AL-1500NT, AMPLIFIER, HIGH POWER

Ameritron’s AL-1500 Amplifier with Eimac® 3CX1500A7

Feel the need for maximum legal HF output power? AMERITRONÂ’s AL-1500 will give it to you. Using the Herculean 3CX1500A/8877 ceramic tube with its high power gain, the AL-1500 needs only 65 watts of drive from your exciter to deliver the goods-- transceivers and other exciters just loaf at 1500 watts out.

Cool, efficient operation is provided by a forced-air system with tube chimney, using a commercial grade die-cast ball bearing blower for maximum tube life. The tube is further protected by time delay starting and automatic over-current shutoff to remove drive power if the amplifier is mis-tuned.

You get full legal power output from a whisper quiet desktop linear. Measures 18 ½" x 17" x 10" inches, and covers all bands, 160-15 Meters, including WARC and MARS (80% of full output set to nearest amateur band). 10/12 Meters modifiable.

You get 1500 watts output (1/2 hour continuous carrier) and 2500 watts (30 second continuous carrier and 2500 watts- plus 30 minute PEP two-tone test). You get all this power, plus, 65% efficiency, pi-net-work tuned input, Pi/Pi-Loutput, inrush current protection, multi-voltage transformer, QSK compatability, and a one-year warranty.

The guts of the AL-1500 is its heavy duty power supply, with a 32 lb. Hypersil® transformer using a high silicone steel core, computer grade capacitors (33 mfd total), heavy duty bleeders and twenty 3 amp, 1000 volt power rectifiers give you a stiff 3300 volts fully loaded.

The AL-1500 is built on a rugged steel chassis with a separate RF compartment fully shielded to keep RF from leaking out, keeping RFI and TVI to a minimum.

Superb RF design and layout, Hi-Q tank circuit and commercially rated RF power components give you 65% plate efficiency over the entire operating range. Power goes into the antenna instead of into heat.

50-ohm broadband Pi-Network tuned input with slug-tuned coils is used. Even fussy solid state transmitters deliver full power!

A carefully designed Pi/Pi-Loutput network using the optimum Q for each band with vernier ball drives gives smooth tuning, wide matching range, full band coverage, and peak performance at all power levels.

The AL-1500’s grid overload circuit protects the tube from excessive grid current; if 175 mA of peak gric current is reached, the “OPR” LED will no longer light and the amplifier will go into a bypass condition until reset by the operator.

Transformer provides many options

Since excessive line voltage stresses components (low line voltage causes a “soft tube” effect, for example), Ameritron’s exclusive Multi-Voltage Power Transformer™ lets you optimize for different line voltages. Select from 4 different primary voltage ranges, from 205-219 VAC to 252 to 265 VAC. The amplifier comes wired from the factory for 240 VAC.

The AL-1500 has two illuminated panel meters. Grid Current meter provides continuous reading of the critical grid current and indicates proper, safe amplifier operation.

The other meter can be selected to read Plate Voltage, Plate Current, Peak RF Watts, or ALC. A SSB/CW selector switch chooses bias voltage for best linearity on SSB or lowest dissipation on CW.

The Operate/Standby switch, in Standby, maintains the tube’s filament and plate voltages while allowing “barefoot” operation.

Includes 12 volt DC auxiliary jack and an “XMT” LED to provide indication of proper amplifier keying by the exciter. Power required: 240 VAC, 15 amps.

Specs:

Input:

• Circuit type: Pi-network, slug tuned coils.
• Maximum VSWR at resonance: 1.3:1.
• Minimum 2:1 VSWR bandwidth: 20% of center frequency
• Maximum drive power permissible: 100 Watts
• Typical drive for full power output: 65 watts

Output:

• Circuit type: Pi-L/Pi network
• ½ hour continuous carrier: 1500 watts
• 30 second continuous carrier: 2500 watts
• ½ hour PEP two-tone test: 2500 watts plus
• 30 second PEP two-tone test: 2500 watts plus

Power Supply

• Circuit type: Full wave bridge, capacitor input
• No Load voltage: 3600V
• Full load voltage: 3300V
• Full load current: 1 amp
• Regulation: 10% typical
• Transformer: 34lb., Hypersil
• Capacitors: 26mFd total, computer grade
• Maximum draw at rated output: 15 amps at 240 VAC

Tube

• Type: Eimac 3CX1500/8877
• Continuous dissipation: 1500W
• Warm-up time: 180 seconds

Metering:

Multimeter: Plate current, plate voltage, drive/ALC, power output (PEP watts)

Grid: Grid Current

ALC: Negative going, 0-20V, adjustable phono jack

Efficiency CW: Approx. 67%

Efficiency SSB (envel. crest): 67%

MARS/WARC: 80% of full output, set to nearest amateur band

Keying: Requires relay closure or sinking to ground of 12 VDC at 100 mA phono jack

RF Connectors: SO-239

Line Connectors: NEMA 6-15P 240V style

Dimensions:18 ½" x 17" x 10"

Weight: 77 lb.

UPS shippable, 3 boxes.

Frequency Coverage: 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21 MHz and WARC bands. Export         AL-1500X includes 28 MHz. User modifiable for 28 MHz (FCC license required). Third Order IMD at Rated Output: -36 dB All metal cabinet *WARC Bands may offer slightly less performance than primary amateur bands

Ameritron AL-1500 Variants (all except AL-1500F contain one Eimac® 3CX1500A7/8877 ceramic tube)
Â	Base Model	Includes built-in QSK-5PC switch
USA 240V	AL-1500	AL-1500Q
Export 240V (includes 28MHz)	AL-1500X	AL-1500XQ
Export 240V CE certified (includes 28MHz)	AL-1500XCE	AL-1500XQCE
Japan 200V (includes 10 Meters)	AL-1500J	AL-1500JQ
240V Import 3CX1500A/8877 tube	AL-1500F

Product Manuals

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