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I
built this 4-module 100w amplifier assembly to be used as a component in a
high-power portable transverter, intending to use it in a rover setup for
contesting. Here's some background info on
the individual amplifier boards and couplers.
Only 500mw drive is needed for 100w out...300mw would be enough if the on-board input pads are left out; maximum output is 120w (saturated).
In this picture, you are seeing only the left two of the four 30w amplifier boards, with the main input hybrid splitter/coupler and output hybrid combiner/coupler mounted to the top plate. These components combine each of the two 60w sides.
In the next technical
article, I put this inside a transverter
cabinet in it's own compartment (construction similar to the 9cm
transverter), complete with a quiet muffin fan moving air through the fin
cluster in the center.
I attempted to make the heat sink as physically small as possible, yet still be capable of dissipating the heat properly.
To do this, I used two smaller pieces of heat sink, each large enough for a 60w amplifier pair to occupy.
I
made up a couple of binding plates using .060 aluminum sheet, and put the two
halves together as show here, before the other components were mounted.
Putting the fins together like this allows air to be directed
easily into the fin cluster, exhausting at the rear of the assembly.
Here's
a look at one end of the fully assembled unit.
I wound up making the mounting plates a bit wider than you saw in the previous photo; this allows the top couplers and the components on the sides to have some clearance and mechanical protection.
The whole thing is still very compact at 4"W x 4.5"H x 8"L