Return-Path: Received: from mtain-dc04.r1000.mx.aol.com (mtain-dc04.r1000.mx.aol.com [172.29.64.132]) by air-db03.mail.aol.com (v129.4) with ESMTP id MAILINDB031-85ef4d330fe0a2; Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:33:52 -0500 Received: from post.thorcom.com (post.thorcom.com [195.171.43.25]) by mtain-dc04.r1000.mx.aol.com (Internet Inbound) with ESMTP id 6DD7A38000087; Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:33:51 -0500 (EST) Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 4.14) id 1PeUbD-00076I-Kb for rs_out_1@blacksheep.org; Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:32:59 +0000 Received: from [195.171.43.32] (helo=relay1.thorcom.net) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.14) id 1PeUbD-000769-8f for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:32:59 +0000 Received: from smtp5.freeserve.com ([193.252.22.151] helo=smtp6.freeserve.com) by relay1.thorcom.net with esmtp (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from ) id 1PeUbB-0002oY-Lg for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:32:59 +0000 Received: from me-wanadoo.net (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mwinf3524.me.freeserve.com (SMTP Server) with ESMTP id E3E281C00086 for ; Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:32:51 +0100 (CET) Received: from me-wanadoo.net (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by mwinf3524.me.freeserve.com (SMTP Server) with ESMTP id D30BE1C00087 for ; Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:32:51 +0100 (CET) Received: from home2361108df7 (unknown [91.108.190.84]) by mwinf3524.me.freeserve.com (SMTP Server) with SMTP id 8C6A71C00086 for ; Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:32:51 +0100 (CET) X-ME-UUID: 20110116153251575.8C6A71C00086@mwinf3524.me.freeserve.com Message-ID: <532F7D4648B74CCF825F0D0E596655AF@home2361108df7> From: "Martin Evans" To: References: Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:32:50 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5931 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5994 X-Spam-Score: 3.4 (+++) X-Spam-Report: autolearn=disabled,FORGED_MUA_OUTLOOK=3.36 Subject: LF: Re: Capacitance switch box design - what is the simplest? Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on post.thorcom.com X-Spam-Level: * X-Spam-Status: No, hits=1.6 required=5.0 tests=FORGED_MUA_OUTLOOK autolearn=no version=2.63 X-SA-Exim-Scanned: Yes Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-SA-Exim-Rcpt-To: rs_out_1@blacksheep.org X-SA-Exim-Scanned: No; SAEximRunCond expanded to false x-aol-global-disposition: G x-aol-sid: 3039ac1d40844d330fdf4990 X-AOL-IP: 195.171.43.25 > across the capacitance can be very many times larger than that at 50 ohms. > > So, I need *to build a capacitance selection box with values from around > 0-30nF with sufficient resolution to fine tune a hi-Q loop*. I will need > the > capacitors to be rated sufficiently high voltage to cope with any power > level I am likely to put into the loop antenna (almost certainly never > more > than 20-30W though). > > My questions are these: > > (a) what is the best *choice of capacitors* - type, voltage working, pulse > behaviour, accuracy, price? > (b) what is the *simplest arrangement* to give me the adjustment accuracy > and range I need with the fewest parts and fewest switches? > > Any advice would be appreciated. > > 73s > Roger G3XBM Well, to do 1nF to 30nF in 1nF steps, you need six caps and six switches - 1, 2, 2, 5, 10, 10nf caps all in parallel, with a (toggle?) switch in series with each capacitor. Martin GW3UCJ.