I mentioned in my article WIA 4:1 current balun that the use of a single toroidal core in the above graphic compromises the balun. This article gives a simple, but more detailed explanation for the technically minded of why the shared magnetic circuit ruins the thing.
Continue reading WIA 4:1 current balun – further explanation
Under the heading “Wind your own balun “, the WIA’s “Your entry into amateur radio” 2nd ed (The Foundation licence manual) gives advice to newcomers on constructing a 4:1 Guanella balun, a current balun.
I ‘needed’ to experience a tricopter, and I chose a Hobbyking X900 frame kit.
I tried to glean some useful information from G3TXQ’s measurements of windowed ladder line loss at Windowed ladder line loss – G3TXQ.
In reviewing his article today (05/02/14), there is new information on a further series of measurements of the same line.
The shape and position of the two lines does not reconcile with the formulas stated, so I digitised the data points and analysed the data set to try to find the most appropriate model for the reported measurements. Note that although the chart above is in imperial units, my work is usually in ISO metric units, and usually basic units.
The digitised data points were converted to loss in dB/m, and fitted to the model MLL=k0+k1*f^0.5+k2*f using regression techniques. Note that the digitisation process introduces some noise, but it is estimated to be small compared to the noise in the underlying measurement data.
The coefficients k0, k1, k2 were reviewed to test that there was sufficient data to support the hypothesis that they were not zero, and all three passed that test, the standard error of the coefficient was significantly less than the coefficient. Note that k0 is not derived from a DC measurement of resistance as done by some modellers, but from the measurement data over the range of 3.6 to 48MHz in this case, and extrapolation beyond that frequency range increases uncertainty.
The above chart shows G3TXQ’s measurements as digitised from his published graph, and it shows the components of loss indicated from the model I built (the k0 component is allocated as conductor loss).
The “G3TXQ model” line is equivalent to his MLL=0.063+0.063*f^0.5 dB/100′ converted to dB/m, and as you can see it is not a good fit to the measurement data points, nor does MLL=0.063+0,063*f^0.5 dB/100′ reconcile with the blue line on G3TXQ’s chart earlier in this article.
G3TXQ’s measurement points (as digitised) are quite a good fit to the model MLL=0.001456+1.499e-6*f+5.631e-11*f dB/m where f is in Hz, and provide a good predictor of MLL over 3.6 to 48MHz.
The 1245SF props arrived and replacement HK922 servo, both were fitted.
The tricopter is very hard to fly with 1245SF despite lots of time tuning pitch and roll, and level PID parameters. It appears that the propellers are just too much and that control loop stability is hard to achieve at lower motor speed.
So, the 1145 propellers were refitted and fine tuning of the saved PID parameters commenced.
The replacement servo works fine, stable stand alone with and without load, and mechanically smooth through its entire range (no sign of any stiff spots in the gears as in the previous one).
The project is coming to an end, the tail mechanism is an obvious vulnerability in this implementation though it seems to work quite well… more in the final report.
I had a contact with a newcomer recently, and struggling to hear him, I learned that he was using the 3030 antenna described in the WIA’s “Your entry to amateur radio” 2nd ed, the Foundation licence training manual.
My article Foundation watts explained triggered some discussion on the thorny issue of compliance with power limits of the LCD.
One correspondent was confident that the Foundation candidates are properly trained, which leads to examining the training materials.
SimonK commit 8873df24: (20140119) with COMP_PWM was loaded on the F-30A ESCs on this F330 quad with Multiwii 2.3 FC, 3S, Hobbyking D2830-11 motors and 8×4.5 SF propellers.
Performed rapid acceleration under WOT, motor idle, recovery, maneuvers and no issues, no hint of sync problems, works fine.
SimonK commit 8873df24: (20140119) with COMP_PWM was loaded on the F-30A ESCs on this X450 quad with APM FC, 3S, Hobbyking D3530-14 motors and 11×4.5 SF propellers.
Performed rapid acceleration under WOT, motor idle, recovery, maneuvers and no issues, no hint of sync problems, works fine.
Eric Nichols, KL7AJ, published a manifesto entitled “SWR Meters Make You Stupid” announced on eHam in March 2010. Eric is clearly a disciple of Walt Maxwell (W2DU SK), his first announcement states By popular demand, my complete treatise on transmission lines. Approved by Walt Maxwell, W2DU
as if Walt’s blessing was an imprimatur from the ham radio church.