[Amps] Another use for Neon Lamps

Jason Buchanan jsb at digistar.com
Tue Jan 3 08:44:42 EST 2006


Will Matney wrote:

>Bill,
>
>We used to use a NE-2 as a tuning indicator. On a KW (about 1800 watts PEP) we took two 10 pF ceramic disc caps and seriesed them (5 pF), then hooked one end to the Load C, and the other to a leg of the neon bulb. The other end of the neon bulb was left unconnected. As the power raised the bulb grew brighter, and brighter yet on modulation. On smaller amps, we used a 10 pf to Load C (300-500 watts). I wouldn't recommend using this though over a good wattmeter to tune by. The same method can be used to sniff parasitics like Rich mentioned by using one leg of the bulb on the probe tip and the other unconnected. If there's any RF when the amp is idle, it will show it quickly. You can mount the bulb on the end of a wood dowell rod, or piece of plastic rod to make the probe up. Just be safe around that plate voltage.
>
>  
>

I should look at the schematic for my Drake 2-NT - it has a neon bulb 
for "tuning" - brighter is better.

-- 
73 Jason N1SU

Jason Buchanan - Boxboro, MA
Website: http://n1su.com/



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