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In October 2018, I bought a used Collins 30S-1 HF amplifier off Craigslist! The seller and I carefully loaded the amp into my trailer, where I wrapped and secured it. The trip from the small oceanside community of Tsawwassen, BC to my home required about 30 minutes' highway driving. The Fall day was absolutely perfect!
In October 2018, I bought a used Collins 30S-1 HF amplifier off Craigslist! The seller and I carefully loaded the amp into my trailer, where I wrapped and secured it. The trip from the small oceanside community of Tsawwassen, BC to my home required about 30 minutes' highway driving. The Fall day was absolutely perfect!


=A Bit of History=
=A Bit of History=
My childhood radio-mentor had a Collins S-Line transmitter and receiver; in addition he had the 30L-1 compact desktop-amplifier to go with these. It was all the best gear of the 1970s, but far out of the reach of a 15-year-old paper-delivery-boy's meager earnings. Eventually I *did* manage to save up enough to buy an amplifier, but it was a well-used homebrew amp with 6KD6 TV sweep-tubes. Even then, I wasn't really happy with this amp...
My childhood radio-mentor had a Collins S-Line transmitter and receiver; in addition he had the 30L-1 compact desktop-amplifier to go with these. It was all the best gear of the 1970s, but far out of the reach of a 15-year-old paper-delivery-boy's meager earnings. Eventually I *did* manage to save up enough to buy an amplifier, but it was a well-used homebrew amp with 6KD6 TV sweep-tubes. Even then, I wasn't really happy with this amp...


Thus, my desire for an amplifier took root, and high regard for Collins gear was firmly instilled.
Thus, my desire for an amplifier took root, and high regard for Collins gear was firmly instilled.


Along the path of life, I de-constructed my 6KD6 amp, removing the good parts for re-use, and embarked on constructing a kind of clone of the 30L-1 / Clipperton-L amp with 4x 572B tubes. Unfortunately, this stalled due to life's busy-ness, new priorities, and increasing difficulty of finding builder-parts for radios.
Along the path of life, I de-constructed my 6KD6 amp, removing the good parts for re-use, and embarked on constructing a kind of clone of the 30L-1 / Clipperton-L amp with 4x 572B tubes. Unfortunately, this stalled due to life's busy-ness, new priorities, and increasing difficulty of finding builder-parts for radios.


Now, over 40 years later, I was able to purchase an amp: A legendary Collins 30S-1 - heavier-duty than anything I'd had before, and a true radio legend!
Now, over 40 years later, I was able to purchase an amp: A legendary Collins 30S-1 - heavier-duty than anything I'd had before, and a true radio legend!




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=Preparation=
=Preparation=
While the amplifier was still outside, I fired up my air-compressor and blew a cat's-worth of dust out of everything. I cleaned all the relays and switch-contacts, did a basic check of all the fuses, and carefully struggled to get this 160-pound amp into my ham-room.
While the amplifier was still outside, I fired up my air-compressor and blew a cat's-worth of dust out of everything. I cleaned all the relays and switch-contacts, did a basic check of all the fuses, and carefully struggled to get this 160-pound amp into my ham-room.


I changed the plug on the amplifier's power-cord to match my existing wall-socket (6-20R). I removed the 4CX1000A power-amplifier tube, before applying any power.
I changed the plug on the amplifier's power-cord to match my existing wall-socket (6-20R). I removed the 4CX1000A power-amplifier tube, before applying any power.


=First Power-Up=
=First Power-Up=
First power-up brought a lot of smoke :-( It seems the Bias Transformer T203 was very, very unhappy. I had hoped to turn the amp on, and quickly be using it; now, clearly I was actually going to have to look deep inside. My blissful ignorance slipped away...
First power-up brought a lot of smoke :-( It seems the Bias Transformer T203 was very, very unhappy. I had hoped to turn the amp on, and quickly be using it; now, clearly I was actually going to have to look deep inside. My blissful ignorance slipped away...

Revision as of 17:41, 21 May 2020

In October 2018, I bought a used Collins 30S-1 HF amplifier off Craigslist! The seller and I carefully loaded the amp into my trailer, where I wrapped and secured it. The trip from the small oceanside community of Tsawwassen, BC to my home required about 30 minutes' highway driving. The Fall day was absolutely perfect!

A Bit of History

My childhood radio-mentor had a Collins S-Line transmitter and receiver; in addition he had the 30L-1 compact desktop-amplifier to go with these. It was all the best gear of the 1970s, but far out of the reach of a 15-year-old paper-delivery-boy's meager earnings. Eventually I *did* manage to save up enough to buy an amplifier, but it was a well-used homebrew amp with 6KD6 TV sweep-tubes. Even then, I wasn't really happy with this amp...

Thus, my desire for an amplifier took root, and high regard for Collins gear was firmly instilled.

Along the path of life, I de-constructed my 6KD6 amp, removing the good parts for re-use, and embarked on constructing a kind of clone of the 30L-1 / Clipperton-L amp with 4x 572B tubes. Unfortunately, this stalled due to life's busy-ness, new priorities, and increasing difficulty of finding builder-parts for radios.

Now, over 40 years later, I was able to purchase an amp: A legendary Collins 30S-1 - heavier-duty than anything I'd had before, and a true radio legend!


Here, the amplifier arrives home: 30S-1 wrapped for transporting, as it arrives home

Collins 30s1 arrives in trailer 1.jpg

30S-1 wrapped for transporting, as it arrives home

Collins 30s1 arrives in trailer 2.jpg

30S-1 unwrapped after transport, as it arrives home

Collins 30s1 arrives in trailer 3.jpg


Preparation

While the amplifier was still outside, I fired up my air-compressor and blew a cat's-worth of dust out of everything. I cleaned all the relays and switch-contacts, did a basic check of all the fuses, and carefully struggled to get this 160-pound amp into my ham-room.

I changed the plug on the amplifier's power-cord to match my existing wall-socket (6-20R). I removed the 4CX1000A power-amplifier tube, before applying any power.

First Power-Up

First power-up brought a lot of smoke :-( It seems the Bias Transformer T203 was very, very unhappy. I had hoped to turn the amp on, and quickly be using it; now, clearly I was actually going to have to look deep inside. My blissful ignorance slipped away...