On Sat, 12 Jun 2010 06:13:15 -0700 (PDT), Richard Fry
wrote:

It has been theorized that a circuit consisting of a Class C vacuum-
tube r-f amplifier using a tuned tank circuit in its output network
provides an operational “non-dissipative source resistance” of 50 ohms
for energy present at the output connector of the transmitter.

However the information and measured data provided in the text
excerpts below is not very supportive of that theory.

Hi Richard,

Deja Vu all over again. I suppose you posted this to inspire me to,
once again, remind you from Mendenhall's own notes about Class C
amplifier construction - and so I will:

"It was thus necessary to determine the plate load impedance
= (Eb - Emin) / I1
~= Eb/ Idc
~= 1000 Ohms
[Not very far from Walt's determination of 1400 Ohms from his own
bench.]
"Since this was to be coupled into a Z output of 50 Ohms, a impedance
transformation of 20:1 was needed. This was accomplished by using a
voltage divider of two series capacitors to series tune the plate
circuit."

The tube is an EIMAC 4CX300A running no where near capacity.

All details (and more) written in Mendenhall's own hand.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On Jun 12, 7:30*pm, Richard Clark wrote:

Deja Vu all over again. *I suppose you posted this to inspire me to,
once again, remind you from Mendenhall's own notes about Class C
amplifier construction - and so I will: ...

If you believe by your understanding of the clips you quoted from
Mendenhall that a conventional, single vacuum tube Class C r-f
amplifier provides a functional termination of 50+j0 ohms for energy
applied to the output connector of the transmitter, then please
explain why that termination allows such signals to reach the plate of
the PA tube -- whose non-linear characteristics created the
_measured_ r-f intermodulation products and other performance data
given in the Mendenhall paper I quoted.

RF

On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 05:17:54 -0700 (PDT), Richard Fry
wrote:

the PA tube -- whose non-linear characteristics

From Mendenhall:

"VHF amplifiers often exhibit a somewhat unusual characteristic when
tuning for maximum efficiency. ... If the amplifier is tuned exactly
to resonance, the plate load impedance will be purely resistive and
teh load line will be linear."

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On Jun 13, 12:12*pm, Richard Clark wrote:
On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 05:17:54 -0700 (PDT), Richard Fry
wrote:

the PA tube -- whose non-linear characteristics

From Mendenhall:

"VHF amplifiers often exhibit a somewhat unusual characteristic when
tuning for maximum efficiency. ... If the amplifier is tuned exactly
to resonance, the plate load impedance will be purely resistive and
teh load line will be linear."

'Unusual'? Certainly not unexpected once one thinks about it. For a
given controlled power, the minimum dissipation in the controlling
device will occur when the minimum voltage occurs at the time of
maximum current, and vice versa, i.e. the voltage and current in the
load are in phase, or equivalently, the load impedance is resistive.

I would expect this to be a fundamental characteristic, and not just
for VHF amplifiers.

The 60Hz folk are trying to achieve the same result as they strive
for a power factor of 1.

....Keith

On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:03:40 -0700 (PDT), Keith Dysart
wrote:

'Unusual'? Certainly not unexpected once one thinks about it.

Hi Keith,

The "unusual" was lost in the ellipsis that I will reveal:
"... The highest efficiency operating point does not exactly coincide
with the lowest plate current because the power output continues to
rise for a while on the inductive side of resonance coming out of the
dip in the plate current. ..."

Continuing, Mendenhall presents the problems of trade-offs between
what would seem to be maximum power for worsening characteristics in
performance - the goal is what he calls minimizing synchronous AM
versus Efficiency.

Synchronous AM is a problem that can be introduced by measurement
equipment, as Mendenhall relates: "The input impedance of the
envelope detector must provide a nearly perfect match ... 30dB return
loss ... to the sampling line."

This sidebar relates to what Owen characterized as "Usability" where I
have recited the objective technical specification to reduce the
subjectivity of the term.

There's more that could be said, but I am waiting to see if Richard is
willing to subscribe to his own reference's writings. If not, and
Mendenhall doesn't mince words on the topic, then as Perry Mason would
observe "The D.A. is impeaching his own witness!"

I've always loved Perry Mason.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On Jun 13, 12:35*pm, Richard Clark wrote:

I am waiting to see if Richard is willing to subscribe to his own reference's writings

I responded to you some 20 minutes before you posted, and now await
your response.

Also please comment on whether or not a Class C amplifier operating on
a linear portion of its transfer curve will function as a linear
amplifier.

RF

On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:04:50 -0700 (PDT), Richard Fry
wrote:

I am waiting to see if Richard is willing to subscribe to his own reference's writings

I responded to you some 20 minutes before you posted, and now await
your response.

So your subscription to your own authority is contingent upon me?

I'm flattered.

Also please comment on whether or not a Class C amplifier operating on
a linear portion of its transfer curve will function as a linear
amplifier.

"If the amplifier is tuned exactly to resonance, the plate load
impedance will be purely resistive and the load line will be linear."

I would note that the bulk of his paper concerns frequency products -
something the bears quite intimately upon linear operation.

Your question is rather opaque in that the appearance of subtext is
undoubtedly bound up in the term "linear" which Mendenhall has already
employed within the norms of amplifier design.

How linear is linear? Give me a technical criteria (subjectivity
abounds and is not very informative except for statements of fashion).
Express the least departure from a line response in percent that you
accept as being linear. If it exceeds Mendenhall's design or
commercial product, then I am afraid you won't be satisfied with any
answer.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On Jun 13, 11:12*am, Richard Clark wrote:

From Mendenhall:
...

Would you please respond in your own words directly to my
previous statement (repeated below)?

If you believe by your understanding of the clips you quoted from
Mendenhall that a conventional, single vacuum tube Class C r-f
amplifier provides a functional termination of 50+j0 ohms for energy
applied to the output connector of the transmitter, THEN PLEASE
EXPLAIN WHY THAT TERMINATION ALLOWS SUCH SIGNALS
TO REACH THE PLATE OF THE PA TUBE -- whose non-linear
characteristics created the _measured_ r-f intermodulation products
and other performance data given in the Mendenhall paper I quoted.

RF

On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:14:21 -0700 (PDT), Richard Fry
wrote:

Would you please respond in your own words

Hi Richard,

I conform to Mendenhall to the specific statement I responded to.

If you believe

What I believe has been succinctly laid out in my subscribing to
Mendenhall's explicit statement.

THEN PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY

I don't see that elaboration is going to improve what has been
presented.

Yes, it is a difficult concept that many struggle with and few have
had experience in making a sufficiently accurate determination of.
Consult Walt's 333 line posting and examine how experience comes to
bear and through my recitations reveal the dovetail fit to theory.

The Only Explanation Possible:

Here's a modest proposal, Mendenhall constructed a power amplifier
that is within the technical grasp of many here to achieve at a modest
workbench. The design is quite spartan. The design is quite
understressed (there is nothing "forcing" a conclusion). The design
conforms to all engineering standards.

Build your own. [It feels strange to have to offer that option to a
group of Hams.]

Having this amplifier before you, observe all the variables, play with
them. Measure their impact on NOhms. Account for the heat with
direct measurement and note what does not conform to convention.

When that is finished the real work begins. Calibrate your tools and
repeat this for accuracy.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC