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A couple of people have mentioned how they do inductor Q measurement.
Here's how I do it: I make a parallel tuned circuit with the inductor and an air variable capacitor. I've found that even mica capacitors often have a low enough Q to affect the measurement of reasonable Q inductors. The variable C also lets me do the measurement at the frequency of interest. I couple into and out of the parallel circuit with 1 pF capacitors, connecting one to a signal generator and the other to a 50 ohm termination and a scope. (If you calculate the parallel equivalent of the coupling cap and terminating resistor, you'll find that you need either a low or very high value of termination to avoid affecting the measurement.) I've now got a signal generator with a digital frequency readout, but I used to use an old high level generator which I tapped into in order to hook up a frequency counter. I peak the scope signal at the frequency of interest. Then I vary the frequency slightly and find the precise center frequency and the -3 dB frequencies. The Q is simply the center frequency divided by the 3 dB bandwidth. For ease in making measurements, I built a simple 3 dB switchable attenuator and put it in line with the signal generator, terminating the output in 50 ohms at the Q meter so the attenuator would work properly. I measure the center frequency with the attenuator in, then switch it out and find the -3 dB frequencies by adjusting the frequency for the same output level as before. If you use the attenuator, the detector doesn't have to be linear, so you could do away with the scope and use just about any kind of detector like a diode and DVM. Using this method I get within about 10% of an HP Q meter at HF, at least up to a Q of 300 or so, which is about the best I usually get with a powdered iron toroid core. Roy Lewallen, W7EL |
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