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Re: [Amps] Need Zener for 2KD-3

To: "amps@contesting.com" <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Need Zener for 2KD-3
From: Bryan Swadener via Amps <amps@contesting.com>
Reply-to: Bryan Swadener <bswadener@yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2015 02:54:48 +0000 (UTC)
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Tony W4ZT offered a bias regulator. I used one in my SB-220 for a while, until 
changing to Jim W7RY's QSK board that incorporates electronic bias regulation 
and switching. Since Tony became a silent key in 2009, Ron K4POZ has taken over 
production. I s'pose if you wanted to, you could homebrew your own since the 
circuit diagram and parts list in on the website: http://bias.gs35b.com/
If you need EVERYTHING then, the GM3SEK or WD7S board might be a better choice. 
However, if all you're doing is replacing the Zener, the W4ZT/K4POZ board is 
the best choice.  Hint: you can preset it by treating it like a Zener.  Connect 
it across a PS of at least the voltage you're after. Use a series resistance to 
limit the current to some value less than the anode current you expect, and 
adjust the trimpot 'til you see the voltage you're after across the unit.

vy 73,
Bryan WA7PRC
 
    Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 20:32:04 +0100
From: Eric F1FLY
Subject: Re: [Amps] Need Zener for 2KD-3

Hi
You can use the gm3sek triode board.
It works fine.

73s
Eric F1FLY


From : Manfred Mornhinweg
Date :03/02/2015  20:11  (GMT+01:00) 
Subject : Re: [Amps] Need Zener for 2KD-3 

Al,

I think you mean a different circuit than the one I meant.

> Just FYI, this circuit is called an emitter follower.  Back in the early
> 70's, this was the "regulated" power supply of choice when I worked in a lab
> - a 5 or 12 V Zener diode, depending on the application,  a 2N3055 transistor
> and a suitable resistor.

That sounds like the typical 1960's style three terminal regulator: Unregulated 
input to collector, and to a resistor, the resistor goes to base and the zener, 
the other side of the zener to ground, and output taken from emitter.

What I meant, instead, is a two-terminal direct replacement for a high power 
zener, that has the zener connected between collector and base, and a resistor 
(much lower value than for the 3-terminal regulator) between base and emitter. 
This circuit actually has better regulation than the original high power zener!

And yes, the simple three terminal regulator had rather poor regulation, 
because 
varying input voltage caused strong variations of zener current, and thus 
significant variations of zener voltage, and because at very low or zero load 
the leakage through the transistor (specially with early power transistors!) 
would make the output voltage soar almost to the level of the unregulated input!

I remember many consumer devices having those simple emitter follower 
regulators. For may applications they were good enough - just as a string of 
diodes can be good enough to bias an amp!

Nowadays we have the luxury of IC three terminal regulators, designed in CMOS, 
having extremely low dropout voltage, microamperes of internal current 
consumption, better than 1% voltage accuracy, and better than 0.1% stability! 
Alas, they are available in SMD packages only, so most of us can't manage to 
find glasses thick enough to allow us to see them!

Manfred  
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