How to fix the Astron Power Supply Amp Meter
Astron 70 model number VS-70M amp meter not working ?
We purchased this Astron 70 amp power supply, new, from
Ham Radio Outlet. After installing it in the shack we noticed that the Amp
Meter did not work or worked very little ...it was showing something like 2 amps per 100 watts
when it worked.
Now, most of us know, according to Ohms Law (amps x
volts = watts) that, this is just not correct.
Warning:
Use Caution: before working on any electronics be sure to
unplug and discharge any possible stored energy. Do not attempt to work on
any electrical equipment. If you have not had formal electronics training
or do not know what your doing or do not understand electrical components and
theory. Remember a power supply has more than enough energy to
"kill you" and
"burn down your house".
After
removing the four screws and opening the top cover of the Astron Power Supply
and inspecting for probable causes of the amp meter failure, it looked as though
the yellow wire going from the adjustable pod to the the white block resistors
was a poor solder job. We re-soldiered the yellow wire and nothing.....
still had the faulty amp meter. Using our plastic probe we found that
moving the white block resistors on the left side, just below the yellow wire
caused the meter to function. We decided to call Astron and find out if
they had any notable issues with their Amp Meter. One of the friendly
people at Astron told us that the connection plate to where the white block
resistors are soldered, is a snap-on type of connection plate and some times it
simply has a poor snap on connection.
Now,
my eye site is not so good any more (neither is my digital camera, as you can
see)...so I
really had to look at how this popped on ...I did now see, that where the pass
transistor on the outer side, connects to the inside, there is a insulated wafer
and then the metal connection plate that in-fact pops on top of the insulated
wafer.
The Astron Power Supply fix is rather simple ....just put some solder on that
pop-on metal tab connection just above where the yellow
wire connects to the white block resistors opposite side of the pass transistor and your all fixed
(look at the two pictures as I am pointing to the pop-on
metal tab connection) . I went ahead and put solder on all 4
of the top pop on connections located opposite side of each top, pass
transistor.... as by factory design they solely rely on just the pop on metal
connection tab for their connections... oh, I think the top, right rear had
factory solder.
I guess, since I had just purchased this Astron power supply
with the meter not working, I could have just taken it back! But to be
honest 'I am just too geeky with electronics' and the way things work.
Besides, this is nice to know if this problem happens 1 year from now when your
warranty expires.
Please feel free to link to this page or copy this page and put it
in your own website.
About me, my name is Sam and I am a Ham Radio Operator KI6DTC
. We have lots of old radio gear that we fix and repair ourselves. I
am also a Business Owner
Billing Pros.Com in which we have lots of business
equipment that we also fix and repair ourselves. I have been into radio
since I was 13 years old, when Santa Claus brought me a Realistic Navaho TRC-30A
Base Station (which I still have today). In writing this I am
currently 48 years old. My father was a hard working man who provided a
good life for me, my 2 Sisters and Mother, I know the $100.00 price tag
plus antenna, pipe, and coax was a budget buster. But my Father also knew
how much I wanted a Radio. In my younger days, my Dad and I had a very
tumultuous relationship, but ..later in life as I became a Man, my Dad
and I talked at least 3 times a day by telephone for over 10 years. My Father
passed away 12-11-09 and I miss him dearly as he was truly my best friend 'Keith
Douglas Moriarity'.
Life is about learning, and helping other as we go.
Sam G. Moriarity
KI6DTC
File: astron power supply, amp meter not working
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