Footwarmer 2 tube Transformerless 10-12 meter low drive tetrode linear amplifier

Описание: Latest toy. Actually, had this a while but I'm behind and just digging it out the pile. It is an actual Footwarmer, 2 tube linear amplifier. It uses 2 30KD6 tubes. I had one a while ago that had no name on it and used 3 tubes. However, since I don't consider these transformerless amplifiers 100% safe, I had gotten rid of it. I did get this one off Ebay though. It barely survived the bad packing job, but for the most part, it made it. Bad packing is just another reason I am pulling away from this. Some people can't pack. Some people have no patience. Some operators don't know what they are doing. Actually, let me correct that. Most don't! Sorry about the rant, but I'm not in the best place right now. Also, many of the people I deal with are the good guys and are on my good guy list, so I'm not talking about you, just the bad apples.
OK, back to the toy. With any sweep tube amp, a sweep tube will put out around 100 watts per output tube. The driver tubes are not part of that equation. Since this is a Tetrode (Turbo charged) amp, it don't need no stinkn driver tube. The 3 tube version I had (all outputs) did about 300 watts out and if and when I get this going, I expect about 200 out of it. As with most Tetrode/Turbo amps, I expect it will do a lot of swinging too with 4 watt or less radio drive.
I started with the HV power supply. It again, takes the voltage right off the mains and runs the ac directly into a voltage quintupler circuit. It also runs the low voltage and filament directly off the mains too. The 2 30kd6 tubes are in series with a dropping resistor and then the Low Voltage power supply for the keying circuit and preamp are all in series off the mains. Any open in that line will shut it all down, and any short will let the magic smoke out and probably smoke your radio up some too.
As I said before about these transformerless amps, they will do the watts, but watch out. Back in the 70's during the CB boom, the nickname for these types of amps was 'The Widowmaker'. Over the 50 years I been doing this, I know of 2 high powered CB'ers who were messing around with this transformerless type design in much bigger amps and something went wrong and they did not make it. Side note, the #1 reason for Hams going silent key is messing with 2 piece amps and something goes wrong. Amps like the Drake L4B, which in spite of it being a 2 piece, is probably my favorite 3-500z amp and I always try to keep safety in mind first. I Like Me!
If you mess with this type of amp, or any other HV amp where there is lethal voltages, be careful, 1 hand rule, and put the gloves on.