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Re: [Amps] Step-start; improved circuit.

To: <TexasRF@aol.com>, <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Step-start; improved circuit.
From: "Carl" <km1h@jeremy.mv.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 09:35:33 -0500
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
I just use a 20 Ohm 50W resistor on my 2M amp but the relay is a 40A 
contactor <G> It goes "thud" rather quick and not a gradual closing. It 
keeps the 3CX1000A7 (5V/30A filament) contented as well as the 36 uF 
(3x12uF) of 4KV oil filled caps.

Carl
KM1H


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <TexasRF@aol.com>
To: <paul.kelley.n1bug@gmail.com>; <amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 9:07 AM
Subject: Re: [Amps] Step-start; improved circuit.


>
> Also, there is a series of Dayton timer modules in the W.W. Grainger
> catalog. Most are adjustable over a 10 to 1 time range. 120vac on the 
> input  terminal
> delivers about 119 vac to the output terminal when the time has 
> elapsed.
> They are rated for a 1 A load so driving a relay or even a modest 
> sized  filament
> transformer is no problem.
>
> The modules are encased in plastic, about 2 inches square and maybe 1 
> inch
> thick with a single mounting hole in the center.
>
> I have used many of them for step start as well as warm up timers and 
> have
> never had a failure.
>
> Cost is about $20. It doesn't get much easier than this!
>
> 73,
> Gerald K5GW
>
> In a message dated 3/7/2009 6:56:13 A.M. Central Standard Time,
> paul.kelley.n1bug@gmail.com writes:
>
> Mark  K5AM wrote:
>> Some step-start circuit troubles have been reported  recently.
>>
>> The step-start circuit usually seen can sometimes  cause trouble; the
>> problem is that the relay coil is part of the RC  timing circuit. 
>> This
>> means that as the capacitor charges it first  reaches a point where 
>> the
>> relay armature just begins to move slowly,  and then finally the 
>> relay
>> closes. Not a snap-action arrangement. This  slow closing can cause
>> contact burning and eventual failure.
>>
>> To avoid such troubles, I use a step-start circuit with an op  amp
>> timer. After a one second delay, full voltage is instantly  applied
>> to the relay.
>>
>> The circuit is described in a  web article
>> "Overload Protection for High Voltage Power  Supplies"
>> posted for download at www.zianet.com/k5am. The  article
>> also includes ideas for other aspects of high voltage  power
>> supply design.
>
> I have to agree whole heartedly. While  many conventional step start
> circuits have worked flawlessly for years,  even decades, I was never
> completely satisfied with any arrangement that  had the relay voltage
> slowly ramping up. It just didn't seem right to  me.
>
> Eventually I came up with an op amp timer very similar to that in
> Mark's excellent article, and have been using it ever since, in
> several HVPS projects. This also makes it easy to customize the step
> start delay for any given situation. I actually used a 1M trimmer
> where Mark has the 680K resistor, so the delay is  adjustable.
>
> 73,
> Paul  N1BUG
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