Amps
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [Amps] Power transformer for 600 watt rig

To: <garyschafer@comcast.net>, "'Amps @Contesting.com'" <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Power transformer for 600 watt rig
From: "jeremy-ca" <km1h@jeremy.mv.com>
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:12:41 -0400
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Schafer" <garyschafer@comcast.net>
To: "'jeremy-ca'" <km1h@jeremy.mv.com>; "'Amps @Contesting.com'" 
<amps@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 8:21 PM
Subject: RE: [Amps] Power transformer for 600 watt rig


>
> Filtering isn't the problem. Dynamic regulation is a problem with a choke.
> You get severe voltage drops when current is drawn at an audio rate from 
> the
> power supply.

That is in complete disagreement with reality.


A swinging choke is even worse than a regular choke. They
> should never be used in an SSB power supply.


Tell me the difference between a Class B amp and a Class B modulator 
requirements.


> Put a scope on the high voltage output of the supply with a choke (thru
> appropriate divider resistors) and you will see some pretty nasty looking
> voltage drops with modulation.


I have many times over the past 4+  decades. A well designed swinging choke 
input PS has none of those problems. I stress "well designed".


> Only a tuned choke is desirable as it does not have the problems of a
> regular choke.


W8JI thru a lot of monkey wrenches into that myth on here over the years. 
Putting into practice what looks good on paper isnt that easy.

A real problem with a swinging choke is that there are very few people still 
alive that know how to design one. Peter Dahl built one for me in 1983 that 
worked just great with a pair of 4-1000A modulators. Last I heard that 
complete amp, modulator and both PS were still on the air.

>
> Series resistance of the transformer is the second problem for voltage
> regulation in a power supply used for SSB. We want as low a resistance as 
> we
> can get. Most of the older power transformers are not well suited for SSB
> operation because of their rather high series resistance.


Very true but only when someone tries to get the full secondary voltage in a 
bridge and also expects the full wave CT config current using SS and a cap 
input.

If a builder actually understands the manufacturers transformer specs and 
doesnt apply some halfwit ham super optimistic rating to it AND designs 
accordingly it will perform just fine. I burnt up a few learning that a long 
time ago.

Carl
KM1H


>
> 73
> Gary  K4FMX
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On
>> Behalf Of jeremy-ca
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 5:43 PM
>> To: garyschafer@comcast.net; 'Pat Barthelow'; 'Jim Tonne'; 'Amps
>> @Contesting.com'
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Power transformer for 600 watt rig
>>
>> SSB is less critical than a Class AB or B modulator as far as PS
>> requirements which is why a single capacitor is capable of sufficient
>> filtering.
>>
>> For a modulator a choke input is used and it is not a fixed value
>> smoothing
>> choke nor is it a tuned choke at amateur power levels. What is used is a
>> swinging choke that maintains critical inductance at a light load but
>> changes (swings) as the current is increased. These are typically built
>> over
>> a 5:1 ratio; 4-20; 5-25, 6-30 Henries, etc.
>>
>> By maintaining critical inductance the voltage will not soar with a light
>> load.
>>
>> All you ever need to know about designing this style of supply is found 
>> in
>> the old Handbooks from the AM days, especially the Bill Orr series of
>> Handbooks.
>>
>> By using a choke input filter SS rectifiers can be used with the old 
>> style
>> transformers designed for tube rectifiers without cooking them as usually
>> happens with a single fat cap.
>> Instead of a unloaded DC voltage of 1.4X RMS with a bridge and a cap the
>> output will be .9. However the regulation will be far superior to the cap
>> version which may drop well below .9 on peaks.
>>
>> Swinging chokes in the 500-1000 ma CCS range are readily available on the
>> used and surplus market. I recently picked up a 5-25H @ 1A with 7500V
>> insulation for $70. I cant wait to watch the 304TL's glow on voice peaks!
>>
>> Carl
>> KM1H
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Gary Schafer" <garyschafer@comcast.net>
>> To: "'Pat Barthelow'" <aa6eg@hotmail.com>; "'Jim Tonne'"
>> <tonne@comcast.net>; "'Amps @Contesting.com'" <amps@contesting.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 3:14 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Amps] Power transformer for 600 watt rig
>>
>>
>> > Hi Pat,
>> >
>> > The biggest problem with a choke input filter is the transient response
>> of
>> > the choke with SSB. It will allow the voltage to dip quite a bit on 
>> > some
>> > of
>> > the voice peaks as the amplifier demands current. A supply with no 
>> > choke
>> > doesn't have those kind of problems. A tuned choke on the other hand
>> will
>> > act like a capacitor input filter and will not have the transient
>> problems
>> > either.
>> >
>> >
>> > 73
>> > Gary  K4FMX
>> >
>> >> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: amps-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com]
>> On
>> >> Behalf Of Pat Barthelow
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 12:12 PM
>> >> To: garyschafer@comcast.net; 'Jim Tonne'; 'Amps @Contesting.com'
>> >> Subject: Re: [Amps] Power transformer for 600 watt rig
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> This is quite informative...Question, From Gary's comment about
>> Secondary
>> >> Resistance, and choke input power supplies, not sufficient for SSB
>> >> dynamic
>> >> regulation, if one has available an older power supply, that is choke
>> >> input, you need relatively low secondary resistance....Does the choke
>> >> resistance have a lot of influence there also?   What are some typical
>> >> values of HV choke resistances?   If so, then I think what you are
>> >> saying,
>> >> is  some (most?) choke input power supplies will have regulation 
>> >> issues
>> >> with SSB.
>> >> Yes/No?
>> >>
>> >> All the best,
>> >> Pat Barthelow    (916) 315-9271
>> >> aa6eg@hotmail.com
>> >> http://www.jamesburgdish.org
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > From: garyschafer@comcast.net
>> >> > To: tonne@comcast.net; amps@contesting.com
>> >> > Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:08:59 -0400
>> >> > Subject: Re: [Amps] Power transformer for 600 watt rig
>> >> >
>> >> > Hi Jim,
>> >> >
>> >> > No I don't have LTspice.
>> >> >
>> >> > What I was saying about what type of service the power supply is to
>> >> expect
>> >> > to see matters a great deal. A transformer (a good one) that is to 
>> >> > be
>> >> used
>> >> > with a voltage doubler might have a secondary resistance in the
>> >> neighborhood
>> >> > of 15 ohms.
>> >> >
>> >> > A transformer to deliver the same power supply voltage using a choke
>> >> input
>> >> > filter can get by with a transformer secondary resistance of a 
>> >> > couple
>> >> > of
>> >> > hundred ohms.
>> >> > The dynamic regulation of the latter will be fine for an AM or FM 
>> >> > rig
>> >> but
>> >> > not acceptable for SSB.
>> >> >
>> >> > 73
>> >> > Gary  K4FMX
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > > -----Original Message-----
>> >> > > From: amps-bounces@contesting.com
>> >> > > [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com]
>> >> On
>> >> > > Behalf Of Jim Tonne
>> >> > > Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 9:47 PM
>> >> > > To: garyschafer@comcast.net; 'Amps @ Contesting.com'
>> >> > > Subject: Re: [Amps] Power transformer for 600 watt rig
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Gary:
>> >> > >
>> >> > > Do you have LTspice?  I will plug those numbers
>> >> > > into the transformer model to complete the design.
>> >> > > The numbers I quoted are adequate for the problem
>> >> > > as stated.
>> >> > >
>> >> > > - Jim Tonne
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > Amps mailing list
>> >> > Amps@contesting.com
>> >> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Amps mailing list
>> >> Amps@contesting.com
>> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Amps mailing list
>> > Amps@contesting.com
>> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>> >
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Amps mailing list
>> Amps@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>
> 

_______________________________________________
Amps mailing list
Amps@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>