Topband: ICE 196 notes from W8WWV and K3LR

[Tim Duffy K3LR]

When saturated - it does cause broadband diode noise.

 

http://www.iceradioproducts.com/reconly.html

 

And the text says:

 

Circuit uses a multi-stage design of transformer saturation coupling and
current limiters. 

 

The best I can get out of this is that when the transformers saturate, they
no longer transfer

any increase in power. This is true, but they will also start to distort at
the same point.

 

Your step up - step down comment is interesting. The back to back diodes
will start to conduct at

some point like 0.3 volts, assuming germanium. They talk about 0.3 volt
protection, which I assume

comes directly from the diodes.

 

If they did "step up", then that would change the impedance, the
voltage/current ratio,

and step up the voltage between the transformers. This would cause the
effect of the

diodes to be increased, since their voltage drop is constant. But, since
they specify

the voltage protection level at 0.3 volts, and talk about "saturation
coupling", I'm gonna

guess that they are 1:1 transformers.

 

But, if they were step up/step down, then that would be a way to "adjust"
the impact of the

diodes by boosting the voltage (at the expense of the current), so that the
diodes would

start to conduct at a lower input signal level. Speaking loosely, this would
make the diodes

"more sensitive".

 

>>>Saturation of too much power causes dynamic loss???

Yes, that appears to be what they are saying. When you saturate the
transformers,

you stop transferring power, at the expense of distortion.