/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>36510
It depends on what was done during your peak and tune.

If your output is truly 40W PEP, then in which case, your finals have been changed out, likely to a MOSFET type amplifier such as the IRF520. It would be hard to reduce the drive of this final, because underdriving an RF amplifier can produce unwanted harmonics and distortion.

In short, you'd be better off with a radio with a stock final to drive an amplifier.

My $0.02, amplifer > high power radio.

Heat is the #1 killer of electronics. Heat shortens lifespans, and causes component failure. The amplification stages of a radio produce the most heat. Having an external amplifier removes that heat from inside the radio, which has a very small heat sink on it...to a box, which is essentially one big heatsink. Plus, radios are generally put in areas where they cannot dissipate heat easily, such as the radio compartment above your head, or in a glovebox, or center console or something. An amplifier can be placed in the trunk, or another open area where there's plenty of space to dissipate heat.

Plus, if the amp breaks, you can run your radio without an amp. As opposed to having no radio at all.

>>13358
3-500z is a popular tube.

Filament is 5v @ 14.6a.