Amps
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [Amps] Switching Supplies for High Current Filaments

To: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom@telus.net>, <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Switching Supplies for High Current Filaments
From: "Jim W7RY" <w7ry@inbox.com>
Reply-to: Jim W7RY <w7ry@inbox.com>
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 22:34:10 -0700
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Nope! A linear type. And yes, the power supply was on. It was a 20 or 35 amp 
supply.

73
Jim W7RY



--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom@telus.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 9:26 PM
To: "Jim W7RY" <w7ry@inbox.com>; <TexasRF@aol.com>; <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Switching Supplies for High Current Filaments

> ##  The typ cold resistance of a light bulb is 10% of the hot resistance.
> On tubes, it's
> even worse, typ 12%.   On the few switcher's we experimented with.. all 
> had
> a built in ramp up
> feature on start up.   IE:  with no load on the switcher's output,  the
> output Vdc  would ramp up
> anyway.  With a load  ALREADY connected [oxide tube only]... the switcher 
> is
> then turned on... and it goes
> through it's ramp up feature.   Between that and the current limiting
> feature... the switcher will
> not cro-bar itself.    But this only worked if the switcher's output 
> current
> rating was aprx double the
> tubes rating.   IE:  tube fil was 3.6A.... a 8A switcher will just 
> work...a
> 5 A switcher would not work.
> --------------------------------------------------
>
>> Agreed! Ever try to hook a headlamp across an Astron power supply? 
>> Pretty
>> tough to do..
>
> ##  was the astron turned on 1st..... then the headlamp connected ?    Or
> did you
> hook the headlamp to the astron 1st.... then  turn on the astron ?  Is the
> astron a
> switcher type ?
>
>> 73
>> Jim W7RY
>>
>> > --------------------------------------------------
>> From: <TexasRF@aol.com>
>>>
>>>>> So, for any regulated and current limited power supply, there needs to
>>>>> be
>>> a
>>> method of starting at low voltage and ramp it up as the tube warms up.
>>>
> If it  was actually a current limited supply, not a current
>>> shutdown
>>> design, all would  be well and the tube could warm up with a constant
>>> rated
>>> current source. A  regulated current design instead of voltage would be
>>> wonderful.
>
> ##  On my little  lab type switcher supply, the current limit can be
> adjusted to any value.
> If set  for normal rated tube current [ + maybe 1%]  it will perform just
> like you wanted.
> You can cro-bar the output all you want, and all it does it put out the 
> max
> current you dialed
> in.   So this type of switcher will work as well.
>
> ## None of these switcher's  will work on a thoriated tungsten  tube like 
> a
> 3-500.  The B-
> return for any thoriated tungsten tube is via the CT  of the conventionl 
> fil
> xfmr sec.
>
> Jim  VE7RF
>
>
>
>
>>>
>>> By the way, that 10% resistance figure applies to light bulbs as well.
>>> The
>>> hot resistance can be estimated by r  equals voltage squared divided by
>>> wattage rating. That is the well known power = e squared divided by
>>> resistance formula turned around backwards. The cold resistance can be
>>> measured  with
>>> a VOM or DVM.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Gerald K5GW
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> In a message dated 10/5/2010 11:01:14 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
>>> jim.thom@telus.net writes:
>>>
>>> Date:  Tue, 5 Oct 2010 07:34:41 -0700
>>> From: Patrick Barthelow  <apolloeme@live.com>
>>> Subject: [Amps] Switching Supplies for High  Current Filaments
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Are there any sensibly priced switching  supplies (even surplus)  that
>>> are
>>> small and light, that could power some  of the QRO tubes
>>> with high current filaments?   Would, say,  a  5v, 30A switcher which
>>> could
>>> power a pair of 3-500Zs, be economically
>>> competitive with a 5V 30A transformer, and even if it is not directly, 
>>> it
>>> might still be worthy of consideration
>>> if it was small enough, and light  enough to significantly lower size 
>>> and
>>> weight in an RF deck?
>>> Would cold  start surge current be a problem for switcher implementation
>>> for  filaments?
>>> Best Regards,
>>> 73, de Pat Barthelow AA6EG   apolloeme@live.com
>>>
>>> ## This was 1st tried on a  GS35B  6m  amp.  The inrush current was so
>>> great that the
>>> switcher thought  it was being cro-barred... and went into shut down 
>>> mode
>>> !
>>>  A  bigger
>>> switcher was used..and that worked,  but the 2nd one was almost  double
>>> the
>>> capacity
>>> of the 1st one.  Also, I believe my buddy had to  use a Dc-dc  isolation
>>> converter in their some where, to
>>> solve  yet another problem.
>>>
>>> ##  In the end, with numerous other  problems, like heating of the air
>>> variable load cap, the RF deck was  scrapped,
>>> and  a new one designed from scratch.  2nd version used  2 x GS35B's...
>>> and
>>> this time, 2 x separate conventional
>>> fil xfmr's used,  one per tube.  The problem with  a pair of 3-500Z's
>>> is.... the B-  return is via the CT  of the conventional
>>> fil xfmr.   We  gave up on the  notion of using switcher's  for fil
>>> supplies  on oxide tubes.  Some have had better success,
>>> so it can be done   with oxide tubes.  Then you have an adjustable,
>>> regulated  supply.   They will not work on a directly
>>> heated thoriated  tungsten tube.   On some of the switcher's... hash and
>>> noise   was across  some of the HF bands...and
>>> a bitch to filter out  completely.
>>>
>>> ##  hammond makes a 5V @ 30A  [with CT]   conventional fil xfmr...for 2 
>>> x
>>> 3-500Z's.  Runs barely luke warm.   It's   priced
>>> way below what a dahl is.... and readily available  in the usa, through
>>> the
>>> usual distributor's.   Comes in 2 x  version's ,
>>> with or without bell end housings, IE: bell housings or open  frame. 
>>> They
>>> measure 5.5 V  no load.. and 5.0 V    with a 30A load.
>>> Last I checked  a few years ago, it was aprx $45.00  .  Their is only 
>>> one
>>> primary, 115 vac.   You can also get it in  5v  @  15A .
>>> They also make a 7.5 vac  @ 21 A.    A friend  in W6 land got his 
>>> YC-156
>>> fil xfmr  from  hammond.    The YC-156 fil xfmr was a
>>> torroidal type.
>>>
>>> later... Jim    VE7RF.
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>>> Version: 9.0.862 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3179 - Release Date: 10/05/10
>>> 11:34:00
>>>
>>
>
>



>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.862 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3181 - Release Date: 10/06/10 
> 11:34:00
> 
_______________________________________________
Amps mailing list
Amps@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps

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