R: Re: LF: LF daylight test close to the north hemisphere solstice

["marcocadeddu@tin.it" <marcocadeddu@tin.it>]

Hi Stefan, Luis 
Luis pointed out changes in impedance from 30 to 100 ohms not 1000 ;-)
Leaving this misreading away, you are right Stefan: it should be nice to know what happen to both reactive and resistive component of the impedance.
I assume that Luis has still working a variometer thus he can manage change of reactance with it and change of resistance with an insulating and matching transformer

Marco, IK1HSS

----Messaggio originale----
Da: selberdenken@posteo.de
Data: 29-giu-2019 10.21
A: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
Ogg: Re: LF: LF daylight test close to the north hemisphere solstice

Hi Luis,

Am 28.06.2019 22:04, schrieb VIGILANT Luis Fernández:
> My problem is that the antenna impedance varies a lot with humidity. This days we have a hot and
> dry weather about 30% moisture. VNA shows an impedance value of just 30Ohms at resonance
> Previous week having sea moisture with 80% values, which are normal here over summer, the
> impedance rised to 100Ohm at resonance. Of course, PA works in a completely different way in both
> cases.
What happens with the reactive part of the impedance? Does it stay 
constant or do you have to retune all the time? Then, the relays and 
tapped transformer wouldn't help you.
> The best antenna impedance is about 70 Ohm, were I can get 3.2A RF current with 15A@33V PA current
> Higer impedance causes PA current to rise and RF current drops. Mosfets also get much hotter
> Low antena impedance produces high RF currents but low PA current and so, less power
> and higer voltages in the LPF which causes arcs. (LPF is also pending resize. Is the only part still
> remaining from the old Ropex PA)
>    
Hmmmm, hard to belive that it is just the humidity that leads to a 
variation from 70 to 1000 Ohm. Maybe it is a bad ground contact at some 
point?

You could do a test: Tune to resonance when the system is at 70 Ohm. 
Then run low power, maybe 5W. Run a carrier transmission for some days. 
Observe the signal level at your remote site in 7 km distance. Use 
SpecLabs plotter and plot the signal level over time. Watch the 
variations. When the system changes slowly to 1000 Ohm, the antenna 
current will drop and so the signal will be lower. If this happens 
slowly, when it starts to rain, then it is ok. But maybe you will find a 
sudden jump of the current, then it could be a bad contact somewhere. 
You know what i mean?

> So, I need a matching transformer, but must be variable and remotely selectable. May be selecting
> taps with a set of relays or any other mechanical selector. What do you propose for that ?
>    
It is all possible but you will need time again! ;-)
> How many turns ? I have a pair of the big blue cores you recommended
>    
Which ones? The very big ones? I used 18 turns primary for 50 Ohm. 
Calculate the voltage at 50 Ohm and your power level. Then apply this 
voltage to the core and the primary winding only, without a load. The 
core should stay cool! Or, if you don't have a voltage source, build a 
1:1 (18:18) transformer and apply full power through it and connect a 
dummy load. The transformer should stay cool.
If you want to transform from 50 to 1000 Ohm (which is not a good 
solution somehow) then the secondary winding needs 18*sqrt(1000/50) = 80 
turns.

I would focus on finding the reason for the heavy changes. I would doubt 
that it is just humidity, although i would certainly expect that 
humidity has a significant influence in your configuration.

Relays: I personally would select such one: 
https://www.reichelt.de/steck-printrelais-1-co-16-a-12-v-dc-sensitiv-fin-40-61-7-12v-p259198.html?&trstct=pos_12

73, Stefan
> 73 de Luis
> EA5DOM
>
>
> ________________________________________
> De: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org [owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org] en nombre de DK7FC [selberdenken@posteo.de]
> Enviado: miércoles, 5 de junio de 2019 8:16
> Para: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
> Asunto: Re: LF: LF daylight test close to the north hemisphere solstice
>
> Hi Luis,
>
> No, i just mean a second transformer between PA and the other
> transformer, into the coax line. A simple 1:1 ferrite transformer.
> Your ground conductors into and arround the building are a part of the
> antenna, obviously causing a high voltage between that ground and your
> shack ground. All you can do is reducing the coupling impedance
> (capacitive) and the electrical field strength. A well dimensioned 1:1
> transformer will provide a good decoupling and low losses. The improved
> decoupling may change the resonance a bit (because your shack earth is
> less a part of the system taking RF currents), so a retuning is
> required. Hopefully your shack earth is not the dominant part of the
> antenna ground :-) The less it is a part of the ground system, the less
> is the detuning of the antenna when inserting the second transformer.
>
> 73, Stefan
>
>
>