Hallicrafters SR-500 Tornado
From the full-page ad on the inside cover of the January 1966 issue of QST.
"hallicrafters has harnessed 500 watts of brute power for only $395."
The Hallicrafters SR-500 Tornado is a ham radio transceiver designed for 500 watts input PEP on SSB and 300 watts
input for CW on 20, 40 and 80 meters. Introduced in 1965 at a price of $395 plus $119.95 for the AC power supply. It
is essentially a beefed-up SR-160 using a matched pair of 8236 power output tubes in place of the 12DQ6B pair in the
SR-160. Accounting for inflation, the 2020 price would be ~$3950.00.
The 8236 is a heavy-duty carbon-plate tube and is not that common. The PS-500AC power supply (on the right) is
specifically designed for the greater power requirements of the SR-500. A matching mobile supply, PS-500DC, was
available at $149.95.
The 12AU6 tube and the 100KHz crystal for the crystal calibrator were extra-cost options (installed in this set).
In comparing the schematics for the SR-500 and the SR-160, only a few differences are noted. R92 is 220K ohm in the
SR-500 and 180K in the SR-160. R96 is 56K in the SR-160 but removed from the SR-500. These resistors are in the grid
bias line, shown as -55 volts on the SR-160 schematic and -85 for the SR-500. The external bias power supply input
requirement for both sets is -100 volts. The 12DQ6B pair operates at 575 volts on the plate and the 8236 pair is
supplied with 800 volts from its external power supply (750 under load). The 8236 requires more filament current
(and more plate current!). Nearly all other requirements and specifications appear to be similar in the two sets. There
is a zener diode switched in between the filaments of V4 and V6 for use when in mobile service. That variation is
shown on the SR-500 schematic but not on the SR-160. It may be of value to the SR-160 also.
Country:
United States of
America (USA)
Year: 1965
Valves / Tubes
Main principle
Wave bands
Details
Power type and voltage
Loudspeaker
Power out
from Radiomuseum.org
Material
Shape
Dimensions (WHD)
Notes
Net weight (2.2 lb = 1
kg)
Price in first year of sale
Source of data
Mentioned in
Manufacturer /
Brand:
Hallicrafters, The; Chicago, IL and Arlington/Grand
Prairie, TX
Category: Amateur TRX: Transmitter/Receiver (and Transceiver)
16: 12AW6 12BE6 12BZ6 6EA8 12AX7A 6AQ5A 12AU6 12AT7 12AT7
6AM8A 12BE6 12BE6 6EA8 12BY7A 8236 8236 0A2
to an article
Superheterodyne (common); ZF/IF 5200 kHz
Wave Bands given in the notes.
Line / Storage batteries (perhaps also batteries) / 117/12 Volt
Permanent Magnet Dynamic (PDyn) Loudspeaker (moving coil)
2 W (unknown quality)
Model: Tornado SR-500 - Hallicrafters, The; Chicago,
Metal case
Table model, low profile (big size).
13 x 6.4 x 11 inch / 330 x 163 x 279 mm
Covers 80, 40 and 20 meter, power input 500 watts P.E.P. SSB and 300 watts
CW, features includes AALC, product detector, crystal lattice filter, crystal
calibrator, RIT, RF output/S-meter, options include the HA-16 VOX Adaptor,
choice of seperate power supplies PS-500AC (price 120 USD) for 117 volt AC
operation and PS-500DC (price 160 USD) for 12 volt DC operation (mobile),
MR-160 (price 40 USD) mobile mounting kit
8.2 kg / 18 lb 1 oz (18.062 lb)
395.00 $
Radios by hallicrafters
The Hallicrafters Story 1933-1975, de Henseler
Model page created by a member from D. See "Data change" for further contributors.