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Reviews For: Dentron Clipperton L

Category: Amplifiers: RF Power - HF & HF+6M

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Review Summary For : Dentron Clipperton L
Reviews: 30MSRP: ???
Description:
4 572B's HF Amp
Product is not in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00304.7
K9WIT Rating: 2004-10-14
Found One ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Found a late model clipperton with tuned imput and original dentron 572b tubes. That was 5 years ago. I paid $350 for it. That amp is staying right where it belongs. ON MY DESK!!!
IK2FRZ Rating: 2004-10-01
Good Amp for Ham use Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Honest amplifier, constructed in not "hi-professional mode" but however valid!
1200W out RF (DC = 850ma x 2200V) with 220Vac. Considering the 234Vac of project
they mean approximately 200Vdc in than less anodic therefore approximately 100W RF out in less!
73 franco
WA2MGB Rating: 2004-02-27
Excellent 1kW Desktop AMP Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently aquired a beatiful Clipperton L complete with the original "Dentron Brand" 572B tubes (uses (4) 572B tubes) Nice, solid (50lbs), good looking desktop amp. I run it off a dedicated 220v line and see 1100w key down. I've run it in SSB and AM without the tubes even changing color. Easy to tune. I replaced the original fan with a Rotron Whisper fan. The original sounds like a jet engine warming up. The Rotron can not be heard. The original fan is wired at 110v, as I just swapped it out for the 110v Rotron Whisper. Great Bang for the buck. With 4 -572B's what more can you ask for in a nice looking desktop amp, cover 160-15m.
N6AJR Rating: 2003-08-03
a good deal Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned 3 Clipperton L's over the last couple of years and I have enjoyed them immensely. The are a good amp for "near legal limit" use. You can expect 1100 to 1200 watts on the middle bands .

Remember to ALWAYS tune them up in cw mode as it drops the plate voltage to 1800 volts and then switch to the ssb side if you need the power( goes up to 2200 volts) this makes your tubes last much longer.

The biggest problem I had with them is shipping them. Almost every time I either shipped them to some else or got them shipped to me there was damage. ( repairable but none the less damage.)

When shipping remove the tubes and ship seperatly. Next tape or tie the HV leads doen so they don't vibrate around. Pack it in a good box that fits it or pad it in with some styrofoam sheets. Put this in a plastic bag to keep water off, and then in a larger heavy box with popcorn, peanuts (all the foamy type stuff) all around all 6 sides, or use some of the spray in place foam. Tape the outside well, mark fragile all over the place and up next to the shipping label write in big red marker.

"CAUTION HEAVY BOX 75 POUNDS FRAGILE "

It lets the carriers get set to lift. This way maybe it will make it in one piece, but also insure it for full value, just in case....

I relly never had a bad word for the L's they worked as they were designed. I finally ended up with a 500 watt solid state amp for the convienece factor.

Also remember if you run it on 110 volts you will get the plate volts dropping when tx, but run it on 220 and it works much better and the house lites don't dim.

A good product by a good ( if gone ) company. Remember folks. You can build a great product for a good price, but if you don't know how to run a business, you can go belly up real easy. They are two seperate abilities and have nothing to do with each other. Engineers build it , and salesmen sell it..

73 tom N6AJR
N0RPW Rating: 2003-07-28
good amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased my L from a now silent key for 300 bucks 10 meter mod and tuned input installed and 4 strong 572-b tubes. I am able to get abt. 1300 watts out on 40 meters good power for 300 bucks eh. The only draw back is that when I tune up on 10 meters the 4 100 ohm resisters that connect to the top of each tube smokes so the moral of the story is keep those tune ups short and enjoy your L. I rated my amp a 4 because it is big power for small change.
K8DGL Rating: 2003-01-18
Good Amp Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought mine new. Serial # 58. Never any problems other than not having a tuned input. I had to add the outboard Dentron CMU tuned input unit. 1400 watts key down output. Not superior construction but very adequate.
WB4M Rating: 2001-11-05
OK for SSB/CW Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought a "new" Clipperton-L at the Charlotte, NC hamfest back in 1980/81. I will not give the name of the now defunct dealer.
When I got home, and opened the carton, one of the 1st things I noticed was a noise that sounded like something loose inside the amp's cabinet. Taking the cover off revealed several loose screws rolling around. Upon closer examination, it was obvious that this amp had been opened before, because there were scratches and obvious marks on the small screws which hold the top on.
But, it worked ok and my results were not as good as what others have report in their reviews.. I got a 10-to-1 output on all bands - 25 watts in 250 out, etc. Driving it with my old Kenwood at 130 watts got 1300 out, the max I ever saw it do.
It did not like to be driven hard, and the tubes (572-b's, 4 of 'em) would turn cherry-red after a few mins of hard work, especially on RTTY. This amp would be OK for you who only work CW or SSB, but for key-down modes such as RTTY, well, better pass this amp by. Contesters better leave the window open unless you are trying to heat the room and save your gas bill, hi hi.. I have always felt that my amp was used and sold as new, because of the apparent entry marks and slightly soft tubes. It had a 10-meter switch on the front, but it never had the mod installed so never did use it on 10 meters.
KJ6EO Rating: 2001-09-26
A Great HF Amplifier! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
About a year ago a rare find became available on Ebay. It was a Dentron Clipperton-L that was in an unopened box since it was originally purchased. A chance like that wasnt going to come around twice so I forked over $1100.00 for the amp and won the auction. As you can imagine this amp was in "perfect" condition for its age. I put new relays in the amp along with a thorough cleaning of the band switch. I also won an auction for the Dentron "tuned input" unit that is hard to find nowadays. I removed the tuned input board from the box it came in and mounted it inside the Clipperton-L. It was a real pain getting the band switch apart to slip in the additional wafer that switches the relays on the tuned input board. After about a day of work off and on I slipped the virgin 572B bottles into their sockets and fired up the amp. To my surprise I got a whopping 1500 watts on 40 meters into my dummy load. The output was less on the other bands with about a kilowatt on 160. I also had to replace the cooling fan as the bearings were gummed up in it. All in All...what an amp. You might not ever be able to get one in such pristine condition as mine, but if you can get one you wont be dissapointed. Small footprint...big punch. I would recommend this amp to anyone!
W0DC Rating: 2001-07-14
Solid Performer! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've found the Clipperton to be a solid performer on 160 through 10 meters at an economical price. I'd recommend taking the top cover off and inspecting the physical condition of the bandswitch, transformer and filter circuit board before purchasing. Also check it out electrically on all bands. With solid-state rigs, you may need to use their internal tuner on some bands. For contest use, a muffin fan pulling air out of the cabinet helps keep the temperature reasonable. "Fixer uppers" with weak tubes seem go for around $300 and mint units with good tubes around $550.
W4WTE Rating: 2001-05-13
A great little 1KW+ Amp Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ran across this beauty while getting back on the air after a 5 year layoff. Not only did I save a bundle over a new amp, I got a great addition to the shack. It runs 1200+ easily on 40M with 100W drive(only antenna at present)and tunes very easily. I bought it from the original owner who puchased it new around 20 years ago. He had just replaced the finals although the original ones still have good output according to him. Considering the fact he earned number 1 DXCC with it I would say it holds it's on in the pileups. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good ALMOST legal limit amp. I paid 500 USD for the amp and the spare used tubes. The only downside is there is no RF output meter so be sure and have a wattmeter handy.