[Amps] Single Band Amplifiers One Power Supply

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2016 19:07:58 +0000
From: Bill Turner <dezrat at outlook.com>
To: Amps group <amps at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [Amps] Single Band Amplifiers One Power Supply
On Wed, 19 Oct 2016 18:47:05 -0500, W7RY wrote:

>How would you go about metering them? 

REPLY:

In modern amps. both the B- and B+ are NOT connected to ground, but
left floating. The grid current meter is connected from B- to ground.
The plate current (actually cathode current) meter is connected in the
B- lead BEFORE the grid current meter    , i.e. on the power supply
side of the B- lead, not the cathode side.

Sounds weird, but it works. Check the schematic of any late model
grounded grid amplifier and that's how they do it. 

If you want to use a single switched meter for all the amps. simply
put a low value resistor on the order of one ohm or so where you would
normally put the meter and them simply measure the voltage drop across
it. That way you can switch the meter from one amp to another without
disturbing current flow. Simple Ohm's law will give you the values. 

73, Bill W6WRT

## The plate meter will only read plate current, and not cathode current.  The grid meter
will only read grid current.  This assumes u wire the meters like have been shown in every arrl
book for years.. for a GG triode.  POS of both plate and grid meter bonded together...then off to the
CT of the fil xfmr.   Neg off plate meter to B-.    Neg of grid meter to chassis.

Jim  VE7RF