Based on everthing presented in this thread, then, at HF would a *very*
thin layer of plated gold decrease performance in any significant way?
If not, that might be a long-term method to keep things shiny, anyway.
73,
Jim, N7CXI
Larry Benko wrote:
> Thanks for the plug Dan. I did the tests you mentioned primarily at
> 28MHz a couple years ago. Increasing the wire size 1 gauge is better
> than silver plating assuming you have adequate spacing between the turns
> so that the Q is not impaired by the turns being too close together. I
> still like painting the coil with high temp barbeque paint which had
> absolutely no Q reduction and looks very cool.
>
> 73,
> Larry, W0QE
>
> Dan Zimmerman N3OX wrote:
>>> Has anyone done any tests on the comparative Q between Silver plated,
>>> enamelled and tinned wire coils? I've always felt that factory
>>> enamelled wire stood a much better chance of retaining a good Q for a
>>> long time as the surface of the copper should still be pristine under
>>> the enamel. The other question is how long the enamel will last if used
>>> at high temperatures. Carbonised enamel is probably worse than
>>> tarnished tin!
>>>
>>
>> W0QE found that there wasn't a substantial difference between shiny copper
>> and terribly corroded copper:
>>
>> http://www.bnk.com/w0qe/inductor_Q_tests.html
>>
>> Metallic platings should be analyzed based on the skin depth of the plating
>> at the frequency of operation... if the plating is thin and the conductivity
>> is low, more current will just flow in the base metal.
>>
>> W8JI had this to say about Miniductor stock, which I think is all tinned,
>> right?
>>
>> "Miniductor-type coils have a surprising amount of Q for the wire size, and
>> maintain Q better as self-resonance is approached than larger coils. "
>>
>> I've heard others on this reflector suggest that silver or other fancy
>> plating is good to make the coils look pretty, and I would tend to agree
>> with that based on the evidence I've seen.
>>
>> 73
>> Dan
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>>
>>
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