[Amps] HV Switch Mode Power Supplies

David Kirkby david.kirkby at onetel.net
Sat Jun 25 17:42:12 EDT 2005


Will Matney wrote:
> Harry,
> 
> That much of a voltage drop is ok (3.4 kV to 3 kV), but what were mentioning is the chart on their website which shows it having a 1000 Vdc swing from 0 to 1 ampere. From the knee, it's kind of steep at first, then if I remember from 1/2 ampere on or so, the voltage stayed around 2800-2500 Vdc from a 3500 Vdc open voltage. I would think that one might need to fix that graph if it isn't correct.
> 
> 
> Best,
> 
> Will
Actually, if you look carefully, you will see the chart does not start 
at 0.0 A, but at 0.1 A. Reading the "specs" they say to keep the load at 
least 200 mA.

I got a private email from someone saying the designer does know what he 
is doing, and has designed some serious SMPS. But that is cearly built 
to price/weight which the ham market will stand.

I don't know much about SMPS, but I would have thought 90% of the cost 
would be in the transformers and power transistors, and that adding 
feedback would have not cost much or increased the weight much. But I 
may be wrong.


> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Harry Brown" <harryhbrown at earthlink.net>
> To: "David Kirkby" <david.kirkby at onetel.net>, "amps at contesting.com" <amps at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [Amps] HV Switch Mode Power Supplies
> Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 07:34:30 -0400
> 
> 
>>Here's some more info on a "real" application of the Watts 
>>Unlimited power supply.
>>
>>At the VHF Dinner at Dayton this year, K5AND gave a talk on a 6 
>>Meter amp he designed using an 8877 for DXpedition purposes.
>>
>>It uses a switching supply from Watts Unlimited and the total 
>>weight of the amp including power supply is 20 pounds.
>>
>>His amp idles at 175 ma. with the plate voltage at 3.4 Kv. At full 
>>output, 1.5 KW, the palate current is 3 Kv and the plate current is 
>>850 ma. So the voltage swing is not all that terrible when compared 
>>to conventional power supplies. When the amp is not on, the power 
>>supply is keyed off.
>>
>>73, Harry, W3IIT
>>
>>I
>>At 01:16 AM 6/25/2005 +0100, David Kirkby wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Will Matney wrote:
>>>
>>>>David,
>>>>
>>>>You are correct on the regulation. A regular transformer type 
>>>
>>>power supply when designed right will have a regulation 
>>>somewherre around 11-14%. In the case of the switching supply, it 
>>>looks like 30-35%. 1000 kV drop over 1 amp is a good bit of sag.
>>>
>>>>Best,
>>>>
>>>>Will
>>>
>>>I would have thought that cause serious non-linearity problems on SSB.
>>>
>>>
>>>Having gone to a switch mode design, I would have thought they used some
>>>feedback to keep the voltage constant. But it seems not. Given the line
>>>voltage will probably sag too at 2.5kV, you can rekon on over a kV drop
>>>in practice.
>>>
>>>I assume you mean 1kV sag, or 1000V, and not 1000kV !! Reminds me of a
>>>lecturer I know who got fed up with the cleaners moving his equipment
>>>that worked from 12V. So he decided to put a sign on it
>>>
>>>"Danger, 1200000 uV"
>>>
>>>Apparently nobody touched it any more.
>>>
>>>
>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>From: "David Kirkby" <david.kirkby at onetel.net>
>>>>To: "amps at contesting.com" <amps at contesting.com>
>>>>Subject: Re: [Amps] HV Switch Mode Power Supplies
>>>>Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2005 00:39:13 +0100
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Steve Thompson wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Winfried Kriegl wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>http://www.wattsunlimited.com
>>>>>>>have a 2500W SMPS. Works fine.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Looks very nice.
>>>>>
>>>>>But look at the regulation (or lack of).
>>>>>
>>>>>http://wattsunlimited.com/_wsn/page3.html
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>David Kirkby,
>>>>>G8WRB
>>>>>
>>>>>Please check out http://www.g8wrb.org/
>>>>>of if you live in Essex http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>Amps mailing list
>>>>>Amps at contesting.com
>>>>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>David Kirkby,
>>>G8WRB
>>>
>>>Please check out http://www.g8wrb.org/
>>>of if you live in Essex http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk/
>>>
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Amps mailing list
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>>>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps
>>>
>>>
>>>
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> 
> 
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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> 


-- 
David Kirkby,
G8WRB

Please check out http://www.g8wrb.org/
of if you live in Essex http://www.southminster-branch-line.org.uk/




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