Oh this should be fun, I've got my popcorn ready. New Guy, Old Amp, lets see if I can light it up real good! Come on boys, ROAST ME
A few points: Since 811As cannot withstand anything more than about 260W continuous output (for four of them in the 811H), keep key-down times very short if running anything more than that; however, the most important things to watch are actually output power and grid current. Since "tuning" at 10W or even 25W drive will result in very different tuning points than when driving at full power, I've found the fastest and most efficient way to tune one is at "full power," by peaking GRID CURRENT (not plate current) with the PLATE control, then adjusting LOAD for maximum output power that results in <200mA (max) grid current. If when adjusting LOADing for max output, grid current exceeds 200mA, just turn the LOAD control more clockwise to increase loading and watch the grid current go down without impacting output power much. The full procedure should take ten seconds or less to achieve Po = 600W with Ig <200mA, and you're done. Step-tuning at lower power levels just wastes time, to me, since everything will need to be re-peaked at normal drive anyway. The 811H cannot safely produce 800W output power except perhaps PEP on SSB with a low duty cycle. Tuning up "fast" saves the tubes better than step-tuning. These guidelines can apply to "any kind" of tube amplifier. I tune my homebrew 4-1000A and 8877 amps the same way (and also my only "commercial" amp, which is an AL-80B).
I'd rather get my amplifier tuning info from a trusted source; in particular, the man who designed that amplifier and all the others Ameritron produces. Nowhere near as sexy as a video, and requires reading: https://www.w8ji.com/loading_amplifier.htm https://www.w8ji.com/al811h_and_811_tuning_supplement.htm Use this info instead and you won't be replacing tubes.
I wish more hams understood this and followed accordingly. Always tune/load for maximum output and then reduce the drive to attain desired operating power. Then DO NOT change or "re-peak" the amp. 73, Bob -K4TAX
The entire neighborhood goes dim every time you key the mic... ...and sadly, that is a selling point, for some of the 11 meter crowd...
Yeah, I always spike the plate and tune for the bump so Bird Watts are at the max. "If the lights ain't dim'n..... you ain't pinn'n" Soon exams will be a matter of copy & paste and be sure to grab your participation trophy when exiting the Mc Donalds Playscape VE session.