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Posted: 11/29/2014 1:25:07 PM EST
I was using an SGC-230 and a S9v31 for an antenna.

A few nights ago I was running JT-65 and the fuse for SG-230 blew
I replaced it and it blew again, at that point I planned to fix it later.

A couple of nights ago my wife was coming in from the store and said
she smelled plastic burning outside and I did not give it any thought.
(figuring it was probably a neighbor doing something)

Today I look out and my antenna is not there, I step out back and it has fallen over.
when I go outside I see that the tuner burned up, the large flowerpot I had covering
it burned up and the base of the antenna (fiberglass whip) also burned up.

When I say burned up I mean  totally gone, just a pile of charred ash and plastic

So it looks like I'll be replacing t with a Hustler 6BTV After all.





Link Posted: 11/29/2014 1:31:53 PM EST
[#1]
Sorry for the loss of your antenna, Mr. Harry.  Never heard of a vertical burning down!
Link Posted: 11/29/2014 1:33:20 PM EST
[#2]
Wow, sorry to hear that!

Remind me not to put one of those tuners in my attic.
Link Posted: 11/29/2014 1:37:08 PM EST
[#3]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Sorry for the loss of your antenna, Mr. Harry.  Never heard of a vertical burning down!
View Quote



Ya gotta admit it's pretty funny
In all my years as a ham I've never seen that before.

For now it's more of an inconvenience than anything else,
I was thinking about replacing it so I could run higher power.
Link Posted: 11/29/2014 1:37:48 PM EST
[#4]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Wow, sorry to hear that!

Remind me not to put one of those tuners in my attic.
View Quote



Yes my wife said she was glad it was not on the roof.



Link Posted: 11/29/2014 4:12:05 PM EST
[#5]
Wow sorry to hear that, and that's crazy btw.

Wonder if that has happened to anyone else.  Freak occurrence or coming disaster for many hams?

I'm glad I didnt get one now, I was about get the same model, but picked up an amp so I got the AT1000pro2 in the shack instead.
Link Posted: 11/29/2014 4:44:04 PM EST
[#6]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Wow sorry to hear that, and that's crazy btw.

Wonder if that has happened to anyone else.  Freak occurrence or coming disaster for many hams?

I'm glad I didnt get one now, I was about get the same model, but picked up an amp so I got the AT1000pro2 in the shack instead.
View Quote



I think it's a freak occurrence.

It's more of an inconvenience than anything else.
I've been thinking about replacing it, the timing is just a little bad.

Link Posted: 11/29/2014 5:01:31 PM EST
[#7]
Wow!  So no DC power because the fuse was blown, and no TX power.  That means it was spontaneous combustion or enemy action!  
Link Posted: 11/29/2014 5:02:39 PM EST
[#8]


CQ CQ CQ ... Hello? Is this thing on?  
Link Posted: 11/29/2014 5:27:18 PM EST
[#9]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Wow!  So no DC power because the fuse was blown, and no TX power.  That means it was spontaneous combustion or enemy action!  
View Quote



It probably lit on fire as I was transmitting and then blew the fuse

Link Posted: 11/29/2014 5:27:43 PM EST
[#10]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
http://i.imgur.com/CFLkZ0q.gif

CQ CQ CQ ... Hello? Is this thing on?  
View Quote



Pretty much

Link Posted: 11/29/2014 5:38:16 PM EST
[#11]
Just kidding about the camp fire pic!  

Were you running a lot of power at the time?
Link Posted: 11/29/2014 5:51:15 PM EST
[#12]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Just kidding about the camp fire pic!  

Were you running a lot of power at the time?
View Quote



No problem, it's a bit comical that it burned like that.


If I recall I turned it up to 100 watts on 160 so not huge power (and within the ratings)
I think it was a freak thing, but now I can get the 6BTV and someday an amp.

At least I'm still on 6 meters and up


Link Posted: 11/29/2014 6:15:33 PM EST
[#13]
Wow, that sucks! Sorry for the antenna loss Mr_Harry. I got a feeling that won't keep you down long.
Link Posted: 11/29/2014 10:49:57 PM EST
[#14]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



No problem, it's a bit comical that it burned like that.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just kidding about the camp fire pic!  

Were you running a lot of power at the time?



No problem, it's a bit comical that it burned like that.
Comical? Damn, dude, those SG230's don't grow on trees! That was a chunk of change burned up
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 11:53:53 AM EST
[#15]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Comical? Damn, dude, those SG230's don't grow on trees! That was a chunk of change burned up
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Just kidding about the camp fire pic!  

Were you running a lot of power at the time?



No problem, it's a bit comical that it burned like that.
Comical? Damn, dude, those SG230's don't grow on trees! That was a chunk of change burned up



Yes they are pricey, but it could have bean far worse.

Comical because it burned away to nothing.


Link Posted: 11/30/2014 12:01:39 PM EST
[#16]
You need a man's tuner.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 12:06:43 PM EST
[#17]
My guess it that the due to the extreme mismatch at 160m caused the wire insulation to breakdown and cause the antenna to catch fire.

I remember reading a QST article where another ham had a similar experience and burned up his antenna and tuner.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 12:30:34 PM EST
[#18]
Holy crap !!!

You don't hear that every day.

That being said, loading a 31 foot vertical on 160 gives you some high voltage on the tuner.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 12:34:26 PM EST
[#19]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
You need a man's tuner.
View Quote



The tuner this guy had at Dayton puts that to shame. However at this point it's vaporware.

I am NOT talking about the AT Auto. He is supposed to be coming out with a new one and he had a prototype at Dayton.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 12:34:49 PM EST
[#20]
double tap
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 2:06:59 PM EST
[#21]
I've actually hear a few stories of those tuners shorting and going up in smoke…proof that you're only cheating yourself with a tuner, especially after you have to replace it.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 2:29:13 PM EST
[#22]
Well on the bright side it looks like I'll just have to buy an amp
Since I have to replace the antenna anyhow
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 2:43:32 PM EST
[#23]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
I've actually hear a few stories of those tuners shorting and going up in smoke…proof that you're only cheating yourself with a tuner, especially after you have to replace it.
View Quote


Cheating yourself.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 3:12:51 PM EST
[#24]
My tuner smoked, but not nearly in this dramatic a fashion. In fact, despite a strong smoke odor, I couldn't find anything visible inside. I suspect one of the relays arc'ed over internally.

In fact I now suspect the original tuner was defective out of the box. The new (repaired) one seems to tune much quicker, and will give me a green light on every ham band above 40m.

Link Posted: 11/30/2014 3:42:43 PM EST
[#25]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



The tuner this guy had at Dayton puts that to shame. However at this point it's vaporware.

I am NOT talking about the AT Auto. He is supposed to be coming out with a new one and he had a prototype at Dayton.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
You need a man's tuner.



The tuner this guy had at Dayton puts that to shame. However at this point it's vaporware.

I am NOT talking about the AT Auto. He is supposed to be coming out with a new one and he had a prototype at Dayton.


I believe that was made by Palstar for a while.  Palstar has this new one now.  I did own one of the HF Autos for a month, it was a piece of shit.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 4:34:22 PM EST
[#26]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


I believe that was made by Palstar for a while.  Palstar has this new one now.  I did own one of the HF Autos for a month, it was a piece of shit.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
You need a man's tuner.



The tuner this guy had at Dayton puts that to shame. However at this point it's vaporware.

I am NOT talking about the AT Auto. He is supposed to be coming out with a new one and he had a prototype at Dayton.


I believe that was made by Palstar for a while.  Palstar has this new one now.  I did own one of the HF Autos for a month, it was a piece of shit.



Again, I am NOT talking about the AT Auto, I am talking about a totally new tuner this guy is supposed to be coming out with.

FWIW: I own a Palstar AT-Auto as well as a Palstar HF-Auto and they are FAR from a piece of shit. Either one is easily one of the top two or three antenna tuners ever made. The website I posted the link to is the guy that originally designed and built the AT-Auto. He had a falling out with Palstar and went off on his own. Palstar later came out with the HF-Auto which is a totally different tuner than the AT-Auto. This guy had a tuner at Dayton that was MASSIVE and used vacume variable caps etc. It was designed to be remote mounted. I am on his Yahoo Group and have been for years. He has been talking about this tuner for a few years now and other than the one at Dayton, I question whether any others actually exist. But he keeps saying he is going to start producing them.

Another FWIW: this guy has a PHD and was an A-10 pilot.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 4:36:10 PM EST
[#27]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:



Again, I am NOT talking about the AT Auto, I am talking about a totally new tuner this guy is supposed to be coming out with.

FWIW: I own a Palstar AT-Auto as well as a Palstar HF-Auto and they are FAR from a piece of shit. Either one is easily one of the top two or three antenna tuners ever made. The website I posted the link to is the guy that originally designed and built the AT-Auto. He had a falling out with Palstar and went off on his own. Palstar later came out with the HF-Auto which is a different tuner than the AT-Auto. This guy had a tuner at Dayton that was MASSIVE and used vacume variable caps etc. It was designed to be remote mounted.

Another FWIW: this guy has a PHD and was an A-10 pilot.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
You need a man's tuner.



The tuner this guy had at Dayton puts that to shame. However at this point it's vaporware.

I am NOT talking about the AT Auto. He is supposed to be coming out with a new one and he had a prototype at Dayton.


I believe that was made by Palstar for a while.  Palstar has this new one now.  I did own one of the HF Autos for a month, it was a piece of shit.



Again, I am NOT talking about the AT Auto, I am talking about a totally new tuner this guy is supposed to be coming out with.

FWIW: I own a Palstar AT-Auto as well as a Palstar HF-Auto and they are FAR from a piece of shit. Either one is easily one of the top two or three antenna tuners ever made. The website I posted the link to is the guy that originally designed and built the AT-Auto. He had a falling out with Palstar and went off on his own. Palstar later came out with the HF-Auto which is a different tuner than the AT-Auto. This guy had a tuner at Dayton that was MASSIVE and used vacume variable caps etc. It was designed to be remote mounted.

Another FWIW: this guy has a PHD and was an A-10 pilot.


Can't wait to see what he has come out with.  Do you have any problems with common mode currents and stray RFI getting in to your HF-Auto?

Link Posted: 11/30/2014 4:39:00 PM EST
[#28]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


Can't wait to see what he has come out with.  Do you have any problems with common mode currents and stray RFI getting in to your HF-Auto?

View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
You need a man's tuner.



The tuner this guy had at Dayton puts that to shame. However at this point it's vaporware.

I am NOT talking about the AT Auto. He is supposed to be coming out with a new one and he had a prototype at Dayton.


I believe that was made by Palstar for a while.  Palstar has this new one now.  I did own one of the HF Autos for a month, it was a piece of shit.



Again, I am NOT talking about the AT Auto, I am talking about a totally new tuner this guy is supposed to be coming out with.

FWIW: I own a Palstar AT-Auto as well as a Palstar HF-Auto and they are FAR from a piece of shit. Either one is easily one of the top two or three antenna tuners ever made. The website I posted the link to is the guy that originally designed and built the AT-Auto. He had a falling out with Palstar and went off on his own. Palstar later came out with the HF-Auto which is a different tuner than the AT-Auto. This guy had a tuner at Dayton that was MASSIVE and used vacume variable caps etc. It was designed to be remote mounted.

Another FWIW: this guy has a PHD and was an A-10 pilot.


Can't wait to see what he has come out with.  Do you have any problems with common mode currents and stray RFI getting in to your HF-Auto?



No, but I do have things about it that I don't like. Stuff that the earlier AT-Auto had.
I actually run my HF-Auto in bypass most of the time unless I am running an amplifier; which is rarely. I normally have the tuner in bypass and use the rig's built in tuner. All of my rigs have built in tuners and it is just easier to use that one.
If you want an auto-tuner, there are very few that will handle legal limit power. That is the main reason I even have one.

At the ARRL Centennial convention, I bought a new amplifier: a Expert Amps 2k amp. It has a built in tuner, so I may not even use my Palstar tuners in the future. But, I haven't even taken the new amp out of the box and I have had it for months. Again, I am not big on running an amp, in fact I am pretty big on QRP;  But, there are times when an amp is nice. When I run SSB I often use an amp. But I don't operate a lot of SSB
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 4:41:49 PM EST
[#29]
I keep holding out for a palstar 2k.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 4:42:41 PM EST
[#30]
Quote tree break....

My HF-Auto would turn on and off with each dit and dah on 20m above 1kW.  It went back to see Paul at Palstar twice, he could never figure it out.  He said that it had to be RFI getting in to the tuner.  Mind you, I have an extensive ground system and a 1:1 choke balun at the feedline's entrance in to the shack.  It also didn't like 30m much, it could never find a good place to tune to.
Link Posted: 11/30/2014 5:14:35 PM EST
[#31]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quote tree break....

My HF-Auto would turn on and off with each dit and dah on 20m above 1kW.  It went back to see Paul at Palstar twice, he could never figure it out.  He said that it had to be RFI getting in to the tuner.  Mind you, I have an extensive ground system and a 1:1 choke balun at the feedline's entrance in to the shack.  It also didn't like 30m much, it could never find a good place to tune to.
View Quote



Well that's your problem.........I don't have any ground
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