Elecraft CP-1 directional coupler – magnetics review

Elecraft produces a directional coupler that may interest QRP aficionados. It comes with instructions for 20dB and 30dB coupling factors rated at 25 and 250W respectively from 1 to 30MHz.

This article reviews the magnetics design of the -20dB / 25W coupler.

The coupler uses a type of Sontheimer coupler (Sontheimer 1966) and these are commonly poorly designed. The first question is whether the magnetising impedance of T2 which appears in shunt with the load is sufficiently high to not give rise to poor insertion VSWR.

The instructions specify a FT50-43 with 10t for 1MHz and up. Experience says this is probably low turns and worth reviewing.

Though rated down to 1MHz, this review is at 1.8MHz, the lowest ham band above 1MHz. (It has worse InsertionVSWR at 1MHz.)

10t @ 1.8MHz

Let's calculate the expected magnetising admittance.

Magnetising Y=0.000598-j0.00241S, let's calculate VSWR with 50Ω in shunt, so Yt=0.020598-j0.00241S.

Ok, 10t gives rise to an InsertionVSWR of 1.13 at 1.8MHz considering the core alone, which is on the poor side.

It is worth reviewing the expected dissipation of the T2 core as this is a failing of many designs.

At 25W in a 50Ω system, V=(25*50)^0.5=35V. The power dissipated in the T2 core is at Pfwd=25W is calculated as E^2*G=35^2*0.000598=0.73W. The core is likely to get quite warm, but in free air should dissipate that heat comfortably.

The performance may be better with a core with double the ΣA/l (or double Al).

30dB coupler

The 30dB coupler can be analysed using the same method. It is left as an interesting exercise for the reader.

References

  • Sontheimer,C & Frederick,RE. Apr 1966. Broadband directional coupler. US Patent 3,426,298.