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Output
Transformer
The output (anode)
transformer for the 400 W PA uses a 58 mm OD 3C85 core with a primary winding of
140
turns, centre-tapped; and a secondary winding of 9 turns to provide a 50 ohm
secondary.
Before making the transformer, Finbar EI0CF alerted me to the problem of using
high
voltages with ferrite or dust-iron cores and suggested using "high voltage
tape". I think that what he meant was that the conductive core could
become a
short circuit path to the RF voltage developed across the primary winding.
Dave G3YMC suggested using PTFE tape and I knew I had a couple of reels of PTFE tape
of
the sort used by plumbers. So I wound a few layers of PTFE tape around the
toroid. I
then held the PTFE tape in place by a few layers of white PVC tape. Then I put
on
some more PTFE tape, then some more PVC tape. I then wound the centre-tapped
anode
winding with 140 turns of 26 swg enamelled copper, anchored with nylon cable
ties. I
left a spacing of about 14 mm between the start and finish points. More PVC
tape was
used to wrap the centre (but not the extreme ends) of the primary winding. The
secondary winding used wire from stripped-down mains flex. The turns were wound
over
the centre part of the winding which had previously been covered with PVC tape.
The
transformer was mounted on some 3 mm brown board of the type that used to be used in
the
manufacture of tag strip (called resin bonded 'something', 'something', I believe).
The ends of the windings were sleeved with neoprene sleeving and terminated on
terminal
posts fitted to the board.
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