On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 08:20:11 +0100, Toni
wrote:

Thanks Richard. I was already thinking nobody would bother to
answer.

Morbid debates (flaming) have a way of captivating other's attention.

Your point about Q is a good one. I was already thinking on how
to lower the Q for better bandwidth -cage dipole or similar- but
I had not thought it also reduces voltages.

Hi Toni,

You have to be careful about interpreting switch ratings. They are
almost always referenced to a resistive load at DC or low frequency
AC. The 250V specification presumes you are switching a live circuit,
and the specification is more concerned with the arc that will be
developed breaking the circuit. The opening contacts will try to
maintain a current with a plasma until you get to the extinguishing
potential (if ever). This current causes point erosion with metal
migrating from one switch face to the other (a pit in one, a point on
the other). This worsens the problem because of the sharp point
developed with reduced spacing.

The simple solution to this is to change the switch setting when your
transmitter is not keyed. It thus becomes a problem of that same
contact separation distance being sufficiently wide so that an arc
does not develop and jump the gap when you key down.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC