Project - VL-1000 Quadra System

For about a year, I've been using an Ameritron AL-811H tube amplifier.  When I was first thinking about an amplifier, I had identified that as the one I'd like to have.  I was lucky enough to find one locally from a very well respected ham, Terry Jones - W4TL.  I found that I enjoyed the power of the amplifier even though I was running it on 110v.  But, I was presented with a few frustrations:

1. Changing bands on the radio, then the amp band selector switch, then tuning the amp for said band was not much fun.
2. One radio input and one antenna output meant that I had to run a coax switch to switch between antennas.
3. I was probably pushing the amp too hard for 110v and occasionally after a long QSO would find my shack had an odor similar to hot solder and the amp needed a lengthy cool down period.

My radio club came into possession of a Yaesu VL-1000 Quadra System.  We took it to a ham fest and couldn't sell it.  We marketed it locally and couldn't sell it.  Since it was an amp I had idolized for a while, I made an offer to the club and they accepted!  The problems/challenges are as follows:

1. It's age and condition are unknown
2. It's currently wired for 220v with a 30amp 4 prong twist lock plug
3. It's missing the "band data" cable
4. I don't have 220v in my shack

The Quadra System is a solid-state auto tune amp.  It has 2 radio inputs, 4 antenna outputs, a built-in tuner, and is capable of changing bands (and selecting the correct antenna) as well as being turned on and off via the "band data" interface.

This should be fun...

UPDATE 3/9/2019

-I found the manuals online for the VL-1000 and VP-1000 Power Supply.

-In the manual, I discovered the power supply will run on 110v or 220v just by changing the plug and plugging it in.

-I changed the plug to a regular 15amp 3 prong 110v and connected to an outlet.

-booted the amp to find error on screen...I'll need to investigate further.

UPDATE 3/10/2019

-Found the error was due to the position of a remote switch on the amplifier.  If it's not connected to a Yaesu Transceiver with a band data cable, the remote switch must be in the off position.

-Purchased the band data cable for the FTDX1200>VL1000 from HRO Atlanta.

-Found that the 10m/12m modification has not yet been done.

UPDATE 3/11/2019

-Waiting for band data cable, but connected transceiver, antennas, PTT, and ALC connectors.  Tested the amp to find that it does work but with strange results:

• On 110v the amp should have a 500watt PEP (I'm assuming on HIGH), but even on LOW shows 600+ with CW tone
• Possibly some ALC calibration issues or not using the band data cable is causing the power output from the FTDX1200 to drop to < 20watts when in OPERATE.  Rig is set to 50watts and shows such when the amp is in standby.

-Sent RFQs to a few companies for getting 220v in the shack.  For the amp to be happy and to make the 1000watts PEP this is a MUST!

UPDATE 4/1/2019

-Got the band data cable connected and find that the Yaesu transceiver is now able to turn the amplifier on and off and change bands as well as proper ALC action.
-The amp is still showing higher power output than expected, however it's about the same output I saw from the Ameritron AL-811H and it was also on 110v.
-Still no 220v in the shack.  That will have to come later.  Everything else appears to be FB for now.  The rig controlling the amp is really great.  The amp even remembers which antenna I used last on each band and switches antennas positions as I change bands from the rig.