Astron Power Supply

[WA7PRC]

So you are assuming that...

I'm tired of the back and forth. I could care less... but not much. You win.

[WA9SVD]

I'm tired of the back and forth. I could care less... but not much. You win.

Sorry you feel that way, to throw in the towel. I wasn't the only one to disagree with some of your comments or statements. I didn't see things as a "win/lose" or sudden death competition.

HOWEVER, our reparte was well off the original subject, and should probably have been addressed in a more appropriate forum of linear vs. switching supplies. BOTH types have their merits and deficiencies. I just hope that operators (both new and old alike ) will make a wise choice in PS technology( i.e., switching vs. linear regulation) to provide proper capability to at least match their current needs, (no pun intended) as well as anticipating future expansion of their station.
73

[G4SKO]

Whatever next? I'm sticking with my ancient Astron RM60A rack mounted beauty....plenty of headroom there. All this talk of futuristic technology, switch mode powerdiddle, crazy talk and next you'll be telling us you can buy spreadable butter and a telephone without wires. Have you lost your senses?

73 de G4SKO.

[WA9SVD]

Whatever next? I'm sticking with my ancient Astron RM60A rack mounted beauty....plenty of headroom there. All this talk of futuristic technology, switch mode powerdiddle, crazy talk and next you'll be telling us you can buy spreadable butter and a telephone without wires. Have you lost your senses?

73 de G4SKO.

Are you saying that at one time, telephones HAD wires? INCREDIBLE!. Next, you'll try telling us that telephones didn't always have push button dialing. How on earth did they function? It boggles the mind!

[K9STH]

SVD:

The very first "automatic" telephone exchange was installed in LaPorte, Indiana, in 1892. Those telephones had "push buttons"!

http://inventors.about.com/od/bstart...elephone_2.htm

http://www.laportecountyhistory.org/victroladisplay.htm

http://www.telcomhistory.org/vm/exhibitsSeattle8.shtml

http://www.telephonecollectors.org/singwire/dial1.htm

http://thephonebooth.com/phoneadvert...l-goodbye.html

The system was invented by Almon B. Strowger who had been an undertaker in Kansas City. During that time, various undertakers paid telephone operators to divert calls intended for their competitors to their undertaking parlor. Strowger wanted a system that would prevent this from happening and, as such, invented the dial telephone exchange. Through his efforts, the very first dial exchange was installed in LaPorte, Indiana, about 60-miles east of Chicago.

I haven't seen an original Strowger telephone. However, since I was "born and raised" in LaPorte, Indiana, I have seen the reproduction that is in the LaPorte County Historical Museum (the 3rd link above).

Glen, K9STH

[G4SKO]

That's great! All we have to do now is invent Bakelite and the possibilities are endless whoooaaaha!! Mr.Frankenstein .

[WA9SVD]

SVD:

The very first "automatic" telephone exchange was installed in LaPorte, Indiana, in 1892. Those telephones had "push buttons"!

http://inventors.about.com/od/bstart...elephone_2.htm

http://www.laportecountyhistory.org/victroladisplay.htm

http://www.telcomhistory.org/vm/exhibitsSeattle8.shtml

http://www.telephonecollectors.org/singwire/dial1.htm

http://thephonebooth.com/phoneadvert...l-goodbye.html

The system was invented by Almon B. Strowger who had been an undertaker in Kansas City. During that time, various undertakers paid telephone operators to divert calls intended for their competitors to their undertaking parlor. Strowger wanted a system that would prevent this from happening and, as such, invented the dial telephone exchange. Through his efforts, the very first dial exchange was installed in LaPorte, Indiana, about 60-miles east of Chicago.

I haven't seen an original Strowger telephone. However, since I was "born and raised" in LaPorte, Indiana, I have seen the reproduction that is in the LaPorte County Historical Museum (the 3rd link above).

Glen, K9STH

Interesting and amazing. My father worked for Western Electric's Hawthorne Works (Cicero, IL) for 37 years, and for much of that time made bakelite for use in Bell telephones.
To this day, I can't stand the smell of phenol.

[KV6O]

Well, I just disconnected the DC side of my Astron and plugged it in thru my Kill-A-Watt, and yikes - 14W idle consumption! I wasn't expecting it to be that high. I might have to re-evaluate my 7/24/365 decision! If anyone has a Kill-A-Watt and an Astron supply, it would be interesting to compare to see if my RS-20 is typical, and how it compares to RS-35's, 50's etc. Maybe I have some bad caps!

Steve
KV6O

OK, in the interest of science I bought a RS-35A off of Ebay to compare. It looks newer than my RS-20, and only draws 12W idle. I suspect my caps in the RS-20 are contributing to the higher losses - I'll have to open it up and see about ESR measurements...

If you have a Kill-A-Watt and a power supply, let us know what your idle power consumption is! It would be interesting to compare!

Steve
KV6O