Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Palstar meter lights  (Read 474 times)

K1PJR

  • Member
  • Posts: 395
Palstar meter lights
« on: October 29, 2022, 07:00:21 AM »

I have a Palstar AT2KD tuner. Purchased in 2013. I turned on the SWR meter and it didn’t light up. Power to unit is ok. I called them and was told it was the board with the push button switches. Bought a new one and still no light. I’ll call them next week but was wondering if anyone who has one of their manual tuners had the same issue.
Tnx
Phil
K1PJR
Logged

W9IQ

  • Member
  • Posts: 8866
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2022, 07:08:26 AM »

Does the peak hold circuit work? If so, I would suspect the meter lamp or its power harness/connectors.

- Glenn W9IQ
« Last Edit: October 29, 2022, 07:10:54 AM by W9IQ »
Logged
- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

K1PJR

  • Member
  • Posts: 395
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2022, 07:38:00 AM »

Glenn,
The peak/hold works fine. My guess it’s the meter housing. Harnesses look ok. I’ll call them on Monday.

Thanks Glenn.

Phil
Logged

W9IQ

  • Member
  • Posts: 8866
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2022, 08:59:23 AM »

Phil,

When the metering switch is on you should be able to measure 10 volts DC on the end of the two wire harness that plugs into the meter. This bit of confirmation may help Palstar ship you the correct part this time.

Good luck with the repair.

- Glenn W9IQ
« Last Edit: October 29, 2022, 09:12:29 AM by W9IQ »
Logged
- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

VE3YF

  • Member
  • Posts: 626
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2022, 09:54:57 AM »

Have you checked the meter bulb(s)
Logged
73 De Mike
VE3YF

http://www.ve3yf.com

WA2AAR

  • Member
  • Posts: 90
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2022, 01:13:55 PM »

Hi Just had the same trouble with my AT-AUTO and I had to order new blubs from them. I put the new blub in
and every thing is fine the blub is $12.95. So that is what you going to have to do.

Bob - wa2aar
Logged

K1PJR

  • Member
  • Posts: 395
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2022, 02:32:04 PM »

I looked at the replacement bulbs but it says they are only good for tuners made before 2010. I bought mine in 2013. When I spoke with them initially they did not give me the option of changing the bulb(s). The meter looks to be a sealed unit.
Logged

WA3SKN

  • Member
  • Posts: 8126
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2022, 03:34:59 PM »

Anyone have a VOM/DMM to make voltage or resistance measurements?  Small bulbs have resistance in their filaments and fail open if it is a bulb problem.  Voltage can be traced back to the source.

-Mike.
Logged

KC0W

  • Member
  • Posts: 1542
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2022, 04:19:34 PM »

 I've never had a positive experience with the Palstar owner when calling & ordering replacement parts. Every time I have spoken with him he's been a 1st class a$$hole.

                                                                       Tom KH0/KC0W 
Logged

K1PJR

  • Member
  • Posts: 395
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #9 on: October 30, 2022, 07:08:44 AM »

The meter housing is sealed so you can’t even access the bulbs.
In regards to the owner, when I bought the unit I called and spoke with him. He’s not exactly the warm and fuzzy type. However when I ordered the meter board I spoke with a woman and she was very nice. Hopefully she’ll be the one to answer my call tomorrow.
Logged

WA1UIL

  • Member
  • Posts: 42
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #10 on: October 30, 2022, 07:33:39 AM »

I would check the PWM lamp driver circuit and its switch mode power supply for possible output failure.If those check ok after intensive testing then suspect the voltage conveyance devices going to the lamp(s) (ie;long thin spaghetti looking colored devices)
If there is driver voltage at the lamp which is not illuminating... Its safe to assume that the lamp filament has a separation gap in the tungsten coil rendering it to emit darkness when power is applied. Finally your only recourse is to actually remove the lamp and re-string the failed filament or replace the entire device. Pay close attention to the expiration date on the lamp device and its polarity. Lamps can be quite complex devices.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2022, 07:38:58 AM by WA1UIL »
Logged

SWMAN

  • Posts: 2117
    • HomeURL
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #11 on: October 30, 2022, 09:06:23 AM »

 It reminds me of when I always had to read the instructions on the older incandescent bulbs. It always said that it takes to people to change their bulbs, one person to hold the bulb and the other person to turn the ladder. I finally got it figured out.
« Last Edit: October 30, 2022, 09:13:35 AM by SWMAN »
Logged

WA2AAR

  • Member
  • Posts: 90
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #12 on: October 30, 2022, 12:13:58 PM »

I have never had any trouble with getting parts or talking to Don Kessler on the phone. So I don't know what you guys
are saying about them. Now my AT-Auto and my AT2K both take the same blub. And both are well over 10 years old.
I just replaced the Lamp in my AT-Auto. And I ask them is the same lamp good for the AT2K and they said yes.

Bob - wa2aar
Logged

AI5BC

  • Posts: 456
    • HomeURL
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #13 on: October 30, 2022, 01:10:38 PM »

How many hams does it take to change a light bulb?
Logged

K6AER

  • Member
  • Posts: 7159
Re: Palstar meter lights
« Reply #14 on: October 30, 2022, 04:30:03 PM »

Bit late getting into this post but here is some information.

Don Kessler has not worked for Palstar for many years. He had a very different view on engineering from Paul, the owner, and Don decided to pursue different opportunities.

I have a AT2KD which has had a lot of reengineering.  Bought the unit new from DX Engineering back in 2017. It was advertised as a 2 KW antenna tuner. It is not. The manual says in the next to the last page in the manual not to run over 800 watts CW into the unit.

The cheep plastic rotary coil will not handle over 1000 watts. The cheap fiberglass band switch burned up in a week. I contacted Paul at Palstar about the engineering design and found out what a Adam Henry the owner was. Waited a week and called back and his wife answered the phone and bought the ceramic rotary coil from the AT4K and installed the coil to replace the burned original rotary coil supplied with the new unit. I installed a model 86 ceramic band switch and have had no problems since.

I ask Paul about the lack of an diagram on the peak reading watt meter and was told it was preparatory so the competition would not copy the design. After reverse engineering, it is nothing more than a charge hold circuit. I'll bet Kenwood/ICOM/Yasue is shivering in their boots knowing the advance technology Palstar is using...

As for the meter lamps I installed a couple of LEDs with current limiting resistors. Much better lighting. No life MTBF issues.

The market is ripe for a new US based antenna tuner manufacture.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up