Palstar COMMANDER HF-2500 EXPORT User manual

COMMANDER HF-2500
COMMANDER HF-2500 MAGNUM
Owner’s Manual
PALSTAR, INC.
Command Technologies Division
9676 N. Looney Road
Piqua, Ohio 45356
U.S.A.
Custome Se vice and Sales Telephone: [phone]
Inte national: 937-773-6255
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: info@palsta .com
Rev. 2.5 28 June 2010

2
Table of Contents
Int oduction 3
Specifications 4
Unpacking Inst uctions 5
Vacuum Tube Installation 5
HV T ansfo me Installation 6-8
Safety Wa nings and P ecautions 9
Connections 10
Rea Panel View 11
F ont Panel View & Tuning P ocedu e 12
Theo y of Ope ation & Adjustments 14
Wa anty, Se vice, and Retu ns 16
RF Deck View 17
HF-2500 HV Powe Supply Schematic 18
Access Plate Illust ation 19
MAGNUM HV Powe Supply Schematic 20
AC Mains & Step-Sta t Schematic 21
Cont ol Boa d Schematic 22
Tuned Input & T/R Switch Schematic 23
RF Deck Schematic 24
Amplifie Test Ca d 25
PHOTO APPENDIX:
Dual Mete s Diag am 26
Mete Boa d 27
Step-Sta t Boa d 28
Powe Supply 29

3
Int oduction
The Commande HF-2500 and Commande HF-2500 MAGNUM a e class AB2 linea powe
amplifie s. They have been designed fo ope ation on all amateu f equencies f om 1.80 MHz
to 29.7 MHz, excluding the 30 mete band.
Two Eimac 3CPX800A7 pulse ated ce amic-metal t iodes configu ed in a g ounded g id
ci cuit allow fo conse vative ope ation at 1500 watts continuous ca ie output. A p essu ized
fo ced ai cooled chassis, including the high voltage supply insu es cool ope ation with high
duty cycle emission modes.
The output ci cuit utilizes ext a heavy duty components with ve nie eduction d ives on all
tuning cont ols. Easily accessed ea panel cont ols allow fo ope ato adjustment of input
VSWR and ALC.
An automatic time delay ci cuit, insu es p ope cathode conditioning befo e RF d ive can be
applied. A p otective ci cuit shuts down the amplifie in the event of excessive g id cu ent. A
esisto located in the high voltage B+ ci cuit p otects the tube in the event of an inte nal tube
a c. Mete ing function includes plate voltage, plate cu ent, g id cu ent and elative output.

4
Specifications
COMMANDER HF-2500/HF-2500 MAGNUM
HF Linea Powe Amplifie
• Band Cove age: 160, 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 mete amateu adio bands.
• Types of Emissions: SSB, FM, CW, AM, RTTY, SSTV.
• D iving Powe Requi ed: 20 to 60 Watts nominal at ated continuous ca ie output.
• Maximum Output Powe : 1500 Watts Continuous Ca ie .
• Duty Cycle: 100 pe cent in Amateu se vice at 1500 watts output powe
• Input impedance: 50 Ohm unbalanced
• Output Impedance: 50 Ohm unbalanced: SWR 2:1 o less
• Ha monic Supp ession: Exceeds all FCC equi ements
• Keying: Requi es contact closu e of sinking +5 VDC at 15 mA.
• Mete ing: Plate voltage, plate cu ent, g id cu ent, and elative powe
• A.L.C.: Negative going, adjustable f om ea panel
• F ont Panel Cont ols: Plate mete ing switch; On/Off switch; Standby/Ope ate switch;
Tune; Load; Band selecto switch.
• Rea Panel Cont ols: Tuned input adjustment; ALC adjustment; RF input; RF output;
ALC output; Keying; g ound connection; AC powe inlet.
• Tube Complement: Two Eimac 3CPX800A7 pulse ated ce amic/metal t iodes.
• Cabinet Size: 18.25" W x 8.5" H x 20.75" D (46.3cm x 21.6 cm x 52.7 cm)
• Powe Requi ement: 200/234 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 20 Ampe es

5
UNPACKING
Ca efully emove the Commande HF2500/HF-2500 MAGNUM Amplifie f om its shipping
ca ton making su e the e is no damage evident f om shipping. If the e is any damage, notify the
delive ing shippe immediately, fully desc ibing the damage.
The HV powe t ansfo me was shipped sepa ately, as its weight would damage the cabinet
in t ansit.
Do not dest oy the packing mate ial since it may be eusable late , should you equi e fac-
to y se vice o need to t anspo t the Amplifie fo any othe eason.
TRANSFORMER INSTALLATION
Remove the top cove f om the amplifie chassis. Install the t ansfo me following the illus-
t ated p ocedu e beginning on next page (page 6).
SHIPPING BLOCK
The 3CPX800A7 tubes a e shipped installed in the amplifie , held in place by a Sty o-
foam block. Remove the block befo e use.
200/234 VAC Ope ation
The Commande HF2500/HF-2500 MAGNUM come facto y wi ed fo 234 VAC ope ation.
Fo best ope ation, you should use a dedicated 234VAC main capable of supplying 20 Amps of
peak AC cu ent.
Commande Amplifie s manufactu ed fo expo t a e wi ed fo 234 VAC o 200 VAC de-
pending on the final destination.

6
HF-2500 T ansfo me
Installation P ocedu e
He e is the t ansfo me and its mounting sc ews
Lift the t ansfo me into amplifie chassis
Position the t ansfo me ove the mounting holes in
the chassis and inse t the p ovided 1/4-20 Phillips
head sc ews th ough the t ansfo me mounting tabs
and into the th eaded inse ts in the chassis plate and
tighten.
Plug the connecto on the t ansfo me into the mating
one on the wi ing ha ness. It is keyed so that it can-
not be plugged in backwa ds. Make su e that the
connecto halves a e p essed togethe until the lock
tabs snap in place.
Plug the second connecto on the t ansfo me into the
mating one on the AC Mains PCB. It is keyed so that
it cannot be plugged in backwa ds. Make su e that
the connecto is p essed in until the lock tabs snap in
place. Re-install top cove .
This completes HF-2500
t ansfo me installation.

7
He e is the t ansfo me and its mount-
ing sc ews
HF-2500 Magnum
T ansfo me Installation
P ocedu e
Position the t ansfo me ove the mounting holes
in the chassis and inse t the p ovided 1/4-20
Phillips head sc ews th ough the t ansfo me
mounting tabs and into the th eaded inse ts in the
chassis plate and tighten.
Lift the t ansfo me into amplifie chassis
Plug the fi st connecto on the t ansfo me into
the mating one on the chassis wi ing ha ness. It
is keyed so that it cannot be plugged in back-
wa ds. Make su e that the connecto halves a e
p essed togethe until the lock tabs snap in place.

8
Plug the second connecto on the t ansfo me
into the mating one that comes f om the AC
cont ol boa d. It is keyed so that it cannot be
plugged in backwa ds. Make su e that the
connecto halves a e p essed togethe until the
lock tabs snap in place.
This completes HF-2500 Magnum
t ansfo me installation.
D ess the wi es and connecto s down out of
the way

9
CAUTION:
• DO NOT attempt any type of se vice o epai on this amplifie without fi st emoving the
AC powe and allowing AT LEAST 10 MINUTES FOR THE HIGH VOLTAGE CAPACI-
TORS TO BLEED OFF !
• DO NOT ope ate this amplifie with the top o bottom cove s emoved. THE VOLTAGES
INSIDE THE CABINET ARE DEADLY ! EXPOSURE TO UNSHIELDED RF AT
THESE POWER LEVELS IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH !
• Neve attempt ope ation without fi st connecting you amplifie to an app op iate antenna o
dummy load. The antenna SWR should not exceed 2:1. The dummy load should have an
impedance of 50 Ohms with sufficient powe handling capability. DAMAGE TO THE AM-
PLIFIER MAY RESULT IF OPERATED WITHOUT A CONNECTION TO A PROPER
LOAD.
• NEVER OPERATE THIS AMPLIFIER WITHOUT AN EARTH GROUND CON-
NECTED TO THE REAR PANEL GROUND TERMINAL.
• Do not obst uct the ventilation holes located on the top, bottom, and sides of the cabinet.
These holes p ovide sufficient intake and exhaust of cooling ai . SEVERE OVERHEAT-
ING AND SERIOUS DAMAGE WILL RESULT IF SUFFICIENT VENTILATION IS
NOT PROVIDED.
• Neve ope ate any amplifie using an extension co d.
!! WARNING !!
CONTACT WITH VOLTAGES IN THIS AMPLIFIER CAN BE
!!! FATAL!!!

10
Connecting You Amplifie
• Connect the RF output of you t ansceive to the RF Input connecto on the ea of the HF-
2500/HF-2500 MAGNUM with 50 Ohm coaxial cable.
• Connect the existing station antenna tune o a Wattmete and dummy load to the RF Output
connecto on the HF-2500/HF-2500 MAGNUM with RG-8 o bette coaxial cable.
• Connect the Keyline jack on the ea of the HF-2500/HF-2500 MAGNUM to the no mally
open te minal of the elay jack on you t ansceive . The Key jack on the HF-2500/HF-2500
MAGNUM has positive 5 VDC open ci cuit and equi es the sinking of 15 mA of cu ent
when pulled to g ound.
• Connect as sho t a g ound lead as possible f om a good RF g ound to the G ound Post on
the HF-2500/HF-2500 MAGNUM.
• Connect the ALC phono jack to the ALC connection on you t ansceive using a shielded
cable. Consult you t ansceive manual fo p ope ALC connection details.
Key
ALC
RF Ouput
RF Input
RF Output
Ground
Antenna
Tuner
Ground
To Earth
Ground
ALC TX GND
To Antenna
Transceiver
HF 2500 Amplifier
Wattmeter
To
Dummy
Load