[Amps] Input relay for QSK amp

Jim jimw7ry at gmail.com
Sat Dec 8 23:49:09 EST 2018


Its actually very simple Jim.

Don't send RF until the amplifier is ready. Not doing so, makes the 
relays hot switch. It matters not which one is energized before RF is 
sent. As long as they both are before RF is sent from the exciter. Same 
on dekey. RF MUST stop flowing from the exciter BEFORE the relays 
(either one of them) DE-energize.


Thanks
73
Jim W7RY

On 12/8/2018 11:37 AM, MU 4CX250B wrote:
> Bob,
> Years ago, I bought a lifetime supply of RJ1As for my own projects,
> and have tested roughly two dozen on my homebrew relay tester. The
> RJ1As typically close in about 2msec, with the fastest closing I
> measured at 1.2msec. Their opening time is typically about 500uSecs.
> None of them show any contact bounce. Other vacuum relays, e.g., RF1D,
> RJ1. GC1, etc., are more like you remember.
>
> Here's a link to a 2015 QSK article I wrote for QST,
> that goes into detail on amp relay timing issues, including the
> crucial need to avoid hot-switching. Doing so is more complicated than
> merely choosing a slow input relay, or slowing down the input relay
> transistor driver with an RC circuit. Many purported "QSK" designs
> ignore these other considerations.
> 73,
> Jim w8zr
>
>   from my iPhone
>
>> On Dec 7, 2018, at 8:16 PM, Bob Maser <bob.maser at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I must be old school.  The input relays need to be slower than the output
>> relay.
>> Seems to me that a RJ-1 takes 8ms to close and stop bouncing around. I have
>> always
>> used a P&B miniature open frame DPDT for that purpose.  The output of the
>> amp needs
>> to be closed before the input turns on.
>> Bob
>>
>>> On Fri, Dec 7, 2018 at 9:39 PM Jim <jimw7ry at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Those relays that Rich (and I ) used are mostly unavailable. I used to
>>> buy them 100s at a time. No more of them can be had.
>>>
>>> Most of what you find on eBay are seconds and most don't work. Or they
>>> are re-labeled counterfeits.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> 73
>>> Jim W7RY
>>>
>>>> On 12/4/2018 4:03 PM, Alek Petkovic wrote:
>>>> G'day Vic.
>>>>
>>>> The Matsushita/Panasonic relay that Rich Measures used in his QSK
>>>> circuit, published at somis.org, is still available on Ebay. I bought
>>>> 10 of them a couple of years ago
>>>>
>>>> Otherwise, Jim, W7RY, uses a small relay in his QSK kit. He laso deals
>>>> on Ebay.
>>>>
>>>> 73, Alek.
>>>> VK6APK
>>>>
>>>>> On 4/12/2018 6:21 PM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
>>>>> I'm trying to choose a relay to use as the input relay in a QSK amp.
>>>>> I have been very satisfied with the Jennings RJ1-A as an output
>>>>> relay. The input relay in this circuit needs to be DPDT, or I'd just
>>>>> use two similar vacuum relays.
>>>>>
>>>>> Here are my needs:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1. DPDT.
>>>>> 2. 12 or 24v coil.
>>>>> 3. Operate/release time, including bounce <= 4 ms. Faster is better.
>>>>> 4. Should carry 100w RF in 50 ohm system. Not expected to make/break
>>>>> live circuit.
>>>>> 5. Must have low resistance for low-level signals (receive path).
>>>>> 6. Must have long life >= (10 x 10**6 operations)
>>>>> 7. Must not be insanely expensive, and available from Mouser or RS.
>>>>>
>>>>> I found this relay:
>>>>> <https://www.mouser.co.il/datasheet/2/418/NG_SS_108-98005_L-1019204.pdf
>>>>> But maybe there's a better choice? I'm overwhelmed by the number and
>>>>> varieties of relays in the catalog.
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