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Reviews For: The Heathkit Shop AC-4R Drake Power Supply Upgrade

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : The Heathkit Shop AC-4R Drake Power Supply Upgrade
Reviews: 14MSRP: 65
Description:
High quality PC board and new parts to upgrade the Drake AC-4 power supply. Provides all new capacitors plus higher rated diodes and resistors. Fits inside of the AC-4 case.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.theheathkitshop.com/page6/page6.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00144.9
HB9OBZ Rating: 2008-01-11
DRAKE AC-4R Power Supply Upgrade Kit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have succesfully built one of the two kits you sent to me and have installed it into one of my HUMMING AC-4's (high serial No. with factory built switch 120-240V) which had one blown off cap and one fried diode. The kit is very simple and straightforward to build. The manual is very exhaustive and clear to follow as the good old Heathkits were !
I also appreciate the high quality of the PCB and components and the honest price of the kit.
After readjusting the BIAS I could operate my TR-4C, with the correct DC voltages 656V, 272V + neg. bias, WITHOUT ANY HUM !!!!!!
Now I will build the second kit and install it in one older AC-4 which powers my T4X-C.
Alex, HB9DTA
WW3QB Rating: 2007-05-28
Even a caveman can do it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The sturdy PCB is very well marked and easy to work on. I'm slow at this. It took me an hour to stuff the PCB and another 3 hours to install in the AC-4. Follow the simple step-by-step instructions carefully and double check your work. Follow the test steps too. It worked on my first try. Don't forget to set the bias.
N7TM Rating: 2007-01-15
Very well designed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently finished upgrading several AC-3 and AC-4 power supplies with the AC-4R board. I was motivated by the fact that the capacitors in these original power supplies averaged 40 years old. A shorted or open capacitor could take out the expensive transformer or open bias take out the 6JB6 tubes. I bought "raw" boards without parts since I already had a lot of the parts in my junk box. The instructions were clear. The AC-4R eliminates a considerable amount of the point-to-point parts in the power supply and consolidates all three supplies (HV, MV, and bias) on a single board. I also bought the L-4B upgrade board from the Heathkit Shop and it works just as well.
K6CTA Rating: 2006-10-14
Great addition to your Drake equipment Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
WB8VGE has created a simple and effective kit to upgrade your aging Drake AC-4 power supply. The high grade PC board and updated (modern) electrolytic capacitors will eliminate the worry of the old caps going south. Plus, higher rated diodes and resistors makes for more stable voltages and better regulation. The board is mounted inside the case on the power transformer through the use of standoffs. Clear instructions make wiring and installing a breeze. Total time for both assembly and adjustment was under 2 hours. Once it's all put together, all you need to do is reset the bias, and you are in business. Highly recommended for anyone using the AC-4.