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power
Supply?
>>
>> Richard,
>>
>> Welcome to the world of high power. How do you have the radio
>> grounded? How close is the antenna to the operating position?
>>
>> I would invest in some ferrites. E-bay is a good source. I would
>> clamp the AC line to the power supply, and the 12 vdc line coming out.
>> Also clamp everything connected to the radio/amp (coax, power,
>> control cables, etc.). The other school of thought is to only clamp
>> things until you find the one that is the problem.
>>
>> If your antenna is 5 feet from your operating position, things may be
>> more problematic. As Ron suggests, antenna/feedline/balun may be the
>> culprit. Sometimes this stuff is hard to solve, glad you have help on
>> site.
>>
>>
>> 73, good luck, Steve KW3A
>>
>> On 1/14/2016 9:48 AM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
>>> Hi!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> In the process of setting up my Ameritron ALS-1306 amp with my
>>> Kenwood
>>> TS-2000 and an MFJ 998 tuner, sometimes RFI shuts down the TS-2000's
>>> power supply. My Elmer is convinced it is RFI because 1) it seems
>>> only to
>> happen
>>> on 20M (so far, anyway) and 2) it only happens when we crank-up the
>>> 1306 beyond ~200W. The 1306 is on a totally different, dedicated
>>> power
> line:
>>> 240V. The TS-2000's power supply is on the household's 120V. The
>>> power supply for the TS-2000 is an Astrin SS-30
>>> <https://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/SS-30-p363.htm> . So, what can I
>>> do to stop this?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Richard KK6MRH
>>>
>>
>
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