Bruiser III amp

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Grumppy, Apr 27, 2013.

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  1. Apr 27, 2013 #1
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Anyone ever heard of this? I did a simple search for this & didn't come up with any results here. Its a 50/100 watt 12 v amp. I also did a Google search & didn't come up with anything specific.

    I bought this at an estate sale this morning for $5. They didn't know if it works or not because obviously its an estate sale & the owner has passed away. I figured for $5, I couldnt go wrong. If it works, good. If not, then investing a bit of money on a 100 watt box may not be a bad risk to take. It looks good & its clean.

    Thanks for any input :)
     
    Grumppy, Apr 27, 2013
    Grumppy, Apr 27, 2013
    #1
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  3. Apr 27, 2013 #2
    Turbo-T

    Turbo-T Road Train Member

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    Post a pic of it.

    Sounds to me like it might be from the line of slender long amps called by names such as Hooker and Bimbo.
     
    Turbo-T, Apr 27, 2013
    Turbo-T, Apr 27, 2013
    #2
  4. Apr 27, 2013 #3
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    IMG_1532.jpg IMG_9247.jpg

    Here you go. As you mentioned, yes its long & slender. Its about 8" X 3 1/2" I think its something vintage but I don't know. maybe from the 80"s?

    Anyway, just hoping that someone can tell me how old it is & if they were very dependable or not... etc.

    By the way, I did hook it to a hot & ground & the red lights for the power & pre-amp did come on. Then I just unhooked it. So, it does power up but I didn't have a radio accessible to connect it to. You can see its still got the little sticker on the top for $5.00

    Thanks again guys :)
     
    Grumppy, Apr 27, 2013
    Grumppy, Apr 27, 2013
    #3
  5. Apr 28, 2013 #4
    Turbo-T

    Turbo-T Road Train Member

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    Yep that amp was in the same boat as the Hookers and the Bimbos. It's good for 100 w. and is from the late 70's.
     
    Turbo-T, Apr 28, 2013
    Turbo-T, Apr 28, 2013
    #4
    Grumppy Thanks this.
  7. Mar 14, 2014 #5
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Well after this thing lying around for almost a year, I finally took it to the CB shop & it all works except... yep, you guessed it ... the finals are bad. I'll probably never find replacements for this thing but I'm gonna look around. If not, maybe I can find one on ebay or something that that either works & use this one for parts OR one that is otherwise broke & I can get the finals out of.

    Just thought I would follow up on this old thread :)
     
    Grumppy, Mar 14, 2014
    Grumppy, Mar 14, 2014
    #5
  8. Mar 14, 2014 #6
    BigBearNY

    BigBearNY Light Load Member

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    Careful... Lots of phonies on Ebay for the discontinued RF Transistors. Have you checked parts houses. Thy sometimes by odd lots of discontinued transistors for discontinued models. Watch foreign, especially Asian, dealers that have seemingly large supplies of unavailable finals. Often they are incompatible parts simply stamped to lookm like the originals.

    Also... Check for substitues. Might get a lower rated part. Amp might not put out stated wattage but would be useable.
     
    BigBearNY, Mar 14, 2014
    BigBearNY, Mar 14, 2014
    #6
    Grumppy Thanks this.
  9. Mar 14, 2014 #7
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Thanks bear. I opened up the case after your post & what I have here are two "MRF455A" with "752" just below it. I am no electronics guy by any means. I have no clue what I have here. You have any idea where I need to look to buy these parts at a reputable place to be sure I am getting the right stuff? I'll just have the CB shop install them.

    Thanks for your input so far......
     
    Grumppy, Mar 14, 2014
    Grumppy, Mar 14, 2014
    #7
  10. Mar 14, 2014 #8
    TAfool

    TAfool Medium Load Member

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    Mouser electronics has them. $45 each.
    http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_ProductDetail.aspx?MACOM/MRF455/&qs=3Wmz/rCSAaEN3B9SFyU0Sg==

    I've bought lots of semiconductors there. Its part of the Berkshire Hathaway group.
     
    TAfool, Mar 14, 2014
    TAfool, Mar 14, 2014
    #8
    Grumppy Thanks this.
  11. Mar 14, 2014 #9
    BigBearNY

    BigBearNY Light Load Member

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    TA fool got it right... Mouser is very reputable. MRF 455 were very common back in the day. They are a Motorola product. Rare nowadays. $45 is about right.

    But consider this first... You can probably buy a new amp using a new generation of Transistors (i.e. mosfets) for the same or not much more than the cost of those 455's.

    Advantage of the 455's... They are stronger than they Mosfets. Disadvantage, blow em again and it will cost you.
    Advantage of newer stuff, lower cost and easily available. Disadvantage; less tol;errant of mistakes like high SWR and heat.

    Before you buy the 455's check out the offerings by RM for 10 meter amps, which have broadbanded coverage coverage thjat will work on the CB/11meter band. ALSO BEWARWE Ebay 455's... They have been a popular counterfeit there.
     
    BigBearNY, Mar 14, 2014
    BigBearNY, Mar 14, 2014
    #9
    Grumppy Thanks this.
  12. Mar 15, 2014 #10
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Good advise much appreciated.

    Thanks guys :)
     
    Grumppy, Mar 15, 2014
    Grumppy, Mar 15, 2014
    #10
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