On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 07:08:25 -0600, amdx wrote:

However, if I new what I was doing, I wouldn't be posting a question.

If I knew what you were trying to do, I wouldn't be asking you
questions.

Got an Al value for a single core?

I believe it is 9660 +/- 25%. This is for two core sandwiched. However,
does that have any use for calculations? I'm using the core in a manner
that is not normal. I don't remember how I placed the core halves, face
to face, back to back, mixed?

Argh. It's a pot core that's designed to have all its turns inside
the two halves of the pot core on a bobbin. What you've apparently
done is used it in a non-standard and unpredictable manner by shoving
a wired through the hole normally reserved for either a ferrite
adjustment slug, or a nylon mounting screw. The spec sheet Al value
is worthless.

However, all is not lost. You can take 1/2 of a core, shove a wire
through the hole, and measure the inductance. That's inductance as in
uH not the calculated reactance or guessed impedance. I presume that
there are 42 half-cores so just multiplying the measured value by 42
will give a tolerable approximation of the total inductance. You
could also measure the total inductance of all 42 cores to see if that
really works.

Note that I'm suggesting that you measure the inductance with a single
wire going through the cores, and not with a loop produced by shorting
one end of the coax cable. That takes some of the mystery out of the
measurements. You can see what shorting one end does later.

Ya, I found an exchange where I was asking for
that info back in back in 2007.
I got it privately from a friend with an old catalog.

I have several old Ferroxcube catalogs from the 1970's and 1980's.
You can't have them.

The vector sum of the reactances should give you the impedance.

Now, all you have to do is either supply a measured inductance or find
the Al of your cores.

I thought I had, but apparently it was in my secret code.
John S calculated "Therefore, R = 3072 ohms and X = 1336 ohms
As a sanity check, Z = sqrt(R^2 + X^2) = 3,350"

So if X = 1336 ohms at 3.85 MHz inductance is 55uH.

I'm a little surprised, I would have thought the reactance would have
been higher than the resistance.

The only thing I can be sure of here is that the resistive component
is *NOT* 3000 ohms because it can be directly measured with an
ohms-guesser. The number is (obviously) wrong because nowhere in your
circuit is anything resembling a resistor of that high a value. If
you work backwards and assume a DC resistance of zero, then Z = Xl.
I'm still not sure what's causing the 22 degree phase angle. My best
guess(tm) is that it's the capacitance of the coax cable, but that
should have disappeared when you shorted one end of the coax. Dunno.

Yes and more, just putting your hand by the coax causes the current
to change.

My hand is firmly attached to my arm and is nowhere near your setup.
Perhaps you meant your hand?

I had to stop eating cashews last night, I was moving in that green
feeling direction. Time to get ready for work.

I compounded my culinary error by eating about 1/3 a salted dark
chocolate bar before going to bed. It's now 7AM and I've had about 3
hours of erratic sleep due to the caffeine overdose. I've done this
before and should have known better, but it was sooooooo good. At
least I'm now caught up on paying my bills and reading various
reports. My next challenge will be to see if I can drive to the
office without falling asleep.

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On 1/29/2014 9:04 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 07:08:25 -0600, amdx wrote:

However, if I new what I was doing, I wouldn't be posting a question.

If I knew what you were trying to do, I wouldn't be asking you
questions.

Got an Al value for a single core?

I believe it is 9660 +/- 25%. This is for two core sandwiched. However,
does that have any use for calculations? I'm using the core in a manner
that is not normal. I don't remember how I placed the core halves, face
to face, back to back, mixed?



Argh. It's a pot core that's designed to have all its turns inside
the two halves of the pot core on a bobbin. What you've apparently
done is used it in a non-standard and unpredictable manner by shoving
a wired through the hole normally reserved for either a ferrite
adjustment slug, or a nylon mounting screw. The spec sheet Al value
is worthless.

I have a feeling you didn't look at any of my pretty pictures, I think
at least one layer of fog should have dissipated if you did.
They're really pretty.

However, all is not lost. You can take 1/2 of a core, shove a wire
through the hole, and measure the inductance. That's inductance as in
uH not the calculated reactance or guessed impedance. I presume that
there are 42 half-cores so just multiplying the measured value by 42
will give a tolerable approximation of the total inductance. You
could also measure the total inductance of all 42 cores to see if that
really works.

Note that I'm suggesting that you measure the inductance with a single
wire going through the cores,

I'm doing that now, only with 42 halves. I can try it with one, but I
question with my "setup" will resolve that inductance.

You can see what shorting one end does later.

I already did that, zero inductance or resistance.


Ya, I found an exchange where I was asking for
that info back in back in 2007.
I got it privately from a friend with an old catalog.

I have several old Ferroxcube catalogs from the 1970's and 1980's.
You can't have them.

Do you need any potcores?

The vector sum of the reactances should give you the impedance.

Now, all you have to do is either supply a measured inductance or find
the Al of your cores.

I thought I had, but apparently it was in my secret code.
John S calculated "Therefore, R = 3072 ohms and X = 1336 ohms
As a sanity check, Z = sqrt(R^2 + X^2) = 3,350"

So if X = 1336 ohms at 3.85 MHz inductance is 55uH.

I'm a little surprised, I would have thought the reactance would have
been higher than the resistance.

The only thing I can be sure of here is that the resistive component
is *NOT* 3000 ohms because it can be directly measured with an
ohms-guesser.

Since you have used "ohms-guesser" I guess I need to ask, What is that?
and does it use ac or dc for the measurement?

The number is (obviously) wrong because nowhere in your
circuit is anything resembling a resistor of that high a value.

I'm sure you understand that ferrite beads on a transistor lead, show
up as a resistive and inductive. Why is this different?
Here's a pdf with a graph page 4 right side showing R, X, and Z.
Hand picked to show what I want it to! Although I should have secretly
altered the frequency range.
http://www.vishay.com/docs/ilb_ilbb_enote.pdf



If you work backwards and assume a DC resistance of zero, then Z = Xl.
I'm still not sure what's causing the 22 degree phase angle. My best
guess(tm) is that it's the capacitance of the coax cable, but that
should have disappeared when you shorted one end of the coax. Dunno.

It's inductive.


Yes and more, just putting your hand by the coax causes the current
to change.

My hand is firmly attached to my arm and is nowhere near your setup.
Perhaps you meant your hand?

LOL, you're right, it was my hand.

I had to stop eating cashews last night, I was moving in that green
feeling direction. Time to get ready for work.

I compounded my culinary error by eating about 1/3 a salted dark
chocolate bar before going to bed. It's now 7AM and I've had about 3
hours of erratic sleep due to the caffeine overdose. I've done this
before and should have known better, but it was sooooooo good. At
least I'm now caught up on paying my bills and reading various
reports. My next challenge will be to see if I can drive to the
office without falling asleep.

Good luck.
I'm in Fl. where people are acting like the end is near.
We are slightly below freezing and businesses are closing, schools out.
The weather men are have fits of frenzy. If I was back in Michigan, we
would be happy it got warmer, because we were getting tired of starting
the car at 7* in 8 inches of snow.
Mikek

On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 09:45:51 -0600, amdx wrote:

On 1/29/2014 9:04 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

I have a feeling you didn't look at any of my pretty pictures, I think
at least one layer of fog should have dissipated if you did.
They're really pretty.

http://s395.photobucket.com/user/Qmavam/media/TheBoardwithnotes.jpg.html
http://s395.photobucket.com/user/Qmavam/media/TheBoardDrawing.jpg.html
I clicked, I looked, I saw, I failed to understand, I blundered
onward. What did I miss?

You really want a vector impedance meter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181276724052
Yeah, I know it's an antique. There are probably much better models
available today, but not at the price. I had one at a previous
employer and used it for measuring almost everything. 0.5 to 110 Mhz.
I've been looking for a broken one (because I blew up the one I was
using often enough to be familiar with the repair procedures) but
can't seem to find one in my price range (i.e. free). Make sure it
comes with the probe and power cord as both are difficult to find.

Note that I'm suggesting that you measure the inductance with a single
wire going through the cores,

I'm doing that now, only with 42 halves. I can try it with one, but I
question with my "setup" will resolve that inductance.

Never mind. You won't see it. At the time, I was trying to correlate
the measured value with the theoretical Al. However, since the cores
are not being used in the normal manner, that's not going to work or
yield any useful results. Might as well measure the whole string at
once.

Do you need any potcores?

No thanks. I gave smoking the stuff in college. You might be able to
sell them in Colorado.

Since you have used "ohms-guesser" I guess I need to ask, What is that?
and does it use ac or dc for the measurement?

An ohms-guesser(tm) is a Harbor Freight DVM or equivalent. Usually
sells for $5 or less. Capable of producing wrong values to at least 3
1/2 digit accuracy. I usually have several available for the
inevitable visitors that roll into my parking lot wanting to borrow a
meter to fix their vehicle electrical system. Ohms-guessers use DC
current to measure resistance. There is also the volts-guesser and
amps-guesser which offer similar features and lack of accuracy.

The number is (obviously) wrong because nowhere in your
circuit is anything resembling a resistor of that high a value.

I'm sure you understand that ferrite beads on a transistor lead, show
up as a resistive and inductive. Why is this different?
Here's a pdf with a graph page 4 right side showing R, X, and Z.
Hand picked to show what I want it to! Although I should have secretly
altered the frequency range.
http://www.vishay.com/docs/ilb_ilbb_enote.pdf

ARGH! I goofed. I forgot how ferrite really work and was assuming
that it represented a pure inductance. Please ignore everything I
wrote about the resistive component. I tried to find a reactance vs
frequency graph for the 3B7 material and failed. Maybe later tonite.
I'm buried in broken machines and an office in desperate need of
untrashing. Thanks (grumble).

Incidentally, consider yourself off the hook for the MFJ-1800 yagi
fiasco if you promise not to tell anyone how badly I messed up here.

I'm in Fl. where people are acting like the end is near.

Huh? Are they expecting Florida to sink into the ocean under the
added weight of the snow?

We are slightly below freezing and businesses are closing, schools out.
The weather men are have fits of frenzy. If I was back in Michigan, we
would be happy it got warmer, because we were getting tired of starting
the car at 7* in 8 inches of snow.
Mikek

In the People's Republic of Santa Cruz, it has been mostly 60-70F
highs and 35-45F lows for most of the alleged winter. Quite pleasant
and comfortable. The problem is that we've had less than an inch of
rain this season, where normal would be about 15-20 inches by this
date. The forest looks awful with dead trees and shrubbery
everywhere. Looks like we're going to have a severe drought here.
Even worse is the lack of snow for skiing. Right now, I could use
some snow or rain.

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On 1/29/2014 10:26 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 09:45:51 -0600, amdx wrote:

On 1/29/2014 9:04 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

I have a feeling you didn't look at any of my pretty pictures, I think
at least one layer of fog should have dissipated if you did.
They're really pretty.

http://s395.photobucket.com/user/Qmavam/media/TheBoardwithnotes.jpg.html
http://s395.photobucket.com/user/Qmavam/media/TheBoardDrawing.jpg.html
I clicked, I looked, I saw, I failed to understand, I blundered
onward. What did I miss?

Probably not much. :-(
Very simple concept, Measuring current by use of a sense resistor.
Then comparing voltage to current to get impedance.


You really want a vector impedance meter:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181276724052

I have recently acquired an HP 3570A Network analyzer and a 3330B
synthesizer that are GPIB connected to a computer with custom software.
It has not been powered for at least 10 years. The only problem I know
about is the computer cmos battery most likely has failed.
I've had it a couple months now and have not got it setup or attempted
any use. I need to figure out what to do about the computer first. I
don't have the original software disc, so I need to copy the program
first thing.


Yeah, I know it's an antique. There are probably much better models
available today, but not at the price. I had one at a previous
employer and used it for measuring almost everything. 0.5 to 110 Mhz.
I've been looking for a broken one (because I blew up the one I was
using often enough to be familiar with the repair procedures) but
can't seem to find one in my price range (i.e. free). Make sure it
comes with the probe and power cord as both are difficult to find.

Note that I'm suggesting that you measure the inductance with a single
wire going through the cores,

I'm doing that now, only with 42 halves. I can try it with one, but I
question with my "setup" will resolve that inductance.

Never mind. You won't see it. At the time, I was trying to correlate
the measured value with the theoretical Al. However, since the cores
are not being used in the normal manner, that's not going to work or
yield any useful results. Might as well measure the whole string at
once.

Do you need any potcores?

No thanks. I gave smoking the stuff in college. You might be able to
sell them in Colorado.



Since you have used "ohms-guesser" I guess I need to ask, What is that?
and does it use ac or dc for the measurement?

An ohms-guesser(tm) is a Harbor Freight DVM or equivalent. Usually
sells for $5 or less. Capable of producing wrong values to at least 3
1/2 digit accuracy. I usually have several available for the
inevitable visitors that roll into my parking lot wanting to borrow a
meter to fix their vehicle electrical system. Ohms-guessers use DC
current to measure resistance. There is also the volts-guesser and
amps-guesser which offer similar features and lack of accuracy.


You may have figured out, I'm not using this type of ohms guesser.

The number is (obviously) wrong because nowhere in your
circuit is anything resembling a resistor of that high a value.

I'm sure you understand that ferrite beads on a transistor lead, show
up as a resistive and inductive. Why is this different?
Here's a pdf with a graph page 4 right side showing R, X, and Z.
Hand picked to show what I want it to! Although I should have secretly
altered the frequency range.
http://www.vishay.com/docs/ilb_ilbb_enote.pdf

ARGH! I goofed. I forgot how ferrite really work and was assuming
that it represented a pure inductance. Please ignore everything I
wrote about the resistive component. I tried to find a reactance vs
frequency graph for the 3B7 material and failed. Maybe later tonite.
I'm buried in broken machines and an office in desperate need of
untrashing. Thanks (grumble).


Incidentally, consider yourself off the hook for the MFJ-1800 yagi
fiasco if you promise not to tell anyone how badly I messed up here.


My deed here has been accomplished, I now officially close this thread.
yippee, yahoo, hallelujah, praise be to any omnipotent powers.


I'm in Fl. where people are acting like the end is near.

Huh? Are they expecting Florida to sink into the ocean under the
added weight of the snow?

We are slightly below freezing and businesses are closing, schools out.
The weather men are have fits of frenzy. If I was back in Michigan, we
would be happy it got warmer, because we were getting tired of
starting the car at 7* in 8 inches of snow.
Mikek

In the People's Republic of Santa Cruz, it has been mostly 60-70F
highs and 35-45F lows for most of the alleged winter. Quite pleasant
and comfortable. The problem is that we've had less than an inch of
rain this season, where normal would be about 15-20 inches by this
date. The forest looks awful with dead trees and shrubbery
everywhere. Looks like we're going to have a severe drought here.
Even worse is the lack of snow for skiing. Right now, I could use
some snow or rain.

-- Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060
http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558


I have found through some tests and exchanges here that the mechanics of
my "setup" work fine below 1MHz or a little higher. But I think, strays
are causing some problems when I go higher in frequency.
I should get my new probes today and I'll be working at tightening
up the circuit and maybe adding shielding.
I built this "setup" as as duplicate of the one I used, I tried to use
it at higher frequency and I should not have.

When I was working with ultrasonics, our standard frequency was around
660 kHz. We used this daily to characterize piezo transducers to
calculate matching to an amplifier.
I sure wish the company made some money, I really enjoyed that job.

btw, Need any 2" disc piezo ceramic discs 1/16" thick PZT-8 material?
I have a few other sizes also.
Do you know any fun things I could do with them, besides give people
shocks.

Thanks, Mikek

On 1/30/2014 9:33 AM, amdx wrote:
(snip)

btw, Need any 2" disc piezo ceramic discs 1/16" thick PZT-8 material?
I have a few other sizes also.
Do you know any fun things I could do with them, besides give people
shocks.

Thanks, Mikek

Hi, Mike -

I would like to buy a couple to experiment with and, possibly, learn
something.

How many $ do you want and how do we connect?

Thanks,
John S

On 1/30/2014 1:14 PM, John S wrote:
On 1/30/2014 9:33 AM, amdx wrote:
(snip)

btw, Need any 2" disc piezo ceramic discs 1/16" thick PZT-8 material?
I have a few other sizes also.
Do you know any fun things I could do with them, besides give people
shocks.

Thanks, Mikek

Hi, Mike -

I would like to buy a couple to experiment with and, possibly, learn
something.

How many $ do you want and how do we connect?

Thanks,
John S

Hi John,
My address is good.
These are 2" ceramics, 1/16", they resonate around 1.2MHz as I recall.
We bonded them to 1/16" aluminum for approximately a 660kHz transducer.
We drove them at antiresonance, where they measured around 20 ohms.
We drove them continuous at 250 watts in an ice bath and 1000 watt pulsed.
Send me an email.
Mikek

Jeff Liebermann scribbled thus:

In the People's Republic of Santa Cruz, it has been mostly 60-70F
highs and 35-45F lows for most of the alleged winter. Quite pleasant
and comfortable. The problem is that we've had less than an inch of
rain this season, where normal would be about 15-20 inches by this
date. The forest looks awful with dead trees and shrubbery
everywhere. Looks like we're going to have a severe drought here.
Even worse is the lack of snow for skiing. Right now, I could use
some snow or rain.


All that rain is over here... Snow threatened :-(

--
Best Regards:
Baron.

On 1/30/2014 9:37 AM, Baron wrote:
Jeff Liebermann scribbled thus:

In the People's Republic of Santa Cruz, it has been mostly 60-70F
highs and 35-45F lows for most of the alleged winter. Quite pleasant
and comfortable. The problem is that we've had less than an inch of
rain this season, where normal would be about 15-20 inches by this
date. The forest looks awful with dead trees and shrubbery
everywhere. Looks like we're going to have a severe drought here.
Even worse is the lack of snow for skiing. Right now, I could use
some snow or rain.


All that rain is over here... Snow threatened :-(


We're up to 34*, the icicles are dripping.
Supposed to be 61* tomorrow.
Glad January is about over, maybe February will
be better. The global warming has been brutally
cold this year.
Mikek

On 1/30/2014 1:17 PM, Fred Abse wrote:
On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 20:26:16 -0800, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

You really want a vector impedance meter:

He's actually doing what a vector impedance meter does - the hard way.

A vector voltmeter might be of more use in Mike's case. More versatile.


Where is one available and what would it cost?

On 1/30/2014 1:46 PM, Fred Abse wrote:
On Thu, 30 Jan 2014 13:30:13 -0600, John S wrote:

On 1/30/2014 1:17 PM, Fred Abse wrote:
On Wed, 29 Jan 2014 20:26:16 -0800, Jeff Liebermann wrote:

You really want a vector impedance meter:

He's actually doing what a vector impedance meter does - the hard way.

A vector voltmeter might be of more use in Mike's case. More versatile.


Where is one available and what would it cost?

There are a few HP8405 vector voltmeters on Ebay.

Be warned, the "probes" are actually miniature sampling heads, and can
easily be ruined by overvoltage.

They did come with a set of accessories, but, judging by Ebay, these will
likely have been split off, and sold separately.


Thanks. I'll look into it.