[Tech-Assist] MRF 151g - troubles

[Alan Kilgore]

You can go to their web site to fill out your own RMA and send it in 
without having to even talk with anyone. They will contact you after 
checking out the unit with a cost estimate.

I think you said earlier that yours has an MRF151 which is old design 
these days. IIRC, there is also a flat fee option available for 
repair if they replace the RF section with a new one. That might 
result in having a more modern MOS-FET and circuit design.

When I replaced MOS-FET and matched Bipolar PAs (BE and Tepco) in 
past years, the repaired unit never seemed as robust as the original. 
I believe other components are usually compromised when some RF power 
devices blow. I didn't have the same problems with single-ended 2-way 
PAs. You can spend a lot of time on other components and more 
MOS-FETs trying to get it up to full speed or you can send it in, pay 
the bill and forget about it.

It is not really a matter of whether you "can" repair it but a factor 
of how much is your time worth and whether you as *well* equipped as 
a shop specialized in that business.

____________________________________
Alan Kilgore, CPBE
WRVM Chief Engineer

At 06:18 PM 6/17/2007, you wrote:
>I have replaced them in FM pallet amplifiers and have had 
>success.  In this case, it's a P-tek 500 watt amp.
>
>But now, I'm failing.  They flashed out about a minute of operating 
>ok.  ($120 each - outch)
>
>Are there some secrets to installing these?  Would someone tell me 
>if I could be damaging them by using a 700 watt tip in the 
>Weller?   I make it a point not to linger the tip after the solder is molten.
>
>Randy
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