Note
The SA-2040 was the second of Heath’s antenna tuners but, was the first in a very long time. The AC-1 was Heath’s first tuner—made from 1953 to 1956 and deigned for use with the AT-1. Heath didn’t make another tuner until the SA-2040 in 1979. It is not clear why such an obvious product was overlooked for so many years.
The SA-2040 is a well designed tuner and was very popular. Like most tuners, there isn’t much inside—a couple of large air variables, a roller inductor, and a balun.
Features include continuous tuning from 3.5 to 30 MHz, silver-plated straps and roller contacts, large ceramic feed-throughs, balanced and unbalanced output, and "wide range" output impedance. Other features include a continuously variable roller inductor with a mechanical turns counter, a 4:1 balun, and an erasable front panel area on which you can write notes for quick adjustment on various bands.
The SA-2040 rated for 2000 watts PEP and 1000 watts CW input, and has an input impedance of 50Ω. Rear panel connections include SO-239s for RF in and out and ceramic standoffs for connection to balanced lines or a random wire. Only one antenna can be connected at any given time.
References:
Review. CQ. Jul 1980, p. 52.
Review. QST. Nov 1980, p. 49.
Frequency range: 3.5 to 30 MHz
Power capability:
SSB: 2000 watts PEP
CW: 1000 watts
Input impedance: 50Ω
Impedance transformation: 4:1 (balanced to unbalanced)
Output impedance: "wide range"
Photos, general information and specifications from "Heathkit: A Guide to the Amateur Radio Products," by Chuck Penson, WA7ZZE. Used with permission.
