Article: 95157 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Ignoramus10725 Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> Message-ID: Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 05:34:47 GMT On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 21:43:24 -0600, RDF wrote: > Pete, > I hear ya- loud and clear. This one is even better. At 30k the P/M is to > replace the serpentine belt (fully logical) I asked "How much" expecting > about $30.00 He told me $220.79 Now, my car has my company name and graphic > on the trunk lid, I asked the guy if it was correct and he reassured me it > was and it needed a "special tool" to change it. So in I peek. Went and got > a 4" C- clamp to compress a hydraulic cylinder to maintain pressure on the > tensioner and installed a Gates Powergrip belt ( at a whopping $14.99 at > NAPA) I wonder what a $200.00 C-clamp does :) > Moral of the story- I'm not the brightest guy on the planet but that is > plain theft. And people pay it, I feel sorry for them. This is why I had my > ex-girlfriend's daughter take autoshop and work for me in the summer. Let > some other sucker bite that hook. That in itself justified me buying a > complete factory service manual and a Benz logic cartridge set for my > Snap-On scanner. Hell, I would have spent that on a belt alone from the > dealer. I do not even bother looking for honest car mechanics anymore. I gave up. I do everything I can do on my truck, myself. If that takes buying tools, usually I buy tools as it turns out to be cheaper anyway. Furthermore, I even do not deal with car mechanics when they try to sell their used stuff (my hobby is to resell used equipment on ebay). As soon as I learn that the seller is a car mechanic, I say something polite and hang up. That's not out of bitterness or some such, this policy does not make me lose money. I just know that I would come in, he would be unreasonable in his asking prices and likely even impolite, and try to screw me in every way he can. i > I know it's very OT but it just leaves me angry to recall it and think > I'd go for it. > > All the best, > > Rob Fraser > > > Fraser Competition Engines > Chicago, IL. > "Pete C." wrote in message > news:43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net... >> RDF wrote: >>> >>> Thanks for the input! I'll get out the Fluke and download the .PDF and >>> see >>> what I can find before I burn the place down :) I was sort of hoping to >>> be >>> able to replace the stock batteries but they are so insanely expensive, >>> hacking the box for batteries I have no use for (Still in the plastic >>> wrap >>> and caps on. got them in a barter) Get this- Mercedes wanted $430.00 to >>> replace my battery for P/M- Yea right, my car now has a Optima yellow in >>> the >>> trunk and why a factory (much smaller and lighter too) battery would be >>> junk >>> after two years blows my mind. >>> >>> Thanks for the info and help! >>> >>> Rob Fraser >>> >>> Fraser Competition Engines >>> Chicago, IL. >> >> The VP of my department found the same thing with the battery in his >> BMW. He decided that the zillion dollar original was BS so I sent him to >> my favorite battery distributor for an Optima and helped him retrofit >> the hold down. >> >> Pete C. > > -- Article: 95158 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <4386ADDD.9EB4CEC6@snet.net> From: "Pete C." Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:23:25 GMT RDF wrote: > > Pete, > I hear ya- loud and clear. This one is even better. At 30k the P/M is to > replace the serpentine belt (fully logical) I asked "How much" expecting > about $30.00 He told me $220.79 Now, my car has my company name and graphic > on the trunk lid, I asked the guy if it was correct and he reassured me it > was and it needed a "special tool" to change it. So in I peek. Went and got > a 4" C- clamp to compress a hydraulic cylinder to maintain pressure on the > tensioner and installed a Gates Powergrip belt ( at a whopping $14.99 at > NAPA) I wonder what a $200.00 C-clamp does :) > Moral of the story- I'm not the brightest guy on the planet but that is > plain theft. And people pay it, I feel sorry for them. This is why I had my > ex-girlfriend's daughter take autoshop and work for me in the summer. Let > some other sucker bite that hook. That in itself justified me buying a > complete factory service manual and a Benz logic cartridge set for my > Snap-On scanner. Hell, I would have spent that on a belt alone from the > dealer. > > I know it's very OT but it just leaves me angry to recall it and think > I'd go for it. > > All the best, > > Rob Fraser > > Fraser Competition Engines > Chicago, IL. With each new vehicle I have owned, I have ordered the factory service manual(s) at the same time I ordered the vehicle. I can't understand people who whine about a $100 manual set when they just spent $30,000 or more on the vehicle. I've read every one of those manuals cover to cover several times and you learn quite a bit. Pete C. Article: 95159 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Roy Lewallen Subject: Re: Conductive plastic/cermet pots Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 00:05:45 -0800 Message-ID: <11odhers7enq57a@corp.supernews.com> References: Ivan Makarov wrote: > Hi, All, > > can anybody tell if conductive plastic pots are non-inductive and can be > used for HF/50MHz ? > Same question re cermet pots. The short answer is yes, but the long answer, as always, is more involved. Nothing is truly non-inductive -- even a short straight piece of wire has inductance. But the inductance of a conductive plastic or cermet pot is only due to the physical length of the element. That is, it's as small as it can possibly be for the physical size of the pot. That's in contrast to a wire-wound pot which has many turns and a correspondingly much higher inductance. Whether you can use them at a given frequency depends on the particular application. If you can tolerate a wire at that point in the circuit which is the length of the pot's element (plus the distance to the external connections), then you can tolerate the pot. Otherwise, you might or might not be able to use the pot, depending on the relationship between the inductance and resistance. Because the element length is shorter, physically smaller pots have less inductance than larger ones. Roy Lewallen, W7EL Article: 95160 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <4386D45A.8FCD2C77@hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 09:07:38 +0000 From: Pooh Bear Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> John Larkin wrote: > TO-220 bipolar transistors make nice temperature sensors. I like that trick. Esp the isolated tab type. Graham Article: 95161 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Frithiof Andreas Jensen" Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:52:26 +0100 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> "Henry Kiefer" wrote in message news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? LED's work both ways, as a light emitter and a photodiode. The inbuilt colour filter can be used to distinguish between Grass and Not grass f.ex. by comparing output from a red and a green LED using white light as illumination. Back when fiber was ex$$$pensive one often saw clever circuitry using two transmitters to form a duplex connection over a single fiber. The USD 10 solar powered garden lamps will, with a little persuation, yield a nice solar cell well below the price of a similar unit in the shops - and - two 600 mAh NiMh batteries and a grotty circuit for switching the LED. Article: 95162 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> From: John Devereux Date: 25 Nov 2005 10:08:35 +0000 Message-ID: <8764qh82fw.fsf@cordelia.devereux.me.uk> ehsjr writes: > Henry Kiefer wrote: > > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > Best regards - > > Henry > > An LED as a shunt regulator. Also, as a varicap. > Ed Also a photodetector that is insensitive to long wavelengths (because of the high bandgap). -- John Devereux Article: 95163 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: PaoloC Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Message-ID: <4386f4f3_1@x-privat.org> Date: 25 Nov 2005 12:26:43 +0100 (not x-posted) Besides the already mentioned reverse-polarized diodes as varicaps (http://www.hanssummers.com/radio/varicap/index.htm), I use 74HC240 as HF QRP finals (600mW) and IRF510 as HF PA (20-30W max, QST has some articles in the past). Paolo IK1ZYW Article: 95164 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Harold E. Johnson" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <4386f4f3_1@x-privat.org> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 11:32:07 GMT > Besides the already mentioned reverse-polarized diodes as varicaps > (http://www.hanssummers.com/radio/varicap/index.htm), I use 74HC240 as HF > QRP finals (600mW) and IRF510 as HF PA (20-30W max, QST has some articles > in the past). > > Paolo IK1ZYW TL-431 Shunt regulator as a low powered fixed gain 3 terminal audio amplifier. W4ZCB Article: 95165 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Ban" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:46:43 +0100 Roy Lewallen wrote: > Zener diodes work fine as varicaps, at least at HF. The lower the > zener voltage and higher the power dissipation rating, the higher the > C. As someone else mentioned, transistor emitter-base junctions can > be used as either zeners (typical zener voltage around 5 volts) or > varicaps. > A zener can be used as a broadband noise source. I've had the best > luck with zeners of 10 - 15 volt breakdown, with around 100 uA > current. Some are noisier than others, and they often have a critical > current where the noise is the greatest. > > Tektronix used selected transistors to generate high voltage (~100 > volts) fast steps (~100 ps rise time if I recall correctly) by > avalanching the collector. Some fraction of some common transistor > types worked satisfactorily in this application. > > 1N914 type diodes can be used as step recovery diodes to generate a > step with about a ns risetime -- maybe faster with a chip component > and some care. This could be the basis of a broadband harmonic > generator. > Roy Lewallen, W7EL At a leading Ultrasonic flaw detector company we used simple low frequency Motorola sot23 transistors in avalance mode for making a nice pulse generator for 100MHz probes. These were better than the Zetex avalance specified transistors. -- ciao Ban Apricale, Italy Article: 95166 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Jorgen Lund-Nielsen Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 12:46:17 +0100 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <9u5co19jkjoep5n68ddmk71vh709v2eatk@4ax.com> John Larkin wrote: > On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:30:06 +0100, Jorgen Lund-Nielsen > wrote: > > >>Henry Kiefer wrote: >> >>>Hi all - >>> >>>After my first thread going from "standard" cheap parts for up to vhf >>>frequency to a discussion about the usefulness of Spice simulator...... I >>>try it another time hopefully get attention of frustrated co-readers: >>> >>>For example the rechtifier diode 1N4007 can be used as a rf switching diode, >>>for example as rx/tx-switch. This is because it is a pin structure diode. >>>This type is cheap and you can get it almost everywhere. It shows good >>>performance for the price. Surely for high-end you should do it with another >>>type tuned to the application it is made for. But anyway it works in some >>>circuits. >>> >>>Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? >>> >>>Best regards - >>>Henry >> >>Tuner Switching Diodes like the european BA244 (NOT PIN-Diodes!) work >>well as medium fast Step Recovery Diodes. >> > > > Tell me about it. I tried some pins to see if they would snap, and > they turn out to have incredibly mushy reverse recovery, Slop Recovery > Diodes. > > I'll have to try the varicaps. > > John Hello John, I wrote: NOT PIN - Diodes - as they wouldn't snap. i mean Band Switching diodes for TV-Tuners like the BA244 and the BA682. BA682 Datasheet: http://www.vishay.com/docs/85530/85530.pdf - and they snap! Try it! Jorgen dj0ud Article: 95167 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "David J Windisch" Subject: For sale Message-ID: Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 13:05:16 GMT Hi, all concerned: For sale: 1. 80-10M Drake L-4B amplifier, sn 1010, Eimac tubes, pwr supply sn 1000, book, in good condition electrically; cosmetically, a few scuffs around the front edges. No issues with it; I simply got an amp with 160M. If you pick it up, I could demonstrate its 600W out on c-w and 1100W out on ssb. 10-day money-back warranty, provided it comes back in the same condition it leaves. 2. Meissner Signal Shifter exciter in good working and physical condition; 3.4-30 MHz, copy of book. I got it to drive a homebrew 4-400 to a KW on c-w, but that's not going to happen. 3. ESS TIME MACHINE: complete info at: http://www.expandedspectrumsystems.com/prod2.html I have band-filters and 9 different crystals for 40-30-20-15-10M, FLX-90, LO1 external-lo buffer, wall wart, all manuals. Got this for experimenting with homebrew software-defined-radio, also not going to happen. 4. Original service manual for Kenwood TS850SAT. Sold rigs; buyers didn't want it. 5. Before-MFJ HyGain TH7DX broadband tri-band antenna, good condition, original book. 6. Cushcraft 402CD pre-XM240 2-element 40M yagi, good condition, with CC 40M rotatable dipole I got to make 3L yagi out of 2L. 7. TMC IPA r-f deck, uses PL-172/8295A (no tube; same *socket* as 8877; chimney could have 4-inch OD-3-1/2orso-ID machined hi-temp non-conductive ring sitting on 8877 to cover over difference in tube diameters), 750pF Tune/1000pF vac variables with turns-counters in 2-30MHz bandswitched tank which has 3/8-in silver-plated conductors, 2 multi-meters, 6CL6/6146 bandswitched driver, no power supplies. Pls make offers, and remember shipping from 45251. Antennas can be disassembled far enough to fit in those concrete-form tubes, for shipping. You know; those ones you've seen in bigboxhardware :o) Tks for reading. 73, Dave, N3HE Cincinnati, OH 513-674-7202 Article: 95168 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Jorgen Lund-Nielsen Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 14:23:21 +0100 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> Ban wrote: > Roy Lewallen wrote: > >>Zener diodes work fine as varicaps, at least at HF. The lower the >>zener voltage and higher the power dissipation rating, the higher the >>C. As someone else mentioned, transistor emitter-base junctions can >>be used as either zeners (typical zener voltage around 5 volts) or >>varicaps. >>A zener can be used as a broadband noise source. I've had the best >>luck with zeners of 10 - 15 volt breakdown, with around 100 uA >>current. Some are noisier than others, and they often have a critical >>current where the noise is the greatest. >> >>Tektronix used selected transistors to generate high voltage (~100 >>volts) fast steps (~100 ps rise time if I recall correctly) by >>avalanching the collector. Some fraction of some common transistor >>types worked satisfactorily in this application. >> >>1N914 type diodes can be used as step recovery diodes to generate a >>step with about a ns risetime -- maybe faster with a chip component >>and some care. This could be the basis of a broadband harmonic >>generator. >>Roy Lewallen, W7EL > > > At a leading Ultrasonic flaw detector company we used simple low frequency > Motorola sot23 transistors in avalance mode for making a nice pulse > generator for 100MHz probes. These were better than the Zetex avalance > specified transistors. 2N2369 for fast pulses. 2N2222 and even 2N2219 works, but a bit slower and they requiring more voltage to avalance, but still < 1nS rt The Zetex are slower but can deliver much more current (up to 60A, ZTX 415 family). Jorgen Article: 95169 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Frithiof Andreas Jensen" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 18:55:40 +0100 Message-ID: <43875017$0$8788$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk> "Henry Kiefer" skrev i en meddelelse news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? Unbuffered logic gates can make a really bad but still useful analogue amplifier by adding feedback and bias. Article: 95170 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John Larkin Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:04:35 -0800 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <9u5co19jkjoep5n68ddmk71vh709v2eatk@4ax.com> On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 12:46:17 +0100, Jorgen Lund-Nielsen wrote: >John Larkin wrote: >> On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:30:06 +0100, Jorgen Lund-Nielsen >> wrote: >> >> >>>Henry Kiefer wrote: >>> >>>>Hi all - >>>> >>>>After my first thread going from "standard" cheap parts for up to vhf >>>>frequency to a discussion about the usefulness of Spice simulator...... I >>>>try it another time hopefully get attention of frustrated co-readers: >>>> >>>>For example the rechtifier diode 1N4007 can be used as a rf switching diode, >>>>for example as rx/tx-switch. This is because it is a pin structure diode. >>>>This type is cheap and you can get it almost everywhere. It shows good >>>>performance for the price. Surely for high-end you should do it with another >>>>type tuned to the application it is made for. But anyway it works in some >>>>circuits. >>>> >>>>Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? >>>> >>>>Best regards - >>>>Henry >>> >>>Tuner Switching Diodes like the european BA244 (NOT PIN-Diodes!) work >>>well as medium fast Step Recovery Diodes. >>> >> >> >> Tell me about it. I tried some pins to see if they would snap, and >> they turn out to have incredibly mushy reverse recovery, Slop Recovery >> Diodes. >> >> I'll have to try the varicaps. >> >> John > >Hello John, > >I wrote: NOT PIN - Diodes - as they wouldn't snap. > I got that! >i mean Band Switching diodes for TV-Tuners like the BA244 and the BA682. > >BA682 Datasheet: > >http://www.vishay.com/docs/85530/85530.pdf > >- and they snap! Try it! OK, I'll try some. Thanks John Article: 95171 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John Larkin Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:05:41 -0800 Message-ID: <1ikeo19k0plc7o1au959earm3vt8s4dv9v@4ax.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <4386D45A.8FCD2C77@hotmail.com> On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 09:07:38 +0000, Pooh Bear wrote: > > >John Larkin wrote: > >> TO-220 bipolar transistors make nice temperature sensors. > >I like that trick. Esp the isolated tab type. > >Graham There's also an LM35 in a TO-220 package! Ideal way to monitor a heatsink. John Article: 95172 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Paul Keinanen Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 20:18:58 +0200 On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:49:24 -0500, Jon Yaeger wrote: >Take apart a couple of D cell carbon-zinc batteries. > >Wash off the carbon rods. Put each in a wooden clothes pin and connect the >attached ends to the mains voltage (US customers only, please). The problem is that the carbon rod conducts heat quite well, so after a while, any wooden object will catch fire :-). >Tap the free ends of the rods together. Move them apart as necessary. You must have quite slow fuses in 110 V land if you can do a reliable ignition without blowing the fuse. For 230 V operation, I would suggest using a current limiting resistor (such as a large heater) or an inductance (such as fluorescent light ballast) during the ignition. When there is a solid arc, the current limiter can be shorted out. Paul Article: 95173 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Ron G" Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 13:21:46 -0600 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <361co1pavjfi56f0kmrm8phrtb64g2kmvo@4ax.com> Our newspaper had an article on that. Also, for model rockets, burning up an ordinary resistor can be used as a super-cheap ignitor. Best--- Ron John Larkin wrote in message news:361co1pavjfi56f0kmrm8phrtb64g2kmvo@4ax.com... > On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:30:06 +0100, Jorgen Lund-Nielsen > wrote: > > >Henry Kiefer wrote: > >> Hi all - > >> > >> After my first thread going from "standard" cheap parts for up to vhf > >> frequency to a discussion about the usefulness of Spice simulator...... I > >> try it another time hopefully get attention of frustrated co-readers: > >> > >> For example the rechtifier diode 1N4007 can be used as a rf switching diode, > >> for example as rx/tx-switch. This is because it is a pin structure diode. > >> This type is cheap and you can get it almost everywhere. It shows good > >> performance for the price. Surely for high-end you should do it with another > >> type tuned to the application it is made for. But anyway it works in some > >> circuits. > >> > >> Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > >> > >> Best regards - > >> Henry > > > >Tuner Switching Diodes like the european BA244 (NOT PIN-Diodes!) work > >well as medium fast Step Recovery Diodes. > > > >Jorgen > > > I know a guy who uses surface-mount resistors as explosive detonators. > > John > > Article: 95175 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Roy Lewallen Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 12:29:52 -0800 Message-ID: <11oet22oed6gl8b@corp.supernews.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Paul Keinanen wrote: > . . . > You must have quite slow fuses in 110 V land if you can do a reliable > ignition without blowing the fuse. For 230 V operation, I would > suggest using a current limiting resistor (such as a large heater) or > an inductance (such as fluorescent light ballast) during the ignition. > When there is a solid arc, the current limiter can be shorted out. > Aren't you in danger of damaging your eyes from the UV emitted from the arc? Roy Lewallen, W7EL Article: 95176 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Al Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Message-ID: Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 20:48:19 GMT In article , Paul Keinanen wrote: > On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:49:24 -0500, Jon Yaeger > wrote: > > >Take apart a couple of D cell carbon-zinc batteries. > > > >Wash off the carbon rods. Put each in a wooden clothes pin and connect the > >attached ends to the mains voltage (US customers only, please). > > The problem is that the carbon rod conducts heat quite well, so after > a while, any wooden object will catch fire :-). > > >Tap the free ends of the rods together. Move them apart as necessary. > > You must have quite slow fuses in 110 V land if you can do a reliable > ignition without blowing the fuse. For 230 V operation, I would > suggest using a current limiting resistor (such as a large heater) or > an inductance (such as fluorescent light ballast) during the ignition. > When there is a solid arc, the current limiter can be shorted out. > > Paul > I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. I would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I put them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. Of course don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. PS: I was 16 at the time ;-) Article: 95177 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:51:24 +0100 From: Robert Obermayer Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Message-ID: <43878751$0$41144$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> hi, sorry if you didnt like everything, but sometimes some voilence against parts that cost you half a day of time and gave you a bad headache while troubleshooting is necessary... For more useful things, FETs actually can work as quite useful one-component HF oscillators if wires and connection points are properly chosen.With a second transistor one can build a working shortrange AM transmitter. A rather useful (works perfectly for SMPS uses) AC current probe for a scope can be made by using a small UI cored RFI filter coil from a monitor, connecting its windings in series and terminating with a 1ohm resistor, to which a coax cable with BNC connector is soldered to. The wire you want to measure the current in simply is fed trough the core one time. This only gives quantitative measurements unless calibrated but can be very useful if you cant afford a real current probe. The known resonant royer circiut used for CCFL inverters can be used for larger inverters if appropriate parts are chosen, and can produce some high frequency/high voltage with a transformer from a old TV (with no internal rectifier). This has its uses, besides connecting it to a old light bulb that works as plasma globe or connecting both outputs to a large neon bulb [Bienenkorbglimmlampe], which simply looks very nice but also produces lots of RFI, so dont run it for too long. FET gate drivers make nice TTL output stages for function generators, as these can drive rather high currents and are fairly robust. If a slowly, steadily changing linear voltage is necessary (for ex. confirming the linearity of something) a 10turn precicion pot copuled with a slow syncronous motor (a old microwave oven has a nice 2.5u/min one) by some tape (so it slips/breaks when the pot is at its endpoint) works nicely. Article: 95178 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: shb*NO*SPAM*@comporium.net (Si Ballenger) Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 01:50:49 GMT Message-ID: <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 20:48:19 GMT, Al wrote: >In article , > Paul Keinanen wrote: > >> On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:49:24 -0500, Jon Yaeger >> wrote: >> >> >Take apart a couple of D cell carbon-zinc batteries. >> > >> >Wash off the carbon rods. Put each in a wooden clothes pin and connect the >> >attached ends to the mains voltage (US customers only, please). >> >> The problem is that the carbon rod conducts heat quite well, so after >> a while, any wooden object will catch fire :-). >> >> >Tap the free ends of the rods together. Move them apart as necessary. >> >> You must have quite slow fuses in 110 V land if you can do a reliable >> ignition without blowing the fuse. For 230 V operation, I would >> suggest using a current limiting resistor (such as a large heater) or >> an inductance (such as fluorescent light ballast) during the ignition. >> When there is a solid arc, the current limiter can be shorted out. >> >> Paul >> > >I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. I >would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I put >them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. Of course >don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. The current limiter I saw used a glass pie pan with pieces copper metal on each side with salty water as the electrolyte. It would start to steam some when in operation. The furnace was a small clay flower pot with holes in each side with the carbon rods sticking inside until they touched. Article: 95179 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Denton" Subject: 12 vdc distribution network? Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 18:32:00 -0800 Message-ID: <11ofi91dgtedh04@corp.supernews.com> Hi all... I am looking for an idea or schematic for a dc power distribution box...something that will allow me to feed two vhf/uhf and two hf rigs from the same power supply and battery pack, with sufficient rf isolation. Thanks in advance de Denton WB7TDG Article: 95180 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Phil Hobbs Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:13:38 -0500 Message-ID: <4387D2E2.4000500@us.ibm.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> Si Ballenger wrote: >>I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. I >>would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I put >>them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. Of course >>don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. > > > The current limiter I saw used a glass pie pan with pieces copper > metal on each side with salty water as the electrolyte. It would > start to steam some when in operation. The furnace was a small > clay flower pot with holes in each side with the carbon rods > sticking inside until they touched. > As a boy, I used an electric teakettle as a ballast for a two-D-cell carbon arc lamp--worked great. Cheers, Phil Hobbs From boB Mon Nov 28 03:22:21 EST 2005 Article: 95181 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: boB_K7IQ Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: 25 Nov 2005 22:24:01 -0600 Organization: k7iq Lines: 10 Message-ID: <5gofo1l9ajqbsgps7abg1fealcr185re2r@4ax.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <4386f4f3_1@x-privat.org> X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 1.92/32.572 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Path: news1.isis.unc.edu!canoe.uoregon.edu!cyclone1.gnilink.net!gnilink.net!nx01.iad01.newshosting.com!newshosting.com!novia!novia!sequencer.newscene.com!not-for-mail Xref: news1.isis.unc.edu rec.radio.amateur.homebrew:95181 A simple 1.0 K Ohm or so carbon film resistor placed across the line makes a very nice display after a couple of seconds. They also make a handy fuse to trigger a little firecracker when used as a "surprise" for some unsuspecting technician placed across his load behind the workbench when he turns it on in the morning. boB K7IQ Article: 95182 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Roy Lewallen Subject: Re: Conductive plastic/cermet pots Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 20:27:49 -0800 Message-ID: <11ofp28a8gubec1@corp.supernews.com> References: <11odhers7enq57a@corp.supernews.com> Ivan Makarov wrote: > Thanks, Roy, > > and multiturn conductive plastic/cermet pots still have the same flat > element, say , 340 degree, but incude a vernier dial that changes turns > ratio? I've seen pots of both types, but I think the only ones I've seen with a multi-turn helical element were wirewound. I'd say look at the shape of the pot -- if it's a flattened cylinder like a conventional pot, it's probably got a single flat element. On ones I have like that, the planetary vernier drive is obvious. But if it's shaped more like a tin can, I'd suspect a multi-turn element. Roy Lewallen, W7EL Article: 95183 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <4387FA25.9040302@nettally.com> From: **THE-RFI-EMI-GUY** Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <4386D45A.8FCD2C77@hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 05:59:10 GMT I have also seen thermistors used as a self regulating thermal element for a crystal oven. Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY" "Follow The Money" Pooh Bear wrote: >John Larkin wrote: > > > >>TO-220 bipolar transistors make nice temperature sensors. >> >> > >I like that trick. Esp the isolated tab type. > >Graham > > > -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY" "Follow The Money" Article: 95184 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <4387FCE3.90209@nettally.com> From: **THE-RFI-EMI-GUY** Subject: Re: WANTED! Mostar Intrerface Box References: <4sVff.5408$BC2.1398@trnddc04> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 06:10:52 GMT The Mostars originally used an EPSON "computer" as a programmer. The program was on a tape drive. Very clunky. Later on the MIB programmer was developed. I am sure you had to burn a code plug in any event. The Mostars had a couple problems 1) The UHF ones had a problem with tin "whiskers" growing inside the helical preselector casting which would short out and detune the front end. It was impossible to repair this part as it was permanently attached to the main board. 2) the 800 MHz ones had a problem with thermal and mechanical expansion which affected the VCO helical coil which was housed in the casting called the "helical hotel" by the development engineer. This part you could solder with special solder but it would soon again fail. The symptom was an intermittent radio (no TX or RX). If you banged on it, it would start working again for days. Apart from these serious problems, the radios were quite an advancement >from the previous Maxar radios which used crystals and leaded components. I believe the Mostars were the first Motorola radios to use surface mount components and metric fastners. SignalFerret wrote: >If recall Mostars had a PROM on the controller board. They're programmed >using a stand alone PROM programmer. As I recall it was a big suit case >looking monster. > >May I ask, what frequency band is the Mostar, and more importantly, why >bother. It's a Mostar. Worst Motorola radio ever! > >Robert N3LGC > >"Gene Rodgers" wrote in message >news:4sVff.5408$BC2.1398@trnddc04... > > >>I want to find a schematic for the Motorola Mostar Interface Box. I need a >>MIB to program my Mostars. >> >>Thanks, >> >>Gene ke5bfa >> >> >> > > > > -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY" "Follow The Money" Article: 95185 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Paul Keinanen Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: <2a8go1tmpkvjo2ceemnnrp5ooln57m5vg1@4ax.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <11oet22oed6gl8b@corp.supernews.com> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 11:56:55 +0200 On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 12:29:52 -0800, Roy Lewallen wrote: >Paul Keinanen wrote: >> . . . >> You must have quite slow fuses in 110 V land if you can do a reliable >> ignition without blowing the fuse. For 230 V operation, I would >> suggest using a current limiting resistor (such as a large heater) or >> an inductance (such as fluorescent light ballast) during the ignition. >> When there is a solid arc, the current limiter can be shorted out. >> > >Aren't you in danger of damaging your eyes from the UV emitted from the arc? Certainly. I used arc welding glasses when conducing these experiments. Some trivia: In the silent film era, actors had eye problems due to the UV radiation from arc studio lamps. Most of the usable illumination from the arc lights is actually from the glowing carbon electrodes. "Automatic arc lights" used a solenoid in series with the arc to keep the distance constant between the poles regardless of carbon electrode burnout. I assume that if this is to be used with a AC arc light, both the moving coil as well as the static coil should carry the arc current. Paul OH3LWR Article: 95186 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "David J Windisch" References: Subject: Re: For sale Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 11:11:41 GMT Ads were a bit cryptic, sri. I'm seeking *offers*, tks. 73, Dave, N3HE Article: 95187 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "David J Windisch" References: Subject: Re: For sale Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 11:15:40 GMT Ads were a bit cryptic, sri. I'm seeking *offers*, tks. 73, Dave, N3HE Article: 95188 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 21:19:18 +1000 From: Murray Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43875017$0$8788$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk> Message-ID: <43884488$0$12455$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au> Frithiof Andreas Jensen wrote: > "Henry Kiefer" skrev i en meddelelse > news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... > > >>Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > > Unbuffered logic gates can make a really bad but still useful analogue > amplifier by adding feedback and bias. > > E.G the CMOS 4007. See the old handbooks for a '100dB amplifier' based on a RCA chip - there was a wiring error in that old description - IIRC it was 3800? - whatever, the 4007 is the same chip. Murray vk4aok Article: 95189 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Roy Lewallen Subject: Re: Crystal VCO Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 04:55:32 -0800 Message-ID: <11ogmqadr5i3c0e@corp.supernews.com> References: <1133008611.942023.234010@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> Apparatus wrote: > . . . > I'm at home where I only have an analog tektronix 2213 60MHz scope (no > spectrum analyzer). How can I measure the frequency deviation / pull of > the crystal with the series configuration? Any ideas? If you have another crystal, build a second oscillator. Run the two into a mixer followed by a simple lowpass filter, and measure the resulting difference frequency. Roy Lewallen, W7EL Article: 95190 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Harold E. Johnson" References: <1133008533.449590.8800@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: FAQ - Is anyone interested in _REAL_ Ham Radio any more? Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 13:56:41 GMT My GAWD! Bean, can't you just go away and put us all out of your misery? Plonk one more name and time. W4ZCB "Heinrich Hurts" wrote in message news:1133008533.449590.8800@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com... > What is Ham Radio? > > Ham Radio is a technical pursuit for those who > are interested in the science of radio wave > propagation and who are also interested in the > way that their radios function. It has a long-standing > tradition of providing a source of engineers who > are born naturals. > > Ham Radio awakens in its aficionados a whole-life > fascination with all things technical and gives > an all-abiding curiosity to improve one's scientific > knowledge. It's a great swimming pool, please dive in! > > This excitement causes a wish to share the experience > with ones fellow man, and shows itself in the > gentlemanly traditions of Ham Radio. > > Radio Hams are in a unique privileged position in that > they can construct and operate their own equipment! No-one > else has this privilege. Users, such as broadcasters, > the po lice and armed farces, CBers and mobile phone > users have to purchase ready-made gear. Manufacturers > are not licensed to operate their gear. Radio Hams > are qualified to design, build and then > operate their own pieces of equipment. They do this > with gusto, and also repair and modify their own > equipment. This is a privilege well worth the effort > to gain, and one to be jealously guarded. > > The excitement that drives a Radio Ham starts with > relatively simple technologies at first, perhaps making > his own Wimshurst machine and primary cells. Small pieces > of test equipment follow, possibly multimeters and signal > generators. Then comes receivers and transmitters. It is with > the latter that communication with like-minded technically > motivated people takes off. The scope for technical > development grows with the years > and now encompasses DSP and DDS. There is also a great deal > of excitement in the areas of computer programming to > be learnt and applied. > > The technical excitement motivates Radio Hams to compete > with each other to determine who has designed and manufactured > the best-quality station. This competitiveness is found in DXing, > competitions and fox-hunts. > > -----OOOOO---- > > However, beware! A Ham Radio licence is such a > desirable thing to have that there are large > numbers of people who wish to be thought of > as Radio Hams when, in fact, they are nothing > of the kind! Usually such people are a > variation of the CB Radio hobbyist; they buy their > radios off the shelf and send them back to be > repaired; they are not interested in technical discussion > and sneer at those who are; they have no idea how > their radios work inside and have no wish to find out; > they are free with rather silly personal insults; > they have not satisfied any technical qualification > and their licences prevent the use of > self-designed-and-built equipment. > > These CB types engage in the competitive activities > with their Cheque-Book-purchased off-the-shelf radios > in a forlorn effort to prove that they are Radio Hams. > > No _REAL_ Radio Hams are deceived by such people! > > -----ooooo----- > > One infallible way to disambiguate the CB Radio Hobbyist > from the _REAL_ Radio Ham is to solicit their view of the > difference between CB Radio and Ham Radio. A Radio Ham will > perceive Ham Radio to be a technical pursuit and will > perceive CB Radio to be a social communications facility > no different in essence to a land-line telephone or a > GSM mobile in the hands of a 6-year-old. Thus a Radio Ham > could also hold a CB licence safe in the knowledge that > such a licence says no more about him than having a land-line > telephone, whilst continuing to regard Ham Radio as a separate > technical pursuit. > > A CB Radio hobbyist, on the other hand, sees no difference between > a Ham Radio licence and a CB Radio licence. To him, they are > sisters-under-the-skin. Wrongly, the CB Radio Hobbyist then > tries to classify himself as the equal of the Radio > Ham when, in fact, he is nothing of the kind. A sure sign of > a CB Radio hobbyist is if he holds, or has ever held, a licence > issued under the gangrenous degeneration that is the > M3/CB Fools' Licence scheme. > > -----ooooo----- > > One group of people who claim to be of the standard of > Radio Hams but who are in reality nothing more than an > apology for the failure of a CBer are those class B > licensees who falsely proclaimed that they were against > the use of a Morse Test to control access to the HF > bands, until, that is, a test was introduced at their > intellectual level, the intellectual level of 6-year-olds. > > 6 year-olds simply lack the mathematical tool kit to > enable them to handle even the simplest algebraic manipulation > for Ohm's Law and thus, the disgraceful Class Ber's in > the aforementioned category are not Radio Hams by any stretch > of the imagination! > > Remember - A sure sign of a CB Radio hobbyist is if he holds, > or has ever held, a licence issued under the gangrenous > degeneration that is the M3/CB Fools' Licence scheme! > Article: 95191 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Paul Keinanen Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43875017$0$8788$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk> <43884488$0$12455$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:25:04 +0200 On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 21:19:18 +1000, Murray wrote: >Frithiof Andreas Jensen wrote: >E.G the CMOS 4007. See the old handbooks for a '100dB >amplifier' based on a RCA chip - there was a wiring >error in that old description - IIRC it was 3800? - >whatever, the 4007 is the same chip. The Motorola McMOS handbook (2nd edition 1974) warns about this usage by pointing out that by cascading three such AC coupled stages, the last stage will be saturated by the noise from the first stage. Paul OH3LWR Article: 95192 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "wa2mze(spamless)" <"wa2mze(spamless)"@bellsouth.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 10:10:34 -0500 Henry Kiefer wrote: > Hi all - > > After my first thread going from "standard" cheap parts for up to vhf > frequency to a discussion about the usefulness of Spice simulator...... I > try it another time hopefully get attention of frustrated co-readers: > > For example the rechtifier diode 1N4007 can be used as a rf switching diode, > for example as rx/tx-switch. This is because it is a pin structure diode. > This type is cheap and you can get it almost everywhere. It shows good > performance for the price. Surely for high-end you should do it with another > type tuned to the application it is made for. But anyway it works in some > circuits. > > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > Best regards - > Henry > > Take one P channel Jfet and one N channel Jfet and connect them in series so the two sources are together, connect the gate of each transistor to the other one's drain. This is known as a lambda connection, and if you plot the voltage vs current from drain to drain you will see a negative resistance region, usually around 3v (depending on the transistors). The circuit will work as a tunnel diode oscillator up to 100-200mhz. Article: 95193 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "wa2mze(spamless)" <"wa2mze(spamless)"@bellsouth.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <0t6co11edadugadvv1i9mhmq2v00uaknfh@4ax.com> Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 10:12:35 -0500 nospam@nouce.bellatlantic.net wrote: > 1n914/4148 as silicon temperature sensor. (forward bias) I used a 1n4007 as a temperature sensor to repair a water bed heater. Article: 95194 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "wa2mze(spamless)" <"wa2mze(spamless)"@bellsouth.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 10:16:23 -0500 > You must have quite slow fuses in 110 V land if you can do a reliable > ignition without blowing the fuse. For 230 V operation, I would > suggest using a current limiting resistor (such as a large heater) or > an inductance (such as fluorescent light ballast) during the ignition. > When there is a solid arc, the current limiter can be shorted out. > > Paul > Did you know that a carbon arc acts as a negative resistance? Run the arc on DC and put an LC tuned circuit in series with the arc (coil of heavy copper tubing) and you have a powerful oscillator. Article: 95195 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Rick" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:43:48 GMT "Si Ballenger" wrote in message news:4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net... > On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 20:48:19 GMT, Al wrote: > > >In article , > > Paul Keinanen wrote: > > > >> On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:49:24 -0500, Jon Yaeger > >> wrote: > >> > >> >Take apart a couple of D cell carbon-zinc batteries. > >> > > >> >Wash off the carbon rods. Put each in a wooden clothes pin and connect the > >> >attached ends to the mains voltage (US customers only, please). > >> > >> The problem is that the carbon rod conducts heat quite well, so after > >> a while, any wooden object will catch fire :-). > >> > >> >Tap the free ends of the rods together. Move them apart as necessary. > >> > >> You must have quite slow fuses in 110 V land if you can do a reliable > >> ignition without blowing the fuse. For 230 V operation, I would > >> suggest using a current limiting resistor (such as a large heater) or > >> an inductance (such as fluorescent light ballast) during the ignition. > >> When there is a solid arc, the current limiter can be shorted out. > >> > >> Paul > >> > > > >I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. I > >would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I put > >them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. Of course > >don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. > > The current limiter I saw used a glass pie pan with pieces copper > metal on each side with salty water as the electrolyte. It would > start to steam some when in operation. The furnace was a small > clay flower pot with holes in each side with the carbon rods > sticking inside until they touched. Exactly-when I was a kid we made them like this all the time. As I recall, it came from "700 scientific experiments, with illustrations"... > Article: 95196 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> From: "Pete C." Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:52:36 GMT nospam.clare.nce@sny.der.on.ca wrote: > > > Too bad all you've met are the bad ones. There are a few good ones > left - but most of US have gotten out.(which leaves only the bad ones > for you to deal with). > I got out, largely, because the CUSTOMERS are unpolite, > demanding,dishonest, cheap, and generally impossible to satisfy - even > when you do something for nothing. > They book their car for 3 hours of work and don't show up, after you > have made room in your busy schedule to get them in NOW - and that is > only because it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it yesterday. Then they want you > to diagnose the problem over the phone and guarantee the price - AND > be cheaper than the other 10 or 12 mechanics they have done the same > thing to. If you can't get the parts PRONTO, they cry and complain - > and you can NOT have every possible part available - the dealers don't > either. Then they lie about what has happened to the car, because they > want it to be someone elses fault and problem, not their own. > You fix the car and they leave and stop payment on the check or > dispute the charge on their credit card. Not only that, they bad-mouth > you to everyone who will listen when at the bar, a party, or wherever, > whenever the subject of auto repair or car problems comes up - which > is ANY time. Then 3 months later, after you have fixed, say the > brakes, they come back with the wiper motor not working - and - you > guessed it - its YOUR fault!!!! > > Not entirely true, the few lucky people who have been able to find honest, reliable mechanics do tend to speak highly of them. > > It just wasn't fun any more after 25 years - and its gotten a whole > lot worse in the last 15 or more years. Remember that the people bringing in the cars in the last 15 years or so as you have noted, are the parents (or now their children) from the generation that has deluded themselves into the belief that mechanical trades (dirty jobs) are somehow devoid of education and skill and have actively discouraged their children from having any interest in such things. This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just be swapping parts until things magically start working. It's only going to get worse too... Pete C. Article: 95197 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Jim Thompson Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> <4387D2E2.4000500@us.ibm.com> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 08:55:15 -0700 On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:13:38 -0500, Phil Hobbs wrote: >Si Ballenger wrote: > >>>I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. I >>>would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I put >>>them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. Of course >>>don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. >> >> >> The current limiter I saw used a glass pie pan with pieces copper >> metal on each side with salty water as the electrolyte. It would >> start to steam some when in operation. The furnace was a small >> clay flower pot with holes in each side with the carbon rods >> sticking inside until they touched. >> > >As a boy, I used an electric teakettle as a ballast for a two-D-cell carbon >arc lamp--worked great. > >Cheers, > >Phil Hobbs I've used a light bulb in series with a rectifier to charge a car battery (just make sure that line ground goes to chassis ground ;-) ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | | http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food. Article: 95198 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Matthias Weingart Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:16:27 +0000 (UTC) Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <8764qh82fw.fsf@cordelia.devereux.me.uk> John Devereux wrote in news:8764qh82fw.fsf@cordelia.devereux.me.uk: > ehsjr writes: >> Henry Kiefer wrote: >> > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for >> > misuse? Best regards - >> > Henry >> >> An LED as a shunt regulator. Also, as a varicap. >> Ed > > Also a photodetector that is insensitive to long wavelengths > (because of the high bandgap). To save power, use the LEDs of a backlight to measure the ambient light to decide to switch the backlight on or not. M. -- Bitte auf mwnews2@pentax.boerde.de antworten. Article: 95199 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Harold E. Johnson" References: <1133008533.449590.8800@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: FAQ - Is anyone interested in _REAL_ Ham Radio any more? Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:56:03 GMT > (1) Please do not top post. It makes you look like a clueless newbie. > The other main top-poster in this newsgroup is the very person that > you seek to criticise! > > (2) Please do not quote more than 100 lines of text, just to add your > own two-line comment. It adds insult to injury. > > 73 de G3NYY Sorry Walt, the SOB got to me again. W4ZCB Article: 95200 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Ignoramus12834 Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 17:47:59 GMT On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:52:36 GMT, Pete C. wrote: > This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the > increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys > couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just > be swapping parts until things magically start working. They keep swapping parts because it makes them money. A true story. A couple of years ago, a lightning struck a big tree in our yard: http://igor.chudov.com/tmp/lightning/ That also knocked out our central A/C. So, I went in with a multimeter and tried tracing just where does not signal go etc. I learned that the control board was sending proper signal to the motor drive board, etc. Then we called an A/C guy. He calls me at work and says stuff like "the main board is probably knocked out and needs replacement", lets replace this and that etc. I asked him just what basis do you have for saying so. (because I knew that it was bullshit). He mumbled some nonsense. I decided not to hire him, although I paid his visit fee. I did not feel like hiring someone who is either incompetent or a crook. I called another A/C company and explained them my findings etc. He replaced the motor drive board, it was covered by warranty (but labor was not), and everything works fine to date. Some other things failed since, such as quick disconnect terminals fell apart on the main contactor, but the control system is fine. The moral of the story, they want replacing parts because it makes $$ for them. i Article: 95201 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Ignoramus12834 Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> Message-ID: <3f1if.17987$Ge4.2007@fe32.usenetserver.com> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 17:49:51 GMT Forgot to say, the guy who serviced our AC (the second one) is actually quite honest, at least I did not notice anything bad about him. His company is called Krope and Sons. i On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 17:47:59 GMT, Ignoramus12834 wrote: > On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:52:36 GMT, Pete C. wrote: >> This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the >> increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys >> couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just >> be swapping parts until things magically start working. > > They keep swapping parts because it makes them money. > > A true story. A couple of years ago, a lightning struck a big tree in > our yard: > > http://igor.chudov.com/tmp/lightning/ > > That also knocked out our central A/C. > > So, I went in with a multimeter and tried tracing just where does not > signal go etc. I learned that the control board was sending proper > signal to the motor drive board, etc. > > Then we called an A/C guy. He calls me at work and says stuff like > "the main board is probably knocked out and needs replacement", lets > replace this and that etc. > > I asked him just what basis do you have for saying so. (because I knew > that it was bullshit). He mumbled some nonsense. I decided not to hire > him, although I paid his visit fee. I did not feel like hiring someone > who is either incompetent or a crook. I called another A/C company and > explained them my findings etc. > > He replaced the motor drive board, it was covered by warranty (but > labor was not), and everything works fine to date. Some other things > failed since, such as quick disconnect terminals fell apart on the > main contactor, but the control system is fine. > > The moral of the story, they want replacing parts because it makes $$ > for them. > > i > -- Article: 95202 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John Larkin Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 10:28:23 -0800 Message-ID: <46aho1p0i8k2r3apli37a7if8ap1kgfksl@4ax.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <11oet22oed6gl8b@corp.supernews.com> <2a8go1tmpkvjo2ceemnnrp5ooln57m5vg1@4ax.com> On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 11:56:55 +0200, Paul Keinanen wrote: >On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 12:29:52 -0800, Roy Lewallen >wrote: > >>Paul Keinanen wrote: >>> . . . >>> You must have quite slow fuses in 110 V land if you can do a reliable >>> ignition without blowing the fuse. For 230 V operation, I would >>> suggest using a current limiting resistor (such as a large heater) or >>> an inductance (such as fluorescent light ballast) during the ignition. >>> When there is a solid arc, the current limiter can be shorted out. >>> >> >>Aren't you in danger of damaging your eyes from the UV emitted from the arc? > >Certainly. > >I used arc welding glasses when conducing these experiments. > >Some trivia: > >In the silent film era, actors had eye problems due to the UV >radiation from arc studio lamps. > >Most of the usable illumination from the arc lights is actually from >the glowing carbon electrodes. > >"Automatic arc lights" used a solenoid in series with the arc to keep >the distance constant between the poles regardless of carbon electrode >burnout. I assume that if this is to be used with a AC arc light, both >the moving coil as well as the static coil should carry the arc >current. > >Paul OH3LWR We worked with a company that was developing an xray imager, and was buying very expensive electrically conductive glass (gigohms per square sort of range.) They discovered that certain welding glass was identical and about 1/20 the price. John Article: 95203 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Spike Subject: Re: FAQ - Is anyone interested in _REAL_ Ham Radio any more? Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 18:46:12 +0000 Message-ID: References: <1133008533.449590.8800@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Heinrich Hurts wrote: >What is Ham Radio? > >Ham Radio is a technical pursuit... This is the chappie that calculated the length of the day on this planet was 23H20. He's also the chappie that couldn't operate an FT101 because some pages of the manual were missing. I'd suggest one takes his ramblings with a large pinch of salt. from Aero Spike Blair: "Removing Saddam....will be....a blessing to the Iraqi people" Article: 95204 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: mcalhoun@ksu.edu Subject: Re: Trickle Charge Battery Date: 26 Nov 2005 12:59:08 -0600 Message-ID: References: >During a power outage, which occurs frequently in Florida, I would like to >use a battery to power some communication gear. Although the battery is 12v >....[snip].... Although many have suggested you should use "deep cycle" (also called "traction") batteries, be aware that the specifications for such batteries are DIFFERENT in that they are rated to still be producing useable power when their output voltage is somewhat LOWER than others. If your equipment poops out before that lower voltage is reached, you won't get all the output you've paid for. (My TenTek 540, for example, starts FM'ing at about 11.5 volts, so the remaining output from a deep-cycle is totally unuseable.) The following is abstracted from a 3 Oct. 1992 post to rec.radio.amateur.misc by Brian Kantor : 1. Automotive starting: formulated with thin pasted plates and designed to supply high peak currents for brief periods of time while cranking an engine. Designed to be discharged to more than perhaps 75% of capacity and to be recharged immediately after discharge. Typically discharged-rated at a 20-hour rate. 2. Traction (e.g., deep-cycle batteries): made with thick pasted plates and with very rugged separators between the plates to make the battery more immune to physical shock and vibration and to reduce the chance of failure due to dendritic growth during recharging. Sold for use in electric forklifts, golf carts, marine trolling motors, and RV power. Designed to be discharged nearly fully each day and recharged each night. Typically discharged-rated at a 5-hour rate. 3. Stationary: made with thick solid plates. Designed to be used as standby power, supplying minimal power and kept in a state of nearly- full ("float") charge until needed. Can take deep discharge. Because of the solid-plate structure, they are bigger and heavier, but their lifetime is much longer (10 years is not unusual). Typically discharged-rated at a 10-hour rate. Each type of battery has a specified voltage at which it is considered to be completely discharged; if discharge continues below this voltage, battery life may be considerably shortened, and repeated abuse of this nature can result in a battery which cannot practically be recharged. Each battery manufacturer specifies this voltage; in general, the final voltages for the three general types of batteries are: Automotive: 1.75 volts per cell Traction: 1.70 volts per cell Stationary: 1.85 volts per cell A typical traction-type cell shows the following voltages: 2.12 Fully charged, open circuit, at rest with no charge or discharge for at least 12 hours 2.00 As soon as load is applied (internal voltage drop) 1.70 Fully discharged, under load 1.99 Fully discharged, open circuit 2.10 Beginning of charging after full discharge 2.35 70-80% charged; gassing begins 2.65 Fully charged # The following assumes 12 volt negative-grounded "automobile" batteries as # found in most cars, light trucks, and vans in North America. Liquid-electrolyte lead-acid batteries can be recharged at any rate exceeding internal- and surface-discharge rates and which does not cause "excessive" gassing (liberation of oxygen, hydrogen, and steam). In NON-float service, there are several simple chargers: * A single-rate constant-current charger limits its charge rate to about 7% of the battery's ampere-hour capacity. Thus, for a 100 Ah battery, the charger would supply about 7 amperes and must be able to supply voltages between 12.6 and 16 volts over the duration of the charge. Charging is complete when the battery reached 2.65-2.70 volts per cell. * A simple taper charger is a constant-voltage source set to 2.8 volts per cell with a series ballast (typically a resistor, but a choke or the internal resistance of the supply can be used) which limits the output current to 7% of capacity when charging is started at 2.1 volts per cell. Again, charging is complete at 2.7 volts per cell. * Trickle-charging (supplying 0.5-1 milliampere per ampere-hour capacity) of a fully-charged battery can be done to keep it charged. Trickle charging should be discontinued when it has continued for at least 24 hours and the battery has reached 2.25 volts per cell. Typically, trickle chargers are set to run perhaps once a week. Because of their thin plate construction, automotive-type batteries will deteriorate if trickle-charged for more than perhaps six months. (However, using pulsating rectified AC or superimposing a small AC current on pure DC charging current increases battery life by up to 30%. It is postulated that this reduces gassing, leads to more porous lower-resistance plates, and lessens the tendency to form dendrites during charging.) In FLOAT service, where the battery is in parallel with the mains supply, the supply voltage must be set to 2.15-2.20 volts per cell. This charges the battery and avoids excessive gassing, but does not serve to "freshen" the cells--there is not enough gassing activity to move electrolyte around and clear the beginning of deposits from the surfaces of the plates. It is recommended that batteries in float service occasionally (perhaps once a month) be charged to 2.65 volts per cell to freshen and equalize the charges. In large installations, this is done by switching parts of the battery banks out of service in rotation; in smaller systems that can tolerate the voltage excursion (about 16 volts!), it can be done by simply boosting the output of the mains supply. Charging inevitably leads to some water loss due to gassing: 100 ampere- hours of a gassing charge (2.4 or more volts per cell) causes a water loss of about 1.2 ounces. Hydrocap Corp (975 NW 95th Street, Miami FL, 303-696-2504) makes replacement filler caps ($5-10 each) containing a catalytic material which recondenses emitted steam and recombines hydrogen and oxygen gasses back into pure water which then dribbles back into the cell, greatly reducing the required maintenance. For further information: Smith, George. "Storage Batteries, including Operation, Charging, Maintenance, and Repair". ISBN 273-43448-9, TK2941.S57, 1978. Aguf, I.A. and M.A. Dasoyan. "The Lead Accumulator" (translated from Russian byu S. Sathyanarayana). Calcutta, 1968. Longrigg, Paul. "Rapid Charging of Lead-Acid Batteries for Electric Vehicle Propulsion and Solar Energy Storage." DOE/NTIS 1981. Darden, Bill (bjb_darden@yahoo.com) battery FAQ's found on the WWW. -- --Myron A. Calhoun. Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge PhD EE (retired). "Barbershop" tenor. CDL(PTXS). W0PBV. (785) 539-4448 NRA Life Member and Certified Instructor (Home Firearm Safety, Rifle, Pistol) Article: 95205 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: mcalhoun@ksu.edu Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: 26 Nov 2005 13:07:31 -0600 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <0t6co11edadugadvv1i9mhmq2v00uaknfh@4ax.com> >> 1n914/4148 as silicon temperature sensor. (forward bias) References: Subject: Re: AWA Contest- Caution Message-ID: <3G3if.2291$Y%5.161@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 20:35:11 GMT >members only event HA HA HA my ass! No such thing on the ham bands. "Carl WA1KPD" wrote in message news:iLedna3pm_G1PxXeRVn-tg@comcast.com... > To those of you who were planning to join the AWA CW contest over the next > two weekends be aware that it is a members only event. I just learned so > today. Be careful not to intrude and work someone.(see emails below) > > I will be testing out my new Hartley and look forward to anyone else > (Member or not) who want to communicate with Old Time rigs.I will try not > to intrude upon their contest frequencies > > This is in no way a shot at Marc who was kind enough to point out the > rules to me. > > As a former (for no particular reason) member who has attended the > Rochester meet I have listened to the complaints about AWA over the last > few years and not thought much about them one way or the other. But I now > do see why people complain that they act as an exclusive group. > > Yes, I know I could join again and play in the sandbox the next two > weekends, but to be honest I'm not sure I care to anymore. > > > From: Carl Nord [mailto:chnord@comcast.net] > Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005 12:11 PM > To: 'antiquewirelessassociation@yahoogroups.com' > Subject: RE: [AWA] Contest > > Marc, > > In all sincerity, thank you for the clarification as well as the others > who were kind enough to fully respond to my question. There certainly were > some rather unhelpful initial responses. > > I will continue to finish my HB Hartley this weekend but will make sure > (as a former member) that I abide by the AWA rules and endeavor not to > intrude on the frequencies and work any of the AWA members. > > That being said I will be on the air next weekend and perhaps some of the > other non- AWA members might like to pick a frequency to exercise our OT > equipment? > > Carl > WA1KPD > Visit My Boatanchor Collection at > http://home.comcast.net/~chnord/wa1kpd.html > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > From: antiquewirelessassociation@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:antiquewirelessassociation@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of MARC > ELLIS > Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005 11:53 AM > To: antiquewirelessassociation@yahoogroups.com > Subject: RE: [AWA] Contest > > Hello all-- > > I've seen the recent queries posted about the AWA 1929 QSO party. > > I guess I should jump in and try to clear this up, though I have no > official connection with the AWA ham contests. > > Our new AM QSO party, being chaired by Gary Carter, is the only one open > to all hams. The other contests, including the 1929 QSO party, are open to > members only. > > The only reason you will find the dates of the QSO party on our web site > is that we had to correct the wrong dates that were accidentally sent to > the Journal and printed there. Frequencies, times, scoring info, etc are > in the Journal but never posted on the site for obvious reasons. > > Logs are sent out by contest chairman John Rollins only to previous > participants or members who are newly applying for them. > > Friends, this is a public service announcement only. I definitely don't > want to get involved in discussions about the right or wrong of this, nor > would it be appropriate for me to do so. Suffice it to say that John and > the AWA have very good reasons for restricting the contest , though I can > also see the other side of the questrion. > > Marc Ellis, N9EWJ > Editor, The AWA Journal > > > Article: 95207 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Winfried Salomon Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 21:41:06 +0100 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> Hello Jorgen, Jorgen Lund-Nielsen wrote: [.....] > 2N2369 for fast pulses. btw, do you know a standard complementary pnp-transistor for the 2N2369, such like 2N3905 but with higher ft and less feedback capacitance? It seems that the manufactorers have almost no data on their internet pages. mfg. Winfried Article: 95208 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: " Uncle Peter" References: Subject: Re: AWA Contest- Caution Message-ID: <1T3if.2204$1x.2138@fed1read06> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:49:26 -0500 "Carl WA1KPD" wrote in message Hey Carl Let's see some photos of that Hartley rig!! Pete Article: 95209 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John - KD5YI Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> <4387D2E2.4000500@us.ibm.com> Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 20:51:01 GMT Jim Thompson wrote: > On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:13:38 -0500, Phil Hobbs > wrote: > > >>Si Ballenger wrote: >> >> >>>>I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. I >>>>would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I put >>>>them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. Of course >>>>don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. >>> >>> >>>The current limiter I saw used a glass pie pan with pieces copper >>>metal on each side with salty water as the electrolyte. It would >>>start to steam some when in operation. The furnace was a small >>>clay flower pot with holes in each side with the carbon rods >>>sticking inside until they touched. >>> >> >>As a boy, I used an electric teakettle as a ballast for a two-D-cell carbon >>arc lamp--worked great. >> >>Cheers, >> >>Phil Hobbs > > > I've used a light bulb in series with a rectifier to charge a car > battery (just make sure that line ground goes to chassis ground ;-) > > ...Jim Thompson Going the other direction, I used the elements from a toaster as a load to discharge wet-cell lead-acid batteries. It was a discharge/charge cycling test. John Article: 95210 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Jim Thompson Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 13:53:25 -0700 On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 21:41:06 +0100, Winfried Salomon wrote: >Hello Jorgen, > >Jorgen Lund-Nielsen wrote: > >[.....] >> 2N2369 for fast pulses. > >btw, do you know a standard complementary pnp-transistor for the 2N2369, >such like 2N3905 but with higher ft and less feedback capacitance? It >seems that the manufactorers have almost no data on their internet pages. > >mfg. Winfried A 2N2369 is a gold-doped NPN, gold-doped to kill storage time and improve recovery from saturation. I don't recall any PNP device with gold-doping... or the equivalent. ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | | http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food. Article: 95211 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Brian Hill" References: <1T3if.2204$1x.2138@fed1read06> Subject: Re: AWA Contest- Caution Message-ID: Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:24:16 -0600 "Carl WA1KPD" wrote in message news:NfidnVS0VcHbUhXeRVn-iQ@comcast.com... > Will do when it is finished. I am using a mil surplus VT-127AZ. About the > oddest looking triode I have ever seen > > -- > Carl > WA1KPD > Visit My Boatanchor Collection at > http://home.comcast.net/~chnord/wa1kpd.html Hi Carl. How have you been? Any other good vintage finds lately? -- Regards B.H. Brian's Radio Universe http://webpages.charter.net/brianhill/500.htm Article: 95212 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <438262c8$0$27904$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11o4q89q7708kcd@corp.supernews.com> <11o5jngnvqrqmcb@corp.supernews.com> <11o82iimo8iv1d6@corp.supernews.com> <4384c9b8$0$27885$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11o9tect0adji4b@corp.supernews.com> <11obvka78059g2b@corp.supernews.com> Subject: Re: "Standard parts" for rf amps? Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 23:15:31 +0100 Message-ID: <4388e1fd$0$27881$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> And why, Jim, you don't comment my effort? Maybe I'm newer to rf as you but where is the difference between a microprocessor decoupling from the power supply at 100MegHz and a rf stage at the same frequency? Truly the cpu is more challenging because of the broad used spectrum above 100MegHz. Done PowerPC, PCI stuff and others.... - Henry Article: 95213 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <11oeib193nk1ua7@corp.supernews.com> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 23:57:19 +0100 Message-ID: <4388e913$0$20852$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net> A metal case of a crystal should never soldered!! This may break the oscillation characteristics. At least you must know what you're doing here. This type of built-in failure mode is often seen in products. Otherwise it is interesting! Another error with crystals is to ultrasonic the populated pcb. With the right sonic frequency the crystals comes in resonance - cracking of parts or wires! - Henry "RST Engineering" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:11oeib193nk1ua7@corp.supernews.com... > Take a crystal for which you need a constant temperature. Solder the > cathode of a cheap diode (1N4148 etc.) to the crystal case. Solder one end > of a moderately low value half-watt resistor to the case. Bring out the > anode of the diode, the free end of the resistor, and the crystal case on > wire leads and encapsulate the crystal-diode-resistor in heat shrink. Use > the diode as your temperature sensor, the resistor as your heating element, > an opamp/driver transistor as the comparator/amplifier and bingo, the > world's cheapest crystal oven. Bang-bang or linear, your choice. > > Jim > > > > > > eh> Henry Kiefer wrote: > > > Hi all - > > > > > > > > > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > > > > > Best regards - > > > Henry > > Article: 95214 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <1132928901.255333.129630@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:02:26 +0100 Message-ID: <4388f066$0$27889$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> As a youngster I played with TTL DIP-ICs in my chamber and my parents next room felt that the tv was going crazy. The pins had long wires... - Henry schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:1132928901.255333.129630@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... > As an addition to the various mentions of common diodes as varactors > there is a well publicized British design for a frequency tripler that > will put out 2 watts at 1.3 GHz and uses five 1N914's in parallel. > > I once built an HF transceiver that used CMOS logic chips for all > functions except an audio low noise amp and a voltage regulator...with > further thought those two could likely be done with CMOS logic too. > Article: 95215 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:06:24 +0100 Message-ID: <4388f068$0$27889$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> That is not new to me but thanks! Is the oscillator useful at 150MegHz? Modulable? Maybe I can make transmitter... Tell us more, please. cu - Henry "wa2mze(spamless)" <"wa2mze(spamless)"@bellsouth.net> schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:tT_hf.27576$s92.24482@bignews6.bellsouth.net... > Henry Kiefer wrote: > > Hi all - > > > > After my first thread going from "standard" cheap parts for up to vhf > > frequency to a discussion about the usefulness of Spice simulator...... I > > try it another time hopefully get attention of frustrated co-readers: > > > > For example the rechtifier diode 1N4007 can be used as a rf switching diode, > > for example as rx/tx-switch. This is because it is a pin structure diode. > > This type is cheap and you can get it almost everywhere. It shows good > > performance for the price. Surely for high-end you should do it with another > > type tuned to the application it is made for. But anyway it works in some > > circuits. > > > > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > > > Best regards - > > Henry > > > > > Take one P channel Jfet and one N channel Jfet and connect them > in series so the two sources are together, connect the gate of > each transistor to the other one's drain. This is known as a lambda > connection, and if you plot the voltage vs current from drain to drain > you will see a negative resistance region, usually around 3v > (depending on the transistors). The circuit will work as a tunnel > diode oscillator up to 100-200mhz. Article: 95216 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43875017$0$8788$edfadb0f@dread14.news.tele.dk> <43884488$0$12455$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:04:18 +0100 Message-ID: <4388f067$0$27889$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> The 4007 is the classic crystal oscillator circuit. Don't forget the temperature characteristics! - Henry "Murray" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:43884488$0$12455$5a62ac22@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au... > Frithiof Andreas Jensen wrote: > > > "Henry Kiefer" skrev i en meddelelse > > news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... > > > > > >>Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > > > > > Unbuffered logic gates can make a really bad but still useful analogue > > amplifier by adding feedback and bias. > > > > > E.G the CMOS 4007. See the old handbooks for a '100dB > amplifier' based on a RCA chip - there was a wiring > error in that old description - IIRC it was 3800? - > whatever, the 4007 is the same chip. > > Murray vk4aok Article: 95217 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:08:24 +0100 Message-ID: <4388f068$1$27889$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Don't forget the LED as an low-noise zener diode with integrated function control. Some high-fidelity enthusiasts use this in good audio amplifiers. - Henry "ehsjr" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:R3thf.9922$BU2.983@trndny01... > Henry Kiefer wrote: > > Hi all - > > > > After my first thread going from "standard" cheap parts for up to vhf > > frequency to a discussion about the usefulness of Spice simulator...... I > > try it another time hopefully get attention of frustrated co-readers: > > > > For example the rechtifier diode 1N4007 can be used as a rf switching diode, > > for example as rx/tx-switch. This is because it is a pin structure diode. > > This type is cheap and you can get it almost everywhere. It shows good > > performance for the price. Surely for high-end you should do it with another > > type tuned to the application it is made for. But anyway it works in some > > circuits. > > > > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > > > Best regards - > > Henry > > > > > > An LED as a shunt regulator. Also, as a varicap. > Ed Article: 95218 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:10:03 +0100 Message-ID: <4388f069$0$27889$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> There even exists LED specially taylored to the needs of doing duplex operation. - Henry "Frithiof Andreas Jensen" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:dm6msq$bvk$1@news.al.sw.ericsson.se... > > "Henry Kiefer" wrote in message > news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... > > > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > LED's work both ways, as a light emitter and a photodiode. > > The inbuilt colour filter can be used to distinguish between Grass and Not > grass f.ex. by comparing output from a red and a green LED using white light > as illumination. > > Back when fiber was ex$$$pensive one often saw clever circuitry using two > transmitters to form a duplex connection over a single fiber. > > The USD 10 solar powered garden lamps will, with a little persuation, yield > a nice solar cell well below the price of a similar unit in the shops - > and - two 600 mAh NiMh batteries and a grotty circuit for switching the LED. > > Article: 95219 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John Larkin Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:41:27 -0800 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:52:26 +0100, "Frithiof Andreas Jensen" wrote: > >"Henry Kiefer" wrote in message >news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... > >> Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > >LED's work both ways, as a light emitter and a photodiode. > And optocouplers can do interesting things: Very simple high-voltage opamp, up to 400 volts p-p. Isolated totem-pole driver, from a few volts up to 400. Current limiter. Low-leakage diode, sort of like an LED painted black. John Article: 95220 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Chris Jones Subject: Re: "Standard parts" for rf amps? Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 23:44:45 +0000 Message-ID: <11ohspndtsatffc@corp.supernews.com> References: <438262c8$0$27904$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11o4q89q7708kcd@corp.supernews.com> <11o5jngnvqrqmcb@corp.supernews.com> <11o82iimo8iv1d6@corp.supernews.com> <4384c9b8$0$27885$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11o9tect0adji4b@corp.supernews.com> <11obvka78059g2b@corp.supernews.com> RST Engineering (jw) wrote: > > "Winfield Hill" wrote in message > news:dm367b01hj7@drn.newsguy.com... > >> jw\ wrote... >>> >>> The question was to simulate a 1000 pf (1 nf) capacitor at >>> 150 MHz. with an inch of lead or an inch of normal pcb trace >>> and tell me what you get. >> >> Such a question is stupid and incomplete. > > No, Win, the question is well formed and quite complete. Sleep off the > ten shots of Old Rammycackle and let's have the discussion when you are > sober. It is not a complete question. You could get all sorts of different parasitic inductance values by putting the component near or far from other metallic objects, which usually occurs to some extent in any practical situation. Many other things will affect the answer. You have not yet supplied anything other than a single dimension measurement for the component. If you want the inductance, skin effect, etc. then you would have to give me a dimensioned drawing showing the placement of the wires, the plating material, plating thickness and the internal construction of the capacitor. (You would also have to pay me enough to make it worth me bothering to simulate it.) Your question is incomplete. > First of all, in >> cases where impedance matters, one wouldn't dare use an inch >> of lead at 150MHz, we'd cut that short, 0.1-inch max. > > No, Win, neither you nor I would do such a thing. But somebody who is (as > the OP posted) new to the RF world would do so without a second thought. > You and I have been playing this game all our lives and take > self-resonance > into account without even thinking about it. However, a student new to > the field (as my freshman engineering students are) makes the mistake > repeatedly, even when using a decent text called ... um ... The Art Of > Something Or Other. When their RF amplifier starts squeeging or > motorboating, I tell them that the power supply isn't bypassed well > enough, and I'll be damned if the first thing they do is put a BIGGER > capacitor on the supply line. > > I'll then ask them what they think the bypass impedance is and get the > stock > answer "1/(2*pi*f*c)". Hm, says I, how about the three inches of wire > between the capacitor and the supply line. Oh, says them, that's a direct > short. Straight wire doesn't have a reactive component. Hm, says I, > let's > see what the network analyzer says about that. Hm, says student, it says > 60 > nanohenries. How can that be? Mm, 20 nanohenries per inch for #20 wire > sounds about right, so what does that series circuit look like? Hm. > Inductive at the frequency of interest. Now, grasshopper, tell me about > self-resonance of capacitors with long leads. > > > > > And >> we certainly wouldn't use an inch of pcb trace unless it was >> field-controlled with a ground plane. > > That's not always an option in commercial gear, Win. Well as you have not specified whether this is "commercial gear" and what type of PCB material, dielectric thickness, trace width etc. of course we can't tell you the answer. Neither could a guy who was going to answer your question by building one and measuring it. He could find one possible answer but there are lots of possible answers which differ because you have not given us a complete problem to solve. > This is true whether a >> 1nF cap is involved or not. If you were to insist on analyzing >> an inch of lead, we'd insist on knowing *all* about the ground >> scene. Since you aggressively put your question without any >> relevant information about what the ground is like, and where >> it is, the question is intrinsically-stupid and incomplete. >> > > If I didn't say what the ground is, then we can assume that I formulated > the > question without ground plane. 99% of the commercial products run this > way. You still gave insufficient information on the wire geometry. I would refute your claim that 99% of commercial products don't use a ground plane. The cell-phone market is in the high hundreds of millions of units this year, and is likely to reach 1 billion units per year next year, and I guarantee you that every one will contain a multi-layer PCB with ground planes and microstrip traces etc. every one of them designed using field simulators and some version of SPICE to model the integrated circuit packages and bondwires, as well as the antenna. I don't believe that this one billion units would fit into the 1% minority of products that you think have ground planes! >> Sorry, jw\, but that's the way it is. > > Sorry, Win, that's NOT the real world. > > Jim Anyhow, until you tell me how long a piece of string is, (to the nearest micron or micro-inch whichever you prefer), I have had enough of this thread. Chris Article: 95221 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: kensmith@green.rahul.net (Ken Smith) Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 23:51:41 +0000 (UTC) Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <4388f068$1$27889$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> In article <4388f068$1$27889$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net>, Henry Kiefer wrote: >Don't forget the LED as an low-noise zener diode with integrated function >control. Some high-fidelity enthusiasts use this in good audio amplifiers. It also works for this: Vcc !/c --/\/\/\---+------! ! !\e V ! --- ----/\/\/--+--- too load ! ! -------------------- You get a current limit and an indicator light. -- -- kensmith@rahul.net forging knowledge Article: 95222 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:39:24 +0100 Message-ID: <4388fc27$0$20854$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net> Bob Pease of National Semi mentioned a ONE AND ONLY transistor circuit above/under voltage rail converter (with detailed theory). I cannot remember the details. But interesting if sometime a slightly voltage behind the power rail is needed. For example to power a CMOS Opamp now doing rail-input. - Henry Article: 95223 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:54:27 +0100 Message-ID: <4388fc2a$0$20854$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net> Can you give details? - Henry "John Larkin" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:nasho1do5hpdjfa6iq5tjsqadruc4taqai@4ax.com... > On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:52:26 +0100, "Frithiof Andreas Jensen" > wrote: > > > > >"Henry Kiefer" wrote in message > >news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... > > > >> Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? > > > >LED's work both ways, as a light emitter and a photodiode. > > > > And optocouplers can do interesting things: > > Very simple high-voltage opamp, up to 400 volts p-p. > > Isolated totem-pole driver, from a few volts up to 400. > > Current limiter. > > Low-leakage diode, sort of like an LED painted black. > > John > Article: 95224 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John Larkin Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:30:16 -0800 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <4388fc2a$0$20854$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net> On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 00:54:27 +0100, "Henry Kiefer" wrote: >Can you give details? > >- Henry > > >"John Larkin" schrieb im >Newsbeitrag news:nasho1do5hpdjfa6iq5tjsqadruc4taqai@4ax.com... >> On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:52:26 +0100, "Frithiof Andreas Jensen" >> wrote: >> >> > >> >"Henry Kiefer" wrote in message >> >news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... >> > >> >> Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? >> > >> >LED's work both ways, as a light emitter and a photodiode. >> > >> >> And optocouplers can do interesting things: >> >> Very simple high-voltage opamp, up to 400 volts p-p. >> >> Isolated totem-pole driver, from a few volts up to 400. >> >> Current limiter. >> >> Low-leakage diode, sort of like an LED painted black. >> >> John >> > I posted some opamp schematics to abse a while back. I guess I could do it again if they're no longer available. The others chould be fairly obvious. John Article: 95225 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Ron in Radio Heaven Subject: Re: AWA Contest- Caution References: <3G3if.2291$Y%5.161@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com> Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 01:46:54 GMT YT wrote: > >members only event > HA HA HA my ass! > No such thing on the ham bands. > That's right, any body can work any body else, but only AWA members can submit logs for scoring in the contest. Who cares about the score, get on the air and have FUN. 73, Ron Article: 95226 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <1132928901.255333.129630@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 03:54:18 +0100 From: Martin Am 25 Nov 2005 06:28:21 -0800 schrieb : > As an addition to the various mentions of common diodes as varactors > there is a well publicized British design for a frequency tripler that > will put out 2 watts at 1.3 GHz and uses five 1N914's in parallel. > > I once built an HF transceiver that used CMOS logic chips for all > functions except an audio low noise amp and a voltage regulator...with > further thought those two could likely be done with CMOS logic too. > At least the audio amp, this is nice to build with some Inverters (4069) with resistive Feedback. -- Martin Article: 95227 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Boris Mohar Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: <047io1lsm3e5nad9dr3247e2j3j63cf740@4ax.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 21:40:53 -0500 On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:41:27 -0800, John Larkin wrote: >On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:52:26 +0100, "Frithiof Andreas Jensen" > wrote: > >> >>"Henry Kiefer" wrote in message >>news:4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net... >> >>> Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for misuse? >> >>LED's work both ways, as a light emitter and a photodiode. >> > >And optocouplers can do interesting things: > >Very simple high-voltage opamp, up to 400 volts p-p. > >Isolated totem-pole driver, from a few volts up to 400. > >Current limiter. > >Low-leakage diode, sort of like an LED painted black. > >John A latch. -- Boris Mohar Article: 95228 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> <4387D2E2.4000500@us.ibm.com> Message-ID: From: Martin Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 04:21:57 +0100 Am Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:13:38 -0500 schrieb Phil Hobbs : > Si Ballenger wrote: > >>> I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. I >>> would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I put >>> them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. Of >>> course don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. >> The current limiter I saw used a glass pie pan with pieces copper >> metal on each side with salty water as the electrolyte. It would >> start to steam some when in operation. The furnace was a small >> clay flower pot with holes in each side with the carbon rods >> sticking inside until they touched. >> > > As a boy, I used an electric teakettle as a ballast for a two-D-cell > carbon arc lamp--worked great. > An electric arc with just 3V from two D-cells? I thought the arc needs at lesat 20V burning voltage. -- Martin Article: 95229 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "COLIN LAMB" References: <1T3if.2204$1x.2138@fed1read06> Subject: Re: AWA Contest- Caution Message-ID: <%O9if.1603$Hk1.721@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 03:34:19 GMT Hi Carl: The VT-127A is a good tube. It was a repackaged Eimac 100TL for radar use. Just more filament current. They were cheap after the war, but got sidetracked because the 304TL was also cheap and ran more power. Love to see a photo when you get done as I have a few sitting in storage that belong in a rig. 73, Colin K7FM Article: 95230 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Phil Hobbs Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 22:35:18 -0500 Message-ID: <43892976.802@us.ibm.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> <4387D2E2.4000500@us.ibm.com> Martin wrote: > Am Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:13:38 -0500 schrieb Phil Hobbs > : > >> Si Ballenger wrote: >> >>>> I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. >>>> I would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I >>>> put them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. >>>> Of course don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. >>> >>> The current limiter I saw used a glass pie pan with pieces copper >>> metal on each side with salty water as the electrolyte. It would >>> start to steam some when in operation. The furnace was a small >>> clay flower pot with holes in each side with the carbon rods >>> sticking inside until they touched. >>> >> >> As a boy, I used an electric teakettle as a ballast for a two-D-cell >> carbon arc lamp--worked great. >> > An electric arc with just 3V from two D-cells? I thought the arc needs > at lesat 20V burning voltage. > It ran off 120 V. Parse the sentence as "two D-cell-carbon arc lamp." An earlier poster talked about building AC-powered arc lamps using the carbon rods from dry cells. Cheers, Phil Hobbs Article: 95231 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: "Standard parts" for rf amps? References: <438262c8$0$27904$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11o4q89q7708kcd@corp.supernews.com> <11o5jngnvqrqmcb@corp.supernews.com> <11o82iimo8iv1d6@corp.supernews.com> <4384c9b8$0$27885$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11o9tect0adji4b@corp.supernews.com> <11obvka78059g2b@corp.supernews.com> Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 04:53:40 +0100 From: Martin Am Thu, 24 Nov 2005 09:55:13 -0800 schrieb RST Engineering (jw) : > into account without even thinking about it. However, a student new to > the > field (as my freshman engineering students are) makes the mistake > repeatedly, even when using a decent text called ... um ... The Art Of > Something Or Other. When their RF amplifier starts squeeging or > motorboating, I tell them that the power supply isn't bypassed well > enough, > and I'll be damned if the first thing they do is put a BIGGER capacitor > on > the supply line. > Like some of us could lough nicely, when a new guy at a customer (semiconductor fab/asics) of the last company I worked for had to test an RF Chip. Another engineer came to look what the guy is doing, saw he didn't bypass the power supply and recommended to do so. The young engineer put a nice 2200µF electrolytic at the terminals of the lab-power-supply. -- Martin Article: 95232 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <8764qh82fw.fsf@cordelia.devereux.me.uk> Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 05:13:03 +0100 From: Martin Am Sat, 26 Nov 2005 16:16:27 +0000 (UTC) schrieb Matthias Weingart : > John Devereux wrote in > news:8764qh82fw.fsf@cordelia.devereux.me.uk: > >> ehsjr writes: >>> Henry Kiefer wrote: >>> > Do you know of other interesting devices or circuits good for >>> > misuse? Best regards - >>> > Henry >>> >>> An LED as a shunt regulator. Also, as a varicap. >>> Ed >> >> Also a photodetector that is insensitive to long wavelengths >> (because of the high bandgap). > > To save power, use the LEDs of a backlight to measure the ambient light > to decide to switch the backlight on or not. > But how to decide to switch it off? I think there you have to sample - switch of for a short time and test. This could give a flickering backlight. -- Martin Article: 95233 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: david@slack.com (David DiGiacomo) Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 05:23:57 -0000 Message-ID: <11oignd5ao6q7d5@corp.supernews.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <4388fc27$0$20854$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net> In article <4388fc27$0$20854$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net>, Henry Kiefer wrote: >Bob Pease of National Semi mentioned a ONE AND ONLY transistor circuit >above/under voltage rail converter (with detailed theory). I cannot remember >the details. But interesting if sometime a slightly voltage behind the power >rail is needed. For example to power a CMOS Opamp now doing rail-input. For a good discussion of Bob Pease's "April Fool" negative voltage generator, see: http://www.edaboard.com/viewtopic.php?p=423522 Unfortunately you have to log in to the site to see the drawings & photos. I don't think it produces nearly enough current to power an opamp. Article: 95234 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Life in America" Subject: freedom and independence Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 06:11:45 GMT Have you ever thought much about how communication is changing? You're reading a message I posted on the usenet. The usenet is a grand expression of freedom and independence. It extends, of course, beyond national borders. Not so long ago, all long distance communication (including news information) relied on much slower and more expensive means. But today we can enjoy the internet and usenet, communicating freely to the whole world at once. Even radio communication continues to move forward with leaps and bounds, assisted, in many cases by computer technology and even by the internet and/or usenet. Other things can change, as well. The same kind of freedom and independence can be had when it comes to the energy required to heat and power our homes -- and our automotive vehicles. That day, I fully believe, is coming. We can work to bring it about so that we can enjoy it now, or we can sit back and continue our bondage to big corporations (and their methods), paying way too much for power and not enjoying the freedom of having our own private sources at home. To me, as an American, it's all about freedom and independence. What do you think? Are the people of America still independence-minded? I mean, really? Here in America we have a reputation for holding the idea of independence pretty high. But we need to be careful not to give too much power to corporations that love to keep a hold on our lives. Think about it. There are the credit agencies, such as banks, credit card issuers, etc. that can end up with a lot of power over a person, or even over an entire family. There are the advertisers who work very hard to persuade us that we need to be thinking about this, buying that, and so on. And along those same lines, there are the media people who very much want to sway folks as to what we should think and feel about various issues. But my main thought right now is the power companies themselves. The utility companies and oil companies. We tend to gripe about these guys but then we do very little to shake off the hold they can have over our entire household. When I see the grip that electric companies and gas companies have, for example, I wonder just how much we really cherish our freedom in this country. It's not like we have no alternatives. Alternative power is here. Some of our neighbors are using solar, wind power, various geo-thermal power, and so on to either supplement or supply their household power. The technology is here. It's working. But only a relatively small number of people are going for it. It's possible to heat your home all winter by using passive solar, wind powered generators, and solar panels. Of course, the other big alternative is also in place and being used by a larger number of people: wood heat. Only when enough people are switching from total dependence on the electric grid and/or gas lines to private power will we begin to see a real return to independence-minded America. Griping about poor leadership, griping about high prices, griping about the economy -- none of this gets anything accomplished. Personal freedom & independence never comes without a struggle. The "fight" has to be inside of us before we will emerge as a free people. We can see this when we look at nations such as Iraq. Why can't we see it in ourselves? Real freedom cannot be given to us by other people. Politicians will never be able to do it for us. It must be earned, forged, built with our own hands. That's demonstrated in the history of our own nation. It's just as true today as it ever was. Anyway, just thinking about these things. Jim www.jimsdesk.com Here's a partial list of alternative energy information sources (there are, of course, many, many more) http://homestead.goodwordusa.org/energy/listing.htm Start your own small newspaper business free online help at: http://www.newspaper-info.com free 13-month 2006 calendar (pdf file) download at: http://www.jimsgraphix.com/lowcal.htm Article: 95235 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Matthias Weingart Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 09:57:23 +0000 (UTC) Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <8764qh82fw.fsf@cordelia.devereux.me.uk> Martin wrote in news:ops0vsn10r8lri9x@news.gmx.at: >> To save power, use the LEDs of a backlight to measure the ambient >> light to decide to switch the backlight on or not. >> > But how to decide to switch it off? I think there you have to > sample - switch of for a short time and test. This could give a > flickering backlight. Ok, you found the skeleton in the closet. :-) You can not use this method to switch it off - but it is not required in most cases. Think of a cell phone - the backlight goes on every time you press a key, and it is going off after 10 seconds. M. -- Bitte auf mwnews2@pentax.boerde.de antworten. Article: 95236 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "MattD.." Subject: Re: What's in a battery, these days? Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 12:00:41 +0000 Message-ID: References: <1133092133.664785.269860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> After replacing MonoCalculus with a small shell script on Sunday 27 Nov 2005 11:48, the following appeared on stdout: > Are zinc-carbon cells still sold today, or are the AA, A, C and D > cells made up of more insidious (and poisonous) compounds? Just don't start prying Li-Ion cells to bits. They're rather nasty if you manage to puncture them. -- Radio glossary #13 Integrated circuit: You have the only one in existence. This theory will be borne out when you try to obtain a replacement. Article: 95237 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <8764qh82fw.fsf@cordelia.devereux.me.uk> Message-ID: From: Martin Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:06:09 +0100 Am Sun, 27 Nov 2005 09:57:23 +0000 (UTC) schrieb Matthias Weingart : > Martin wrote in > news:ops0vsn10r8lri9x@news.gmx.at: > >>> To save power, use the LEDs of a backlight to measure the ambient >>> light to decide to switch the backlight on or not. >>> >> But how to decide to switch it off? I think there you have to >> sample - switch of for a short time and test. This could give a >> flickering backlight. > Ok, you found the skeleton in the closet. :-) You can not use > this method to switch it off - but it is not required in most cases. > Think of a cell phone - the backlight goes on every time you press a > key, and it is going off after 10 seconds. OK, so you can decide to not switch it on and save some mAs. -- Martin Article: 95238 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "jim.gm4dhj" References: <1133092133.664785.269860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: What's in a battery, these days? Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:29:13 GMT don't know but they die after about 3 years..... Article: 95239 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <4389C360.29C054E@earthlink.net> From: "Michael A. Terrell" Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:32:08 GMT "Pete C." wrote: > > Not entirely true, the few lucky people who have been able to find > honest, reliable mechanics do tend to speak highly of them. > > > Remember that the people bringing in the cars in the last 15 years or so > as you have noted, are the parents (or now their children) from the > generation that has deluded themselves into the belief that mechanical > trades (dirty jobs) are somehow devoid of education and skill and have > actively discouraged their children from having any interest in such > things. > > This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the > increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys > couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just > be swapping parts until things magically start working. > > It's only going to get worse too... > > Pete C. Seven or eight years ago the gas gauge quit on my dad's jeep. He took it to the dealer. The changed the sending unit. Then they changed the gauge. They had it over a week and still hadn't fixed it, so he paid them over $400 to get it back. I took a look at it and found the problem in 15 seconds. The lug on the ground wire to the sending unit had snapped, and the wire was hanging down, in plain sight. A new lug took a few minutes to install and it worked fine, till he traded it in on a new car a few years later. -- ? Michael A. Terrell Central Florida Article: 95240 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Fred Abse Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:49:47 +0000 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 10:16:23 -0500, wa2mze(spamless) wrote: > Did you know that a carbon arc acts as a negative resistance? Run the > arc on DC and put an LC tuned circuit in series with the arc (coil of > heavy copper tubing) and you have a powerful oscillator. Early marine transmitters did it that way. -- "Electricity is of two kinds, positive and negative. The difference is, I presume, that one comes a little more expensive, but is more durable; the other is a cheaper thing, but the moths get into it." (Stephen Leacock) Article: 95241 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Fred Abse Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:49:47 +0000 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <11oet22oed6gl8b@corp.supernews.com> <2a8go1tmpkvjo2ceemnnrp5ooln57m5vg1@4ax.com> On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 11:56:55 +0200, Paul Keinanen wrote: > In the silent film era, actors had eye problems due to the UV > radiation from arc studio lamps. Known as "Klieg Eyes", (from "Klieg Lamp") -- "Electricity is of two kinds, positive and negative. The difference is, I presume, that one comes a little more expensive, but is more durable; the other is a cheaper thing, but the moths get into it." (Stephen Leacock) Article: 95242 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <4389C813.CE397027@earthlink.net> From: "Michael A. Terrell" Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <6jfio11jtsvknlr7mc7fd2p7cac37t23v6@4ax.com> Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:52:11 GMT nospam.clare.nce@sny.der.on.ca wrote: > > On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:52:36 GMT, "Pete C." > wrote: > > >Not entirely true, the few lucky people who have been able to find > >honest, reliable mechanics do tend to speak highly of them. > > > > Only those who have the sense to know the value of finding and keeping > a good mechanic (or any other tradesman/proffessional) There are fewer > of THEM out there than there are honest reliable mechanics. Its like the days when there were real TV shops. The techs knew what they were doing, and went to every available factory school to keep up with the new designs. Most people thought you just shoved tubes in till the set worked, and that it was criminal to even want to make minimum wage. They were rude, ignorant, and price shopped for the cheapest service calls. Well, guess what? The cheapest service calls were the fly by night operators who worked out of the trunk of their car, or in one case, a dirty old hippie in a VW van that reeked of marijuana some. It was rare to find a good customer who understood that it took time to repair something, and some parts took time to find. We had a "Customer" take us to small claims court because we charged for an estimate. He claimed that his mechanic didn't charge for an estimate, so we had no right to, either. He and the judge had big smiles on their faces as they told my boss he was wrong. My boss plopped a RCA CTC38 series chassis on the Judge's bench and said, Well, in that case would you mind telling me what's wrong with this set? The judge started yelling that he had no idea what was wrong so my boss asked, If you can't tell by looking, how can we? We have to find the problem, replace the part and make sure there are no other problems before we can give you an accurate estimate. He won the case. > >> > >> It just wasn't fun any more after 25 years - and its gotten a whole > >> lot worse in the last 15 or more years. > > > >Remember that the people bringing in the cars in the last 15 years or so > >as you have noted, are the parents (or now their children) from the > >generation that has deluded themselves into the belief that mechanical > >trades (dirty jobs) are somehow devoid of education and skill and have > >actively discouraged their children from having any interest in such > >things. > > > >This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the > >increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys > >couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just > >be swapping parts until things magically start working. > > And I got out of the mechanics trade and into the computer service > world - - -. > > > >It's only going to get worse too... > > That's what I decided 17 years ago. And I was right. > > Now everybody's kid wants to be a computer tech instead of a mechanic > - and for the same reason kids wanted to be mechanics 40 years ago. 40 > years ago the "gearheads" wanted to be mechanics to fool around with > their first love - the CAR. > Now the "computer nerds" want to be able to play with THEIR first love > - the Computer / Game console/ Whatever. > And they will work for almost nothing just to be able to do it. and > their method of repair??? "swapping parts until things magically start > working" I started computer repair on the old Commodore 64. A scope and good soldering skills were a must. I built a test bed with ZIF sockets to test the different chips so I could verify that they were bad, and to test new chips when they arrived for wherever I could buy them. Now, I'm old and disabled so I repair PCs as a hobby. I collect dead and half stripped computers and build working systems from the parts. They are given to the local "Vets helping Vets" program so they can be given to disabled Veterans who can not afford to buy a computer. It gives me something to do for a few hours a day, but I really miss building TV stations and telemetry equipment for the aerospace industry. > Time for a THIRD career?? (4th if you include teaching) > > > >Pete C. -- ? Michael A. Terrell Central Florida Article: 95243 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <4389CED3.5080805@nospam.com> From: Fred Bloggs Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 15:21:05 GMT Pete C. wrote: > Remember that the people bringing in the cars in the last 15 years or so > as you have noted, are the parents (or now their children) from the > generation that has deluded themselves into the belief that mechanical > trades (dirty jobs) are somehow devoid of education and skill and have > actively discouraged their children from having any interest in such > things. I think you mean they are the "children (or now parents)"- this type of mental dyslexia is disturbing to the meticulous reader. > > This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the > increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys > couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just > be swapping parts until things magically start working. I like that- PYV- good acronym- or "awesome" as the PYV say. Article: 95244 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <4389D0D3.4050305@nospam.com> From: Fred Bloggs Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 15:29:26 GMT Ignoramus12834 wrote: > On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:52:36 GMT, Pete C. wrote: > >>This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the >>increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys >>couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just >>be swapping parts until things magically start working. > > > They keep swapping parts because it makes them money. > > A true story. A couple of years ago, a lightning struck a big tree in > our yard: > > http://igor.chudov.com/tmp/lightning/ > > That also knocked out our central A/C. > > So, I went in with a multimeter and tried tracing just where does not > signal go etc. I learned that the control board was sending proper > signal to the motor drive board, etc. > > Then we called an A/C guy. He calls me at work and says stuff like > "the main board is probably knocked out and needs replacement", lets > replace this and that etc. > > I asked him just what basis do you have for saying so. (because I knew > that it was bullshit). He mumbled some nonsense. I decided not to hire > him, although I paid his visit fee. I did not feel like hiring someone > who is either incompetent or a crook. I called another A/C company and > explained them my findings etc. > > He replaced the motor drive board, it was covered by warranty (but > labor was not), and everything works fine to date. Some other things > failed since, such as quick disconnect terminals fell apart on the > main contactor, but the control system is fine. > > The moral of the story, they want replacing parts because it makes $$ > for them. > > i > The moral of the story is that you are PYV. All the electronic boards are LRUs in the mechanical trades and there is no way that repair could be cost effective any other way, parts are way below labor costs. In the case of a lightning strike where one board has failed, it is good practice to yank *all* of them and be done with it. You are getting *new* boards at reasonable markup, you pay a single labor charge, and there is no possibility of less than a durable fix or additional damage being done due to faulty drive. I can see the HVAC tech breaking out the oxy-acetylene torch to solder components...too funny. Article: 95245 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "wa2mze(spamless)" <"wa2mze(spamless)"@bellsouth.net> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <0t6co11edadugadvv1i9mhmq2v00uaknfh@4ax.com> Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 10:31:12 -0500 mcalhoun@ksu.edu wrote: >>>1n914/4148 as silicon temperature sensor. (forward bias) > > > > What is the rest of the circuit you used? > A 741 op amp was used as a comparator driving an opto-isolator triac driver. A triac then controlled the heater. The op amp compared the voltage across the diode to a fixed voltage provided by a three terminal regulator and a 10 turn pot. The wiper of the 10 turn pot was connected to a single turn pot that then provided the temperature setting. The two pots in series were needed because the range of adjustment was very small (the voltage across the diode varies with tempature, but the change is small over the range we are interested in for a heater controller.) Article: 95246 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Bill Janssen Subject: Re: AWA Contest- Caution References: <1T3if.2204$1x.2138@fed1read06> <%O9if.1603$Hk1.721@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net> Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:01:32 GMT COLIN LAMB wrote: >Hi Carl: > >The VT-127A is a good tube. It was a repackaged Eimac 100TL for radar use. >Just more filament current. They were cheap after the war, but got >sidetracked because the 304TL was also cheap and ran more power. > >Love to see a photo when you get done as I have a few sitting in storage >that belong in a rig. > >73, Colin K7FM > > > > I have a couple of 100xx also and some tunning capacitors and coils and transformers etc. I have been keeping these for an old time rig that probably will never get built. Anyone want to build a tube rig? I already have too many projects. Bill K7NOM Article: 95247 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "wa2mze(spamless)" <"wa2mze(spamless)"@bellsouth.net> Subject: Re: What's in a battery, these days? References: <1133092133.664785.269860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> <1133096023.988400.269740@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 12:10:01 -0500 MonoCalculus wrote: > I have two editions of "The Boy Electrician". The 1940's edition > is full of doing interesting things such as you describe, and > includes info on setting up your own X-Ray tubes with > attendant HT supplies! > > The 1960's edition has been fully sanitised (Odd, because if > predates the Health and Safety paranoia by several years) and > all experiments revolve around 9 volt batteries. > They published a 1960's edition?! The last version of TBE I saw was published in the '50s and still had all the 'nasty' stuff. This version had a one tube regenerative receiver using a 1H4G tube that was nearly obsolete at the time. In fact, A. Morgan also published a set of books called the Boy's 1st - 4th books of radio and electronics. In the first book he had a similar radio, but in latter editions of that book the tube was changed to a 6 volt 7 pin mini type. Lindsay books (www.lindsaybks.com) is now selling a reprint in paperback of the 40's BE, which has several radios using the type 30 tube (same as 1H4G with 4 pin base). Except for the sections on radio, the 40's and 50's editions are the same. Article: 95248 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Bill Janssen Subject: Re: What's in a battery, these days? References: <1133092133.664785.269860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Message-ID: <_Nlif.408$OO6.179@news01.roc.ny> Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 17:12:26 GMT MonoCalculus wrote: >When I was a lad, old dry cells were a source of interesting scrap, >carbon rods, zinc flashing, brass strips and brass terminals. > >Are zinc-carbon cells still sold today, or are the AA, A, C and D >cells made up of more insidious (and poisonous) compounds? > >The metallically-sealed cells look a little more daunting >than the bitumen-sealed zinc cans of yore. > >What do we get when we rush down to our local hardware stores >apart from fork handles? > >PS. I'm interested in getting hold of one of those wet Leclanche >cells, the sort with the baekelite moulded tops, that were >used to power door bells. Anybody got one for disposal? ISTR >that there was no depolarising agent fitted which served a useful >purpose - that of preventing annoying long presses of the bell-push. > > > I understand that the old design cells are still made. If you buy the cheap cells ($1.00 a dozen or so) then you get the old style. But if you buy Alkaline batteries you get a cell that has the Zinc in the center and Carbon around the outside. Most of the Zinc and Carbon is powdered in the Alkaline cells Bill K7NOM Article: 95249 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Ignoramus18456 Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <4389C360.29C054E@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 20:44:37 GMT On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:29:30 GMT, Gunner Asch wrote: > On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:32:08 GMT, "Michael A. Terrell" > wrote: > >>"Pete C." wrote: >>> >>> Not entirely true, the few lucky people who have been able to find >>> honest, reliable mechanics do tend to speak highly of them. >>> >> >> >> >>> >>> Remember that the people bringing in the cars in the last 15 years or so >>> as you have noted, are the parents (or now their children) from the >>> generation that has deluded themselves into the belief that mechanical >>> trades (dirty jobs) are somehow devoid of education and skill and have >>> actively discouraged their children from having any interest in such >>> things. >>> >>> This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the >>> increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys >>> couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just >>> be swapping parts until things magically start working. >>> >>> It's only going to get worse too... >>> >>> Pete C. >> >> >> Seven or eight years ago the gas gauge quit on my dad's jeep. He >>took it to the dealer. The changed the sending unit. Then they changed >>the gauge. They had it over a week and still hadn't fixed it, so he paid >>them over $400 to get it back. I took a look at it and found the problem >>in 15 seconds. The lug on the ground wire to the sending unit had >>snapped, and the wire was hanging down, in plain sight. A new lug took a >>few minutes to install and it worked fine, till he traded it in on a new >>car a few years later. > > Shrug...I spent $65 to have my truck run though the computer > diagnostics. They couldnt find the problem, suggested some high dollar > repairs..shotgun approach. > > I replaced the badly worn distro cap and the rotor. Ran fine after > than. > > Im starting to think that there are more button pushers than actual > tradesmen in auto mechanics. A code reader is an absolute must for more or less anyone who knows how to hold a wrench. There are cheap ones at harbor Freight, or more expensive ones. I have a nicer $129 model (Equus II) and it paid for itself many times over. Once my wife's car developed some sort of a fault light. Since I had this code reader, I determined that the problem was with the fuel tank and after googling, it turned out that her fuel tank cap was not fully screwed in. Properly tightening it took care of the problem. Had I not owned it, it would be a whole evening ruined, at least $50-100 paid to a car mechanic (that's assuming an honest car mechanic who would not ask for unnecessary repairs), etc. i Article: 95250 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <438A2EAE.8CEF6418@snet.net> From: "Pete C." Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <4389CED3.5080805@nospam.com> Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:11:30 GMT Fred Bloggs wrote: > > Pete C. wrote: > > > Remember that the people bringing in the cars in the last 15 years or so > > as you have noted, are the parents (or now their children) from the > > generation that has deluded themselves into the belief that mechanical > > trades (dirty jobs) are somehow devoid of education and skill and have > > actively discouraged their children from having any interest in such > > things. > > I think you mean they are the "children (or now parents)"- this type of > mental dyslexia is disturbing to the meticulous reader. No, I meant it in the order it was in. The PYV parents came first 15 or so years ago, followed later by the children of the PYVs once they were old enough to have cars needing repairing. > > > > > This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the > > increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys > > couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just > > be swapping parts until things magically start working. > > I like that- PYV- good acronym- or "awesome" as the PYV say. It's quick, descriptive and accurate. Pete C. Article: 95251 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Dave Subject: Re: What's in a battery, these days? Date: Sun, 27 Nov 2005 22:51:04 +0000 (UTC) Message-ID: References: <1133092133.664785.269860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> jim.gm4dhj wrote: > don't know but they die after about 3 years..... > > What do? Dave Article: 95252 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> <4387D2E2.4000500@us.ibm.com> <43892976.802@us.ibm.com> Message-ID: Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 00:50:43 +0100 From: Martin Am Sat, 26 Nov 2005 22:35:18 -0500 schrieb Phil Hobbs : > Martin wrote: >> Am Fri, 25 Nov 2005 22:13:38 -0500 schrieb Phil Hobbs >> : >> >>> Si Ballenger wrote: >>> >>>>> I would put a 100 watt lamp in series thereby limiting the current. >>>>> I would shave the ends down to points so they heated up rapidly. I >>>>> put them into a hollowed out fire brick and made a cheap furnace. >>>>> Of course don't look at it; it's like looking at the sun. >>>> >>>> The current limiter I saw used a glass pie pan with pieces copper >>>> metal on each side with salty water as the electrolyte. It would >>>> start to steam some when in operation. The furnace was a small >>>> clay flower pot with holes in each side with the carbon rods >>>> sticking inside until they touched. >>>> >>> >>> As a boy, I used an electric teakettle as a ballast for a two-D-cell >>> carbon arc lamp--worked great. >>> >> An electric arc with just 3V from two D-cells? I thought the arc needs >> at lesat 20V burning voltage. >> > > It ran off 120 V. Parse the sentence as "two D-cell-carbon arc lamp." > An earlier poster talked about building AC-powered arc lamps using the > carbon rods from dry cells. > OK :-) I liked to do that myself, but not from our 230V mains power, but with a transformer, 22V, and 30A short circuit. -- Martin Article: 95253 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <438A6089.15016CBB@snet.net> From: "Pete C." Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <4389C360.29C054E@earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 01:42:41 GMT "H. P. Friedrichs" wrote: > > I had a mid-90's Chevy S-10 with antilock brakes. One day, the brakes > made a funny sound and the service light came on. I noticed that the > brakes were not behaving properly. > > I took the truck in for "Mr. Goodwrench" to take a look. They told me > that I would need a new antilock computer and the cost was something on > the order of $1000. I told them to forget it. > > I limped the truck home and later, curiosity got the better of me. I > jacked up the truck so that the front wheels could spin, and then I went > hunting for wheel rotation sensors. Connecting my scope, I could see a > nice, clean sine wave coming off the front right wheel. The waveform > from the front left wheel, however, had a a very irregular shape that > was much lower in amplitude. > > I purchased a new rotation sensor for $75 bucks, pulled the wheel and > brake disk, and installed it. Everything worked like a champ after that. > > It appeared that the old sensor had been struck by rock, and the core of > the sense coil had probably been fractured. I was left to wonder how it > is that, without the benefit of factory training, documentation, or > diagnostic equipment I could troubleshoot and repair the problem when > the dealership could not.... > > Michael A. Terrell wrote: > That is why for the few things on my truck that I don't have the facilities to do myself and can't justify buying new tools, when I take it to the dealer for service I give them a specific set of instructions on what to do and clear warning that they are *not* to attempt any diagnosis or deviate from the exact work order I give them. Pete C. Article: 95254 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Winfried Salomon Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 03:01:56 +0100 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> Hello Jim, Jim Thompson wrote: [...] >>btw, do you know a standard complementary pnp-transistor for the 2N2369, >>such like 2N3905 but with higher ft and less feedback capacitance? It >>seems that the manufactorers have almost no data on their internet pages. [...] > > > A 2N2369 is a gold-doped NPN, gold-doped to kill storage time and > improve recovery from saturation. I don't recall any PNP device with > gold-doping... or the equivalent. thank you, then I suppose the 2N3905 oder 2N2905 are fitting for a large signal amplifier. mfg. Winfried Article: 95255 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "west" References: Subject: Re: Trickle Charge Battery Message-ID: Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 03:51:45 GMT Wow Myron, That was the most comprehensive battery post I ever seen. I makes me want to add (oh boy, some more drain) a circuit that will cut off the battery when a small percentage down. Now... how will I do it? west wrote in message news:dmab9s$baj@unix1.cc.ksu.edu... > >During a power outage, which occurs frequently in Florida, I would like to > >use a battery to power some communication gear. Although the battery is 12v > >....[snip].... > > Although many have suggested you should use "deep cycle" (also called > "traction") batteries, be aware that the specifications for such batteries > are DIFFERENT in that they are rated to still be producing useable power > when their output voltage is somewhat LOWER than others. If your equipment > poops out before that lower voltage is reached, you won't get all the > output you've paid for. (My TenTek 540, for example, starts FM'ing at > about 11.5 volts, so the remaining output from a deep-cycle is totally > unuseable.) > > The following is abstracted from a 3 Oct. 1992 post to > rec.radio.amateur.misc by Brian Kantor : > > 1. Automotive starting: formulated with thin pasted plates and designed > to supply high peak currents for brief periods of time while cranking > an engine. Designed to be discharged to more than perhaps 75% of > capacity and to be recharged immediately after discharge. Typically > discharged-rated at a 20-hour rate. > > 2. Traction (e.g., deep-cycle batteries): made with thick pasted plates > and with very rugged separators between the plates to make the battery > more immune to physical shock and vibration and to reduce the chance > of failure due to dendritic growth during recharging. Sold for use in > electric forklifts, golf carts, marine trolling motors, and RV power. > Designed to be discharged nearly fully each day and recharged each > night. Typically discharged-rated at a 5-hour rate. > > 3. Stationary: made with thick solid plates. Designed to be used as > standby power, supplying minimal power and kept in a state of nearly- > full ("float") charge until needed. Can take deep discharge. Because > of the solid-plate structure, they are bigger and heavier, but their > lifetime is much longer (10 years is not unusual). Typically > discharged-rated at a 10-hour rate. > > Each type of battery has a specified voltage at which it is considered > to be completely discharged; if discharge continues below this voltage, > battery life may be considerably shortened, and repeated abuse of this > nature can result in a battery which cannot practically be recharged. > Each battery manufacturer specifies this voltage; in general, the final > voltages for the three general types of batteries are: > Automotive: 1.75 volts per cell > Traction: 1.70 volts per cell > Stationary: 1.85 volts per cell > > A typical traction-type cell shows the following voltages: > 2.12 Fully charged, open circuit, at rest with no charge > or discharge for at least 12 hours > 2.00 As soon as load is applied (internal voltage drop) > 1.70 Fully discharged, under load > 1.99 Fully discharged, open circuit > 2.10 Beginning of charging after full discharge > 2.35 70-80% charged; gassing begins > 2.65 Fully charged > > # The following assumes 12 volt negative-grounded "automobile" batteries as > # found in most cars, light trucks, and vans in North America. > > Liquid-electrolyte lead-acid batteries can be recharged at any rate > exceeding internal- and surface-discharge rates and which does not cause > "excessive" gassing (liberation of oxygen, hydrogen, and steam). > > In NON-float service, there are several simple chargers: > * A single-rate constant-current charger limits its charge rate to about > 7% of the battery's ampere-hour capacity. Thus, for a 100 Ah battery, > the charger would supply about 7 amperes and must be able to supply > voltages between 12.6 and 16 volts over the duration of the charge. > Charging is complete when the battery reached 2.65-2.70 volts per cell. > > * A simple taper charger is a constant-voltage source set to 2.8 volts > per cell with a series ballast (typically a resistor, but a choke or > the internal resistance of the supply can be used) which limits the > output current to 7% of capacity when charging is started at 2.1 volts > per cell. Again, charging is complete at 2.7 volts per cell. > > * Trickle-charging (supplying 0.5-1 milliampere per ampere-hour capacity) > of a fully-charged battery can be done to keep it charged. Trickle > charging should be discontinued when it has continued for at least 24 > hours and the battery has reached 2.25 volts per cell. Typically, > trickle chargers are set to run perhaps once a week. Because of their > thin plate construction, automotive-type batteries will deteriorate if > trickle-charged for more than perhaps six months. (However, using > pulsating rectified AC or superimposing a small AC current on pure DC > charging current increases battery life by up to 30%. It is postulated > that this reduces gassing, leads to more porous lower-resistance > plates, and lessens the tendency to form dendrites during charging.) > > In FLOAT service, where the battery is in parallel with the mains supply, > the supply voltage must be set to 2.15-2.20 volts per cell. This charges > the battery and avoids excessive gassing, but does not serve to "freshen" > the cells--there is not enough gassing activity to move electrolyte > around and clear the beginning of deposits from the surfaces of the > plates. It is recommended that batteries in float service occasionally > (perhaps once a month) be charged to 2.65 volts per cell to freshen and > equalize the charges. In large installations, this is done by switching > parts of the battery banks out of service in rotation; in smaller systems > that can tolerate the voltage excursion (about 16 volts!), it can be done > by simply boosting the output of the mains supply. > > Charging inevitably leads to some water loss due to gassing: 100 ampere- > hours of a gassing charge (2.4 or more volts per cell) causes a water > loss of about 1.2 ounces. Hydrocap Corp (975 NW 95th Street, Miami FL, > 303-696-2504) makes replacement filler caps ($5-10 each) containing a > catalytic material which recondenses emitted steam and recombines hydrogen > and oxygen gasses back into pure water which then dribbles back into the > cell, greatly reducing the required maintenance. > > For further information: > Smith, George. "Storage Batteries, including Operation, Charging, > Maintenance, and Repair". ISBN 273-43448-9, TK2941.S57, 1978. > > Aguf, I.A. and M.A. Dasoyan. "The Lead Accumulator" (translated from > Russian byu S. Sathyanarayana). Calcutta, 1968. > > Longrigg, Paul. "Rapid Charging of Lead-Acid Batteries for Electric > Vehicle Propulsion and Solar Energy Storage." DOE/NTIS 1981. > > Darden, Bill (bjb_darden@yahoo.com) battery FAQ's found on the WWW. > > -- > --Myron A. Calhoun. > Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge > PhD EE (retired). "Barbershop" tenor. CDL(PTXS). W0PBV. (785) 539-4448 > NRA Life Member and Certified Instructor (Home Firearm Safety, Rifle, Pistol) Article: 95256 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "jim.gm4dhj" References: <1133092133.664785.269860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: What's in a battery, these days? Message-ID: Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 06:26:26 GMT "Dave" wrote in message news:dmdd8o$6p0$1@nwrdmz02.dmz.ncs.ea.ibs-infra.bt.com... > jim.gm4dhj wrote: > >> don't know but they die after about 3 years..... > What do? > > Dave They do..... Article: 95257 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Roger Subject: Re: freedom and independence (OT !) Message-ID: References: Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 03:42:06 -0500 On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 11:48:34 -0000, "Highland Ham" wrote: >> Jim >> www.jimsdesk.com >> >> >> Here's a partial list of alternative energy information sources (there >> are, of course, many, many more) >> http://homestead.goodwordusa.org/energy/listing.htm >> >> Start your own small newspaper business >> free online help at: >> http://www.newspaper-info.com >> >> free 13-month 2006 calendar (pdf file) >> download at: >> http://www.jimsgraphix.com/lowcal.htm Unfortunately most alternative energy sources are efficient on a local basis only. Alcohol is expensive to make and low octane. Hydrogen is plentiful and very expensive to make and store although metal sponges may offer some hope. Methane recovery from land fills works very well, but again on a localized basis. Over all, at present, nearly all alternative energy sources are much more expensive than gas and contrary to the sites I don't see that changing any time soon. Wind and solar are very localized. Here in most of Michigan, neither is of much use over most of the area. Solar is expensive to install. Depending on your climate it may be expensive to maintain. Our wind average is ideal for wind generation, with the exception that the wind alternates between very high and nothing, neither of which is practical. The one good thing is they do help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but in general they have a very long way to go to become cost competitive. Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair) www.rogerhalstead.com >============================= >The above is OT , nevertheless , tnx Jim for the above web references > >Frank GMĜCSZ / KN6WH > >> > Article: 95258 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Custos Custodum Subject: Re: What's in a battery, these days? Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 11:07:02 +0000 Message-ID: References: <1133092133.664785.269860@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> On 27 Nov 2005 03:48:53 -0800, "MonoCalculus" wrote: Same as there always was - two, or more, cells. Article: 95259 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Jim Higgins Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes Message-ID: References: <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <4389C360.29C054E@earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 15:36:47 GMT On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:27:24 -0700, "H. P. Friedrichs" wrote: >I had a mid-90's Chevy S-10 with antilock brakes. One day, the brakes >made a funny sound and the service light came on. I noticed that the >brakes were not behaving properly. > >I took the truck in for "Mr. Goodwrench" to take a look. They told me >that I would need a new antilock computer and the cost was something on >the order of $1000. I told them to forget it. > >I limped the truck home and later, curiosity got the better of me. I >jacked up the truck so that the front wheels could spin, and then I went >hunting for wheel rotation sensors. Connecting my scope, I could see a >nice, clean sine wave coming off the front right wheel. The waveform >from the front left wheel, however, had a a very irregular shape that >was much lower in amplitude. > >I purchased a new rotation sensor for $75 bucks, pulled the wheel and >brake disk, and installed it. Everything worked like a champ after that. > >It appeared that the old sensor had been struck by rock, and the core of >the sense coil had probably been fractured. I was left to wonder how it >is that, without the benefit of factory training, documentation, or >diagnostic equipment I could troubleshoot and repair the problem when >the dealership could not.... I suspect the dealership was not as motivated to find the true cause and the cheaper solution as you were. It's anyone's guess whether the wheel sensor would have been replaced as part of that $1000 repair. Also anyone's guess on the computer actually being replaced vs just replacing the wheel sensor and charging the $1000 anyhow at some dealers. Many years ago I took my then very old and now long dead 1970 Maverick in for a carburetor problem. According to them nothing would do but to replace the carburetor. Mine was said to be too shot to rebuild and no rebuilts were available. I reluctantly agreed, but being suspicious I scheduled the work for a couple days later. At home before taking the car in for its repair appointment I took a scribe and scratched a very distinctive line from top to bottom up the outside of the carburetor body and then wiped engine dirt back over it. Needless to say my shiny and rather expensive new carburetor had the very same scratch when I inspected the work before paying for it. Had they charged me for a rebuild I would have gladly paid it, but as they charged me for a new one I stuck the invoice in my pocket and took the car without paying, telling them to call the cops if they dared. They didn't. Reported them to the local BBB, but nothing came of it because they figured I was ahead of the game and was owed nothing else. The mind boggles to this day. Article: 95260 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Keith Williams Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 10:40:14 -0500 Message-ID: References: <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <4389C360.29C054E@earthlink.net> In article , ignoramus18456@NOSPAM.18456.invalid says... > > Once my wife's car developed some sort of a fault light. Since I had > this code reader, I determined that the problem was with the fuel tank > and after googling, it turned out that her fuel tank cap was not fully > screwed in. Properly tightening it took care of the problem. Had I > not owned it, it would be a whole evening ruined, at least $50-100 > paid to a car mechanic (that's assuming an honest car mechanic who > would not ask for unnecessary repairs), etc. > An honest mechanic would first tell you to tighten the fuel cap before they look at it and charge nothing for the advice. This is a *very* common proglem; BTDT. Here, most of the bigger auto parts stores will read out the computer as a free service. They won't reset the codes, but will tell you what the computer "thinks". OTOH, my '93 Eagle Vision had an intermittent in the flywheel sensor (no RPMs -> no ignition/fuel) that didn't show up on the computer until it failed with the computer attached. The shop drove the thing for a week before the failure occured. -- Keith Article: 95261 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: mcalhoun@ksu.edu Subject: Re: Trickle Charge Battery Date: 28 Nov 2005 11:02:52 -0600 Message-ID: References: >That was the most comprehensive battery post I ever seen. I makes me want >to add (oh boy, some more drain) a circuit that will cut off the battery >when a small percentage down. Now... how will I do it? Thanks, but all I did was archive and repost! (Although I did incorporate it in a much-bigger battery "article" I've been accumulating from many sources [including one video from, IIRC, the Ford Motor Company on the batteries they put in Ford vehicles] for my own use and for sharing at the local ham club.) If **I** had to do that, I'd use a plain ol' 555 "timer" IC as a threshold voltage detector and use it to drive relay(s) to do the cut-off, but more- modern designers would use a little more circuitry to drive an FET. --Myron. -- --Myron A. Calhoun. Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge PhD EE (retired). "Barbershop" tenor. CDL(PTXS). W0PBV. (785) 539-4448 NRA Life Member and Certified Instructor (Home Firearm Safety, Rifle, Pistol) Article: 95262 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Ignoramus4324 Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <4389C360.29C054E@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:40:24 GMT On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 13:33:50 -0500, nospam.clare.nce@sny.der.on.ca wrote: > On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:29:30 GMT, Gunner Asch > wrote: > >>On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 14:32:08 GMT, "Michael A. Terrell" >> wrote: >> >>>"Pete C." wrote: >>>> >>>> Not entirely true, the few lucky people who have been able to find >>>> honest, reliable mechanics do tend to speak highly of them. >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> >>>> Remember that the people bringing in the cars in the last 15 years or so >>>> as you have noted, are the parents (or now their children) from the >>>> generation that has deluded themselves into the belief that mechanical >>>> trades (dirty jobs) are somehow devoid of education and skill and have >>>> actively discouraged their children from having any interest in such >>>> things. >>>> >>>> This delusion of the PYVs (plastic yuppie vermin) is furthered by the >>>> increasing complexity of cars and the thought that the grease monkeys >>>> couldn't possibly understand anything about computers so they must just >>>> be swapping parts until things magically start working. >>>> >>>> It's only going to get worse too... >>>> >>>> Pete C. >>> >>> >>> Seven or eight years ago the gas gauge quit on my dad's jeep. He >>>took it to the dealer. The changed the sending unit. Then they changed >>>the gauge. They had it over a week and still hadn't fixed it, so he paid >>>them over $400 to get it back. I took a look at it and found the problem >>>in 15 seconds. The lug on the ground wire to the sending unit had >>>snapped, and the wire was hanging down, in plain sight. A new lug took a >>>few minutes to install and it worked fine, till he traded it in on a new >>>car a few years later. >> >>Shrug...I spent $65 to have my truck run though the computer >>diagnostics. They couldnt find the problem, suggested some high dollar >>repairs..shotgun approach. >> >>I replaced the badly worn distro cap and the rotor. Ran fine after >>than. >> >>Im starting to think that there are more button pushers than actual >>tradesmen in auto mechanics. >> >>Gunner > > > And you need to ask why?????? > Anyone with half a brain got out of the business 15 or 20 years ago. > ANd not too many with half a brain or more are getting into the > business over the last 20 years. Actually, with clueless customer base, honest automechanics cannot compete with dishonest ones. i Article: 95263 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "B.B." Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 13:37:24 -0600 Message-ID: References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <4389C360.29C054E@earthlink.net> In article , "H. P. Friedrichs" wrote: [...] >I was left to wonder how it >is that, without the benefit of factory training, documentation, or >diagnostic equipment I could troubleshoot and repair the problem when >the dealership could not.... Depends heavily on the tech who looks at it. I was handed a truck a couple of weeks ago that someone had spent all day trying to troubleshoot. No cruise control, no Jake brakes. He'd thrashed around for eight hours, running diagnostics, checking sensors, even popped the valve covers to check the brake solenoids. I found the broken clutch pedal return spring in less than a minute. $12 part, five minutes to install. -- B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail dot net Article: 95264 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Ignoramus4324 Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <43822356.4A1E3D17@snet.net> <-vOdnTG5yJoo9h_eRVn-pg@comcast.com> <2oydnVhXno09mh7enZ2dnUVZ8qSdnZ2d@pipex.net> <43865425.9AF462C3@snet.net> <438884C3.E55FDD3C@snet.net> <4389C360.29C054E@earthlink.net> Message-ID: Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 19:50:03 GMT On Sun, 27 Nov 2005 18:27:24 -0700, H. P. Friedrichs wrote: > It appeared that the old sensor had been struck by rock, and the core of > the sense coil had probably been fractured. I was left to wonder how it > is that, without the benefit of factory training, documentation, or > diagnostic equipment I could troubleshoot and repair the problem when > the dealership could not.... It is not true that you did not have diagnostic equipment, you had a scope. You also had enough training to figure out where to look. As for documentation, everyone would benefit from owning proper repair manuals. What these techs do is, for the most part, not magic, they follow a [well designed] procedure -- except when the dishonest ones suggest unnecessary repairs, as in proposing to start swapping one part after another. i Article: 95265 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Rich the Newsgroup Wacko Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:14:17 GMT On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:49:24 -0500, Jon Yaeger wrote: > Take apart a couple of D cell carbon-zinc batteries. > > Wash off the carbon rods. Put each in a wooden clothes pin and connect the > attached ends to the mains voltage (US customers only, please). > > Tap the free ends of the rods together. Move them apart as necessary. Very > bright! Much brighter than you are. I put mine in series with Mom's iron, but the thermostat kept turning it off. -- Cheers! Rich ------ "I don't drink water; fish fuck in it." -- W.C. Fields Article: 95266 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Rich Grise Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:21:15 GMT On Fri, 25 Nov 2005 00:43:52 -0800, Bob Monsen wrote: > On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:49:24 -0500, Jon Yaeger wrote: > >> Take apart a couple of D cell carbon-zinc batteries. >> >> Wash off the carbon rods. Put each in a wooden clothes pin and connect the >> attached ends to the mains voltage (US customers only, please). >> >> Tap the free ends of the rods together. Move them apart as necessary. Very >> bright! Much brighter than you are. > > One of the MIT EE course videos on the web shows a demonstration of AC > across a pickle... it is an interesting effect. Not sure how the pickle > tastes afterward. Cooking hotdogs with AC is similar, but the pickle gives > off a much nicer translucent flickering glow. Very pretty. > But who wants a cooked pickle? ;-) Thanks, Rich Article: 95267 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John Perry Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Message-ID: Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:24:52 -0500 Rich Grise wrote: > ... > > But who wants a cooked pickle? ;-) > My ethnic Russian daughter-in-law, just arrived from Tatarstan, made a Russian soup, into which she chopped several dill pickles. Wonderful stuff! John Perry Article: 95268 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Jim Thompson Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: <6f5no1lme86457m7pm2j2m0s5pt7ua5rcv@4ax.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 16:48:02 -0700 On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:48:05 -0500, Spehro Pefhany wrote: >On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:24:52 -0500, the renowned John Perry > wrote: > >>Rich Grise wrote: >>> ... >>> >>> But who wants a cooked pickle? ;-) >>> >> >>My ethnic Russian daughter-in-law, just arrived from Tatarstan, made a >>Russian soup, into which she chopped several dill pickles. >> >>Wonderful stuff! >> >>John Perry > >Recipe? ;-) It's getting into soup/curry/stew weather here in the >frozen* north. > >* Actually just cold nasty rain, but there was some snow earlier this >week. > > >Best regards, >Spehro Pefhany Expect more nasty weather... it's heading your way. Here on Saturday night... very windy, Sunday night plunged to about 25°F. Got in the wife's car on Saturday and backed out into the street, and commented, "Why is the AC blowing warm air?" Wife replies, " I don't know, it did that for awhile yesterday, too." I pushed the Ambient button on the dash... it was 65°F outside... winter has arrived in Arizona ;-) ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | | http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food. Article: 95269 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Jim Thompson Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <6f5no1lme86457m7pm2j2m0s5pt7ua5rcv@4ax.com> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 16:58:45 -0700 On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 19:03:28 -0500, Spehro Pefhany wrote: >On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 16:48:02 -0700, the renowned Jim Thompson > wrote: > >>On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:48:05 -0500, Spehro Pefhany >> wrote: >> >>>On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:24:52 -0500, the renowned John Perry >>> wrote: >>> >>>>Rich Grise wrote: >>>>> ... >>>>> >>>>> But who wants a cooked pickle? ;-) >>>>> >>>> >>>>My ethnic Russian daughter-in-law, just arrived from Tatarstan, made a >>>>Russian soup, into which she chopped several dill pickles. >>>> >>>>Wonderful stuff! >>>> >>>>John Perry >>> >>>Recipe? ;-) It's getting into soup/curry/stew weather here in the >>>frozen* north. >>> >>>* Actually just cold nasty rain, but there was some snow earlier this >>>week. >>> >>> >>>Best regards, >>>Spehro Pefhany >> >>Expect more nasty weather... it's heading your way. Here on Saturday >>night... very windy, Sunday night plunged to about 25°F. >> >>Got in the wife's car on Saturday and backed out into the street, and >>commented, "Why is the AC blowing warm air?" >> >>Wife replies, " I don't know, it did that for awhile yesterday, too." >> >>I pushed the Ambient button on the dash... it was 65°F outside... >>winter has arrived in Arizona ;-) >> >> ...Jim Thompson > >Ha. Well, there's a nice dry maple log in the fireplace, an ice-cold >Sapporo in one of my Royal Selangor double-wall frozen pewter >tankards, my VHDL code is working with minimal tweaking and all is >right with the world. ;-) > > >Best regards, >Spehro Pefhany We burned a log in the fireplace last night also. It was sufficient to keep the inside temperature above 68°F. Don't know yet if I'll need to turn on the heat this year or not. ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens | | Analog Innovations, Inc. | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | | | E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat | | http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food. Article: 95270 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Message-ID: Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 03:13:41 +0100 From: Martin Am Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:14:17 GMT schrieb Rich the Newsgroup Wacko : > On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 18:49:24 -0500, Jon Yaeger wrote: > >> Take apart a couple of D cell carbon-zinc batteries. >> >> Wash off the carbon rods. Put each in a wooden clothes pin and connect >> the >> attached ends to the mains voltage (US customers only, please). >> >> Tap the free ends of the rods together. Move them apart as necessary. >> Very >> bright! Much brighter than you are. > > I put mine in series with Mom's iron, but the thermostat kept turning > it off. One time I used an old Iron as a dummy-load for a 230V/1kW TRIAC power control circuit (we had it in the lab for improvised BGA soldering). To "satisfy" the thermostat I used a 30cm room fan. -- Martin Article: 95271 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts From: Jon Yaeger Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> <4387D2E2.4000500@us.ibm.com> <1133221251.560151.35960@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:18:12 -0500 > > I've seen several speakers where there was a light bulb, in series with > the tweeter, as a power limiter > > -Lasse I once owned a Knight transistorized amp that used incandescent bulbs in the output stage to limit current. When you had some brighteness, you had a problem. I remember that it was the very worst-sounding amplifier that I ever owned. jon Article: 95272 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Tim Williams" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <4387be6d.204451325@news.comporium.net> <4387D2E2.4000500@us.ibm.com> <1133221251.560151.35960@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:34:50 -0600 "Jon Yaeger" wrote in message news:BFB132A4.43C18%jono_1@bellsouth.net... > I once owned a Knight transistorized amp that used incandescent bulbs > in the output stage to limit current. When you had some brighteness, > you had a problem. > > I remember that it was the very worst-sounding amplifier that I ever > owned. Heh heh. I have a Knight kit-built amp that glows too, but that's a bias problem in the tube output... ...No, I don't use it regularly... Tim -- Deep Fryer: a very philosophical monk. Website: http://webpages.charter.net/dawill/tmoranwms Article: 95273 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John Perry Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Message-ID: Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 00:52:31 -0500 Spehro Pefhany wrote: > On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 03:23:06 GMT, the renowned "Rich Grise, > Plainclothes Hippie" wrote: > > >>On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:24:52 -0500, John Perry wrote: >> >>>Rich Grise wrote: >>> >>>>But who wants a cooked pickle? ;-) >>> >>>My ethnic Russian daughter-in-law, just arrived from Tatarstan, made a >>>Russian soup, into which she chopped several dill pickles. >>> >>>Wonderful stuff! >> >>You must have to cook the bejabbers out of them - I chopped up a dill >>pickle once into a stew I was concocting from leftovers ane expired stuff >>... > From other recipes for Solyanka (or however it's spelt/spelled) the > common factors are beef broth, pickles, olives, capers, onions, garlic > and some kind of meat-- other winter veggies are fair game. And a > dollop of sour cream. > Well, Galya's was all vegetable except for a cube or two of bouillon (I don't know what kind). She had chopped the vegetables so finely that I didn't notice the pickles until she showed me the jar she took them from (I couldn't understand her description of "spiced cucumbers" :-). I don't know how she made it, since I had put her son, my step-grandson, to work with me raking a ton or so of oak leaves from my six 100+-foot trees. Even a lovely season like autumn has its price. John Perry Article: 95274 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Jorgen Lund-Nielsen Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 14:46:44 +0100 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> Winfried Salomon wrote: > Hello Jorgen, > > Jorgen Lund-Nielsen wrote: > > [.....] > >> 2N2369 for fast pulses. > > > btw, do you know a standard complementary pnp-transistor for the 2N2369, > such like 2N3905 but with higher ft and less feedback capacitance? It > seems that the manufactorers have almost no data on their internet pages. > > mfg. Winfried Maybe 2N4261 ? Have not looked into the datasheet, but as i remember, i have seen them sometimes in complementary with the 2N2369 Jorgen Article: 95275 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Henning Paul Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:00:50 +0100 Message-ID: <23eu53-eq8.ln1@fump.de.vu> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> Spehro Pefhany schrieb: > I think I remember something like that, maybe with ground beef. You mean Labskaus? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus Here in Bremen/Germany we usually leave away the fish and use just Corned Beef (the brazilian Corned Beef is just fine). And sometimes, you find diced pickles in it. Tastes even better, then. regards Henning -- henning paul home: http://www.geocities.com/hennichodernich PM: henningpaul@gmx.de , ICQ: 111044613 Article: 95276 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Oliver Betz Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 22:14:32 +0100 Message-ID: <438dbed0.545459789@z1.oliverbetz.de> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <23eu53-eq8.ln1@fump.de.vu> Henning Paul wrote: >You mean Labskaus? >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus Uh, real Labskaus doesn't contain fish. And the picture is unappetizing. Oliver -- Oliver Betz, Muenchen (oliverbetz.de) Article: 95277 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "=?ISO-8859-1?Q?G=FCnther?= Dietrich" Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 23:19:34 +0100 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <23eu53-eq8.ln1@fump.de.vu> <438dbed0.545459789@z1.oliverbetz.de> Oliver Betz wrote: >>You mean Labskaus? >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus > >Uh, real Labskaus doesn't contain fish. And the picture is >unappetizing. During my time in the german military, I had some courses of instruction on a base near Hamburg. One day they served Labskaus in the staff canteen there. That stuff looked just like that on the wiki photo. This was the event when I learned why they had roller blinds made of solid steel between kitchen and refectory. One of the comrades said: 'I won't eat this. That's food for pigs!' And he threw his dish into the kitchen. Most others followed. The officer of the guard, whom the cooks called after closing the roller blinds, had to draw his gun and shoot in the ceiling to calm the riot down. Since I had been near the end of the queue, I had no opportunity to try this Labskaus. I still don't know what it does taste of. Best regards, Günther Article: 95278 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Joel Kolstad" Subject: Re: Crystal VCO Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:53:20 -0800 Message-ID: <11oq541qtqr56ce@corp.supernews.com> References: <1133008611.942023.234010@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <11ogmqadr5i3c0e@corp.supernews.com> "Scott" wrote in message news:p6WdndH2jbo9whXeRVn-og@bright.net... > Wouldn't it be easier to use a frequency counter? If one is not available, > but a general coverage HF receiver or transceiver with a digital readout is > available, you could zero beat the oscillator, note the reading on the > display, cause the oscillator to shift to your other frequency, zero beat > that signal, note the display reading and subtract to find the difference in > frequency. I'm told that 'zero beating' typically has accuracy not much better than some tens of Hz due to the limited lower frequency response of the human ear... has anyone tried zero beating a signal from above and below and taking the average to get what might be a more accurate frequency estimate? Article: 95279 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Joel Kolstad" Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:57:42 -0800 Message-ID: <11oq5cb7j9a4815@corp.supernews.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <9u5co19jkjoep5n68ddmk71vh709v2eatk@4ax.com> "John Larkin" wrote in message news:9u5co19jkjoep5n68ddmk71vh709v2eatk@4ax.com... > Tell me about it. I tried some pins to see if they would snap, and > they turn out to have incredibly mushy reverse recovery, Slop Recovery > Diodes. I've always been led to believe that this wasn't a bug, but a feature. Really! (E.g., you can often get away with one diode when you'd otherwise need two if the things actually recovered quickly...) Article: 95280 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Phil Hobbs Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 22:17:39 -0500 Message-ID: <438D19D3.2090308@us.ibm.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <23eu53-eq8.ln1@fump.de.vu> <438dbed0.545459789@z1.oliverbetz.de> Oliver Betz wrote: > Henning Paul wrote: > > >>You mean Labskaus? >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus > > > Uh, real Labskaus doesn't contain fish. And the picture is > unappetizing. You said it. "Um, do I eat this, or did I" Cheers, Phil Hobbs Article: 95281 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: budgie Subject: Re: Crystal VCO Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 11:26:04 +0800 Message-ID: References: <1133008611.942023.234010@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <11ogmqadr5i3c0e@corp.supernews.com> <11oq541qtqr56ce@corp.supernews.com> On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:53:20 -0800, "Joel Kolstad" wrote: >"Scott" wrote in message >news:p6WdndH2jbo9whXeRVn-og@bright.net... >> Wouldn't it be easier to use a frequency counter? If one is not available, >> but a general coverage HF receiver or transceiver with a digital readout is >> available, you could zero beat the oscillator, note the reading on the >> display, cause the oscillator to shift to your other frequency, zero beat >> that signal, note the display reading and subtract to find the difference in >> frequency. > >I'm told that 'zero beating' typically has accuracy not much better than some >tens of Hz due to the limited lower frequency response of the human ear... has >anyone tried zero beating a signal from above and below and taking the average >to get what might be a more accurate frequency estimate? When the frequencies are close, a CRO is a great zero beat detector. Article: 95282 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: dplatt@radagast.org (Dave Platt) Subject: Re: Crystal VCO Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 03:46:55 -0000 Message-ID: <11oq85fpkmr2o3d@corp.supernews.com> References: <1133008611.942023.234010@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <11oq541qtqr56ce@corp.supernews.com> In article , budgie wrote: >>I'm told that 'zero beating' typically has accuracy not much better than some >>tens of Hz due to the limited lower frequency response of the human ear... has >>anyone tried zero beating a signal from above and below and taking the average >>to get what might be a more accurate frequency estimate? > >When the frequencies are close, a CRO is a great zero beat detector. Yup. It's a bit easier if your crystal happens to be on a frequency which lets you zero-beat against an AM-modulated carrier signal, such as WWV (during the early part of each minute, when it's sending a tone burst). You don't have to try to pick out the beat frequency directly... instead, you listen for the tone to waver in and out, and tweak for the slowest wavering. It's not hard to get the zero-beating accurate to within 1 Hz or better with a bit of patience. -- Dave Platt AE6EO Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads! Article: 95283 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Message-ID: <438D386F.1E9BFFC2@earthlink.net> From: "Michael A. Terrell" Subject: Re: Crystal VCO References: <1133008611.942023.234010@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <11ogmqadr5i3c0e@corp.supernews.com> <11oq541qtqr56ce@corp.supernews.com> Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 05:28:24 GMT Joel Kolstad wrote: > > I'm told that 'zero beating' typically has accuracy not much better than some > tens of Hz due to the limited lower frequency response of the human ear... has > anyone tried zero beating a signal from above and below and taking the average > to get what might be a more accurate frequency estimate? Use an analog comparator to drive a LED so you can see the difference when you can no longer hear it. Add a counter if you want to get fancy, and you can count the number of beats per minute, hour or even day. -- ? Michael A. Terrell Central Florida Article: 95284 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Paul Burke Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 08:16:13 +0000 Message-ID: <3v55eoF13vibuU1@individual.net> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <23eu53-eq8.ln1@fump.de.vu> Henning Paul wrote: > You mean Labskaus? > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus > > Here in Bremen/Germany we usually leave away the fish and use just Corned > Beef (the brazilian Corned Beef is just fine). Citizens of Liverpool are called 'Scousers' (when they aren't called worse), this derived from the local delicacy lobscouse. Corned beef stew with chips in it. Paul Burke Article: 95285 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Ed Huntress" References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <6Wcgf.78792$rE2.19809@fe10.lga> <1133338416.153464.229160@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes Message-ID: Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 03:46:26 -0500 "Ed ke6bnl" wrote in message news:1133338416.153464.229160@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com... > > Ed Huntress wrote: > > "Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message > > news:1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com... > > > I am the "lucky" owner of a number of older UPSes. > > > > > > So what can a person build out of these? > > > > > > The batteries are for the most part dead but the remainder of the > > > components seem to be in good condition. > > > > > > Any suggestions? > > > > > > Thanks > > > > > > TMT > > > > If you can get your hands on a copy of the 2005 ARRL Handbook, there are > > several suggestions in there (radio-related, but you can improvise from > > them), and some information about UPS's. > > > > One is a charger for 12V storage batteries in general, including car > > batteries. Another is an emergency power supply (you can just run two wires > > to your car battery, or a bank of deep-discharge batteries wired in parallel > > if you're so inclined). Depending on the model you have, you can get 160 W > > to over 300 W of 120 VAC and/or 12VDC from them. > > > > Mine (an APC Back-UPS 600) is now wired to an old car battery. It will run > > my computer for a lot longer than the old gel-cell that came with it. Since > > we're on the end of a power transmission line, it gets a fair amount of use. > > > > -- > > Ed Huntress > > Ed from Ed I just picked up a apc bk500. I charged it most of the night > and the voltage only shows 98 volt on battery. The instructions on the > internet show some sort of cd disc for windows which I do not have with > a good battery can I just use it as it is for a usp for the computer. > no alarm led lights on and it appears to be working fine thanks Ed I'm not aware of the inner workings of these things, Ed, nor have I put an AC voltmeter on the output, running off the car battery, to see what actual voltage I'm getting. The computer runs fine off of it but now you have my curiosity going. -- Ed Huntress Article: 95286 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "William E. Sabin" References: <1133008611.942023.234010@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <11oq541qtqr56ce@corp.supernews.com> <11oq85fpkmr2o3d@corp.supernews.com> Subject: Re: Crystal VCO Message-ID: Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 13:32:12 GMT My homebrew receiver (see QRZ.COM, W0IYH) has a 1.0 MHz xtal osc and a divide by 10 to 100 kHz. I can get the beats from WWV at 10 MHZ and set to zero beat using a front panel (lower right hand corner) trimmer capacitor and ON/OFF switch. The 100 kHz marker is then within several Hz on any ham band, including a possible small doppler shift of the sky wave signal from Colorado. The accuracy and short term stability are more than good enough for 100 kHz harmonics in the ham bands. In CW mode the zero beat is offset by 500 Hz and I can use an audio freq counter to get a 500 Hz count. The 1.0 MHz freq goes to a jack on the back of the rcvr and I use that to set the reference freq on my Heath freq counter while I am at the same time monitoring WWV at 10 MHz. A digital counter in the rcvr indicates signal freq with a 100 Hz resolution. To avoid possible accumulated frequency counting errors I stay 1 kHz away from band edges. Bill W0IYH "Dave Platt" wrote in message news:11oq85fpkmr2o3d@corp.supernews.com... > In article , > budgie wrote: > >>>I'm told that 'zero beating' typically has accuracy not much better than >>>some >>>tens of Hz due to the limited lower frequency response of the human >>>ear... has >>>anyone tried zero beating a signal from above and below and taking the >>>average >>>to get what might be a more accurate frequency estimate? >> >>When the frequencies are close, a CRO is a great zero beat detector. > > Yup. > > It's a bit easier if your crystal happens to be on a frequency which > lets you zero-beat against an AM-modulated carrier signal, such as WWV > (during the early part of each minute, when it's sending a tone > burst). You don't have to try to pick out the beat frequency > directly... instead, you listen for the tone to waver in and out, and > tweak for the slowest wavering. > > It's not hard to get the zero-beating accurate to within 1 Hz or > better with a bit of patience. > > -- > Dave Platt AE6EO > Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior > I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will > boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads! Article: 95287 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Heytubeguy" Subject: FA: Tubes: 811A, 572B,6V6Y,45+stuff.... Message-ID: <3oijf.197325$zb5.134336@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net> Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:09:03 GMT Have these tubes listed + other stuff and others coming as well. Tnx for looking and 'Merry Christmas to all': http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZheytubeguy 73 heytubeguy, Joe Article: 95288 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <9u5co19jkjoep5n68ddmk71vh709v2eatk@4ax.com> <11oehva6fhp3523@corp.supernews.com> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:57:58 +0100 Message-ID: <438dbfb4$0$20849$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net> Hi Jim - And on what delay timescale it works? regards - Henry "RST Engineering" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:11oehva6fhp3523@corp.supernews.com... > And by varying the reverse bias through a current source (or moderately > large fixed resistor) you can make them into nifty phase shifters. > > Jim > > > > I wrote: NOT PIN - Diodes - as they wouldn't snap. > > > > i mean Band Switching diodes for TV-Tuners like the BA244 and the BA682. > > > > BA682 Datasheet: > > > > http://www.vishay.com/docs/85530/85530.pdf > > > > - and they snap! Try it! > > > > Jorgen > > dj0ud > > > > > > Article: 95289 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Asimov" Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:11:23 GMT "G|nther Dietrich" bravely wrote to "All" (29 Nov 05 23:19:34) --- on the heady topic of "Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts" GD> From: "G|nther Dietrich" GD> Xref: core-easynews de.sci.electronics:308835 GD> rec.radio.amateur.homebrew:89433 sci.electronics.components:102901 GD> sci.electronics.design:527075 GD> Oliver Betz wrote: >>You mean Labskaus? >>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus > >Uh, real Labskaus doesn't contain fish. And the picture is >unappetizing. GD> During my time in the german military, I had some courses of GD> instruction on a base near Hamburg. One day they served Labskaus in GD> the staff canteen there. That stuff looked just like that on the wiki GD> photo. This was the event when I learned why they had roller blinds GD> made of solid steel between kitchen and refectory. GD> One of the comrades said: 'I won't eat this. That's food for pigs!' GD> And he threw his dish into the kitchen. Most others followed. GD> The officer of the guard, whom the cooks called after closing the GD> roller blinds, had to draw his gun and shoot in the ceiling to calm GD> the riot down. GD> Since I had been near the end of the queue, I had no opportunity to GD> try this Labskaus. I still don't know what it does taste of. The Roman legionaires a long time ago learned that an army marches on its stomach. Since Roman soldiers would march 30 kilometers per day they had to keep fit and good nutrition was a primorial concern for the generals. It isn't suprising then that soldiers are ready to riot and mutiny over their grub with such a longstanding tradition. A*s*i*m*o*v ... Combat the greenhouse effect - eat a cow. Article: 95290 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "RST Engineering" Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 09:12:27 -0800 Message-ID: <11ornbrrr5mv976@corp.supernews.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <9u5co19jkjoep5n68ddmk71vh709v2eatk@4ax.com> <11oehva6fhp3523@corp.supernews.com> <438dbfb4$0$20849$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net> A step-recovery ("snap") diode works on the principle of stored charge in the diode. During the forward biased half of the AC waveform, the diode is a very low impedance and it stores excess charge; during the reverse biased half of the waveform, the diode remains a low impedance until the stored charge is depleted, at which time the diode "snaps" into high impedance. This snap acts much like a spark-gap transmitter, in that a tremendous number of higher order harmonics are generated. In general (and there are ways to enhance this), the power available from any harmonic is around 1/n * Pin, where n is the order of the harmonic and Pin is the RF power input to the diode. Biasing the diode simply varies the point on the reverse cycle of the AC waveform where the diode snaps. For maximum power, you try to get the diode to snap at the peak of the waveform. However, by varying the diode bias, you can get it to snap before or after the peak of the waveform. Generally you can get it to snap plus or minus about 30 degrees about the peak before the snap action degrades. 60 degrees of phase shift is nothing to talk about unless you are working with the 10th harmonic, which means a phase shift of 600 degrees. Now you've got something to work with. Jim Article: 95291 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Oliver Betz Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:20:54 +0100 Message-ID: <438eda39.618012945@z1.oliverbetz.de> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <23eu53-eq8.ln1@fump.de.vu> <438dbed0.545459789@z1.oliverbetz.de> "Günther Dietrich" wrote: >>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus >> >>Uh, real Labskaus doesn't contain fish. And the picture is >>unappetizing. > >During my time in the german military, I had some courses of instruction >on a base near Hamburg. One day they served Labskaus in the staff >canteen there. That stuff looked just like that on the wiki photo. Well, then the cook is to blame, not Labskaus per se. Go to Hamburg and visit the "Old Commercial Room". I guess they make still delicious Labskaus. Oliver -- Oliver Betz, Muenchen (oliverbetz.de) Article: 95292 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Rich Grise Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <23eu53-eq8.ln1@fump.de.vu> Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:23:05 GMT On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:00:50 +0100, Henning Paul wrote: > Spehro Pefhany schrieb: > >> I think I remember something like that, maybe with ground beef. > > You mean Labskaus? > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus > > Here in Bremen/Germany we usually leave away the fish and use just Corned > Beef (the brazilian Corned Beef is just fine). And sometimes, you find > diced pickles in it. Tastes even better, then. Looks a lot like ordinary corned beef hash to me, if a little less coarsely chopped. But I wonder why they serve it with one of these? http://www2.catalognavigator.com/libertyindustries/viewitems/tacky-mats/hand-held-tacky-roll-mop?plpver=1001 ;-) Rich Article: 95293 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: dplatt@radagast.org (Dave Platt) Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 19:10:58 -0000 Message-ID: <11orua2o68kt9ab@corp.supernews.com> References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <6Wcgf.78792$rE2.19809@fe10.lga> <1133338416.153464.229160@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> >> Ed from Ed I just picked up a apc bk500. I charged it most of the night >> and the voltage only shows 98 volt on battery. The instructions on the >> internet show some sort of cd disc for windows which I do not have with >> a good battery can I just use it as it is for a usp for the computer. >> no alarm led lights on and it appears to be working fine thanks Ed > >I'm not aware of the inner workings of these things, Ed, nor have I put an >AC voltmeter on the output, running off the car battery, to see what actual >voltage I'm getting. The computer runs fine off of it but now you have my >curiosity going. It might be worth re-checking the AC output voltage using a voltmeter which reads "true RMS". Most inexpensive voltmeters actually read the peak voltage, and display an RMS value calculated based on the assumption that the waveform is sinusoidal. A lot of backup power supplies use inverters that create a distinctly non-sinusoidal waveform... it's sometimes a square wave, and sometimes a "stepped" waveform which crudely approximates a sinusoid. It's entirely possible that the APC BK500 creates a non-sinusoidal waveform, whose RMS value is close to the nominal 120 VAC, but whose peak voltage is lower than that of a true sinusoid having 120 VAC RMS. This could cause most inexpensive voltmeters to read a value that's too low. -- Dave Platt AE6EO Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads! Article: 95294 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Lew" References: <1132550073.630433.132830@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <6Wcgf.78792$rE2.19809@fe10.lga> <1133338416.153464.229160@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com> <11orua2o68kt9ab@corp.supernews.com> Subject: Re: Uses for Old UPSes Message-ID: Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:14:54 -0500 The APC BK500 has a step Output waveform that would be no problem for a computer and monitor. MGE UPS systems are a sinewave "Dave Platt" wrote in message news:11orua2o68kt9ab@corp.supernews.com... >>> Ed from Ed I just picked up a apc bk500. I charged it most of the night >>> and the voltage only shows 98 volt on battery. The instructions on the >>> internet show some sort of cd disc for windows which I do not have with >>> a good battery can I just use it as it is for a usp for the computer. >>> no alarm led lights on and it appears to be working fine thanks Ed >> >>I'm not aware of the inner workings of these things, Ed, nor have I put an >>AC voltmeter on the output, running off the car battery, to see what >>actual >>voltage I'm getting. The computer runs fine off of it but now you have my >>curiosity going. > > It might be worth re-checking the AC output voltage using a voltmeter > which reads "true RMS". Most inexpensive voltmeters actually read the > peak voltage, and display an RMS value calculated based on the > assumption that the waveform is sinusoidal. > > A lot of backup power supplies use inverters that create a distinctly > non-sinusoidal waveform... it's sometimes a square wave, and sometimes > a "stepped" waveform which crudely approximates a sinusoid. > > It's entirely possible that the APC BK500 creates a non-sinusoidal > waveform, whose RMS value is close to the nominal 120 VAC, but whose > peak voltage is lower than that of a true sinusoid having 120 VAC RMS. > This could cause most inexpensive voltmeters to read a value that's > too low. > > -- > Dave Platt AE6EO > Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior > I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will > boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads! Article: 95295 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Winfried Salomon Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 22:05:14 +0100 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> Hello Jorgen, Jorgen Lund-Nielsen wrote: > > > Winfried Salomon wrote: > >> Hello Jorgen, >> >> Jorgen Lund-Nielsen wrote: >> >> [.....] >> >>> 2N2369 for fast pulses. >> >> >> >> btw, do you know a standard complementary pnp-transistor for the >> 2N2369, such like 2N3905 but with higher ft and less feedback >> capacitance? It seems that the manufactorers have almost no data on >> their internet pages. >> >> mfg. Winfried > > > Maybe 2N4261 ? Have not looked into the datasheet, but as i remember, > i have seen them sometimes in complementary with the 2N2369 > the problem is, that it is an rf-transistor and can't be driven at 30V/0.2A, I found a complementary in an old table KTT, the 2N2894A, but it also has max. 12V, so I find no other than the 2N3906. If I simulate with the 2N3906, the frequency response is not worse than with the 2N2894A. mfg. Winfried Article: 95296 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Rich Grise Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <43862a64$0$41138$14726298@news.sunsite.dk> <23eu53-eq8.ln1@fump.de.vu> Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 21:57:50 GMT On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:09:49 -0500, Spehro Pefhany wrote: > On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 18:23:05 GMT, the renowned Rich Grise > wrote: > >>On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:00:50 +0100, Henning Paul wrote: >> >>> Spehro Pefhany schrieb: >>> >>>> I think I remember something like that, maybe with ground beef. >>> >>> You mean Labskaus? >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labskaus >>> >>> Here in Bremen/Germany we usually leave away the fish and use just Corned >>> Beef (the brazilian Corned Beef is just fine). And sometimes, you find >>> diced pickles in it. Tastes even better, then. >> >>Looks a lot like ordinary corned beef hash to me, if a little less >>coarsely chopped. >> >>But I wonder why they serve it with one of these? >> >>http://www2.catalognavigator.com/libertyindustries/viewitems/tacky-mats/hand-held-tacky-roll-mop?plpver=1001 >> >>;-) >>Rich > > You could also serve with one of these: > > http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/BismarckArbeitszimmer1886.jpg > > >From a cursory search, it looks like it'd be kinda hard to find one these days. ;-) Cheers! Rich Article: 95297 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "AAA RF Products" Subject: FREE: RF Connector, Adapter & Cable Catalog Message-ID: Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:29:00 -0800 For your free copy of our new catalog, please email sales@AAARFProducts.com or see www.aaarfproducts.com or call 949 481 3154 (San Clemente, CA) No minimum order. No handling charges. Article: 95298 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: John Larkin Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:45:54 -0800 Message-ID: <6oaso1ti3m6kb59oklq01at7si07bi5uj3@4ax.com> References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> <1133389949.659104.207130@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> On 30 Nov 2005 14:32:29 -0800, dagmargoodboat@yahoo.com wrote: > >Jim Thompson wrote: >> On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 21:41:06 +0100, Winfried Salomon >> wrote: >> >> >Hello Jorgen, >> > >> >Jorgen Lund-Nielsen wrote: >> > >> >[.....] >> >> 2N2369 for fast pulses. >> > >> >btw, do you know a standard complementary pnp-transistor for the 2N2369, >> >such like 2N3905 but with higher ft and less feedback capacitance? It >> >seems that the manufactorers have almost no data on their internet pages. >> > >> >mfg. Winfried >> >> A 2N2369 is a gold-doped NPN, gold-doped to kill storage time and >> improve recovery from saturation. I don't recall any PNP device with >> gold-doping... or the equivalent. >> >> ...Jim Thompson > > National Semi's (now Fairchild) 2n5771 was a gold-doped PNP. >ft>=850MHz. For avalanche mode one might try the lower-Vce-rated >PN3640 (12v), or PN3639 (6v). > > I might even have notes on this. I tested/compared various BJTs in >avalanche mode some years ago, trying to find the "best." ISTR picking >the 2n2369, both because it was fast, and because it avalanched >reliably where other types wouldn't. > > James Arthur Hi, James, Interestingly, the best avalanchers aren't usually super-fast transistors, but old klunky things. The Zetex avalanche transistors have lowish Ft's and are made in Russia, maybe on an old process. John Article: 95299 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "wb5cys" References: Subject: Re: For sale Message-ID: Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 22:50:24 GMT How can you expect someone to make an offer on a piece of equipment they have never seen? All we have to go on is your description. You see the equipment, you know it's condition, you know how it performs, you know what you will take for it - why not just say? Or are you hoping for the proverbial sucker? "David J Windisch" wrote in message news:g_Dhf.233897$lI5.95863@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com... > Hi, all concerned: > > For sale: > > 1. 80-10M Drake L-4B amplifier, sn 1010, Eimac tubes, pwr supply sn 1000, > book, in good condition electrically; cosmetically, a few scuffs around > the front edges. No issues with it; I simply got an amp with 160M. If > you pick it up, I could demonstrate its 600W out on c-w and 1100W out on > ssb. 10-day money-back warranty, provided it comes back in the same > condition it leaves. > > 2. Meissner Signal Shifter exciter in good working and physical > condition; 3.4-30 MHz, copy of book. I got it to drive a homebrew 4-400 > to a KW on c-w, but that's not going to happen. > > 3. ESS TIME MACHINE: complete info at: > http://www.expandedspectrumsystems.com/prod2.html > I have band-filters and 9 different crystals for 40-30-20-15-10M, FLX-90, > LO1 external-lo buffer, wall wart, all manuals. Got this for > experimenting with homebrew software-defined-radio, also not going to > happen. > > 4. Original service manual for Kenwood TS850SAT. Sold rigs; buyers didn't > want it. > > 5. Before-MFJ HyGain TH7DX broadband tri-band antenna, good condition, > original book. > > 6. Cushcraft 402CD pre-XM240 2-element 40M yagi, good condition, with CC > 40M rotatable dipole I got to make 3L yagi out of 2L. > > 7. TMC IPA r-f deck, uses PL-172/8295A (no tube; same *socket* as 8877; > chimney could have 4-inch OD-3-1/2orso-ID machined hi-temp non-conductive > ring sitting on 8877 to cover over difference in tube diameters), 750pF > Tune/1000pF vac variables with turns-counters in 2-30MHz bandswitched > tank which has 3/8-in silver-plated conductors, 2 multi-meters, 6CL6/6146 > bandswitched driver, no power supplies. > > Pls make offers, and remember shipping from 45251. Antennas can be > disassembled far enough to fit in those concrete-form tubes, for shipping. > You know; those ones you've seen in bigboxhardware :o) > > Tks for reading. > > 73, Dave, N3HE > Cincinnati, OH > 513-674-7202 > > Article: 95300 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Roy Lewallen Subject: Re: For sale Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:33:46 -0800 Message-ID: <11osdmukrl3bp12@corp.supernews.com> References: wb5cys wrote: > How can you expect someone to make an offer on a piece of equipment they > have never seen? All we have to go on is your description. You see the > equipment, you know it's condition, you know how it performs, you know what > you will take for it - why not just say? Or are you hoping for the > proverbial sucker? Are you saying that the thousands upon thousands of people bidding (making offers) on eBay are all suckers? (Admittedly, some are. But all?) Roy Lewallen, W7EL Article: 95301 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 19:49:19 -0400 From: Bill Subject: Re: For sale References: <11osdmukrl3bp12@corp.supernews.com> Message-ID: Roy Lewallen wrote: > wb5cys wrote: > >> How can you expect someone to make an offer on a piece of equipment >> they have never seen? > > Are you saying that the thousands upon thousands of people bidding > (making offers) on eBay are all suckers? (Admittedly, some are. But all?) > > Roy Lewallen, W7EL Hmmm.... At least there's photos...fwiw. -Bill Article: 95302 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: Winfield Hill Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: 30 Nov 2005 18:46:34 -0800 Message-ID: References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <11oci80ha32mv77@corp.supernews.com> <4OChf.266$5Z4.11@news.edisontel.com> Winfried Salomon wrote... > Jorgen Lund-Nielsen wrote: >> Winfried Salomon wrote: >> >>> btw, do you know a standard complementary pnp-transistor for the >>> 2N2369, such like 2N3905 but with higher ft and less feedback >>> capacitance? It seems that the manufactorers have almost no data >>> on their internet pages. >> >> Maybe 2N4261? Have not looked into the datasheet, but as i remember, >> i have seen them sometimes in complementary with the 2N2369 That was a high-frequency part for the time, spec'd at 1200MHz... > the problem is, that it is an rf-transistor and can't be driven at > 30V/0.2A, I found a complementary in an old table KTT, the 2N2894A, > but it also has max. 12V, so I find no other than the 2N3906. An old Raytheon datasheet says the 2N2894 was doped with platinum. BTW -- in AoE, we list the 2n5771 as a PNP complement to the NPN 2n5769, both 15V plastic versions of older metal-can parts. -- Thanks, - Win Article: 95303 of rec.radio.amateur.homebrew From: "Henry Kiefer" References: <4385b3b1$1$27887$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> <9u5co19jkjoep5n68ddmk71vh709v2eatk@4ax.com> <11oehva6fhp3523@corp.supernews.com> <438dbfb4$0$20849$9b4e6d93@newsread2.arcor-online.net> <11ornbrrr5mv976@corp.supernews.com> Subject: Re: Unusual functions of cheap parts Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 10:07:56 +0100 Message-ID: <438ebfc2$0$27907$9b4e6d93@newsread4.arcor-online.net> Thank you Jim for your longly explanations. I already knew the charge storage process, but the phasing aspect was new and interesting. My question about phase delay was in another direction. To be concrete: How to delay (=phase shift) a 145MegHz signal (mostly sinus waveform) with a snap diode? After reading your explanation I cannot see how to achieve a non-snapping action here. Maybe that would work with the diode if you modulate it with dc current getting delay in the ps timescale. Another question would be if it possible with the snap diode to make a power amp in some form of ringing oscillator. Of course, it should be modulable at least with FM. - Henry "RST Engineering" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:11ornbrrr5mv976@corp.supernews.com... > A step-recovery ("snap") diode works on the principle of stored charge in > the diode. During the forward biased half of the AC waveform, the diode is > a very low impedance and it stores excess charge; during the reverse biased > half of the waveform, the diode remains a low impedance until the stored > charge is depleted, at which time the diode "snaps" into high impedance. > This snap acts much like a spark-gap transmitter, in that a tremendous > number of higher order harmonics are generated. In general (and there are > ways to enhance this), the power available from any harmonic is around 1/n * > Pin, where n is the order of the harmonic and Pin is the RF power input to > the diode. > > Biasing the diode simply varies the point on the reverse cycle of the AC > waveform where the diode snaps. For maximum power, you try to get the diode > to snap at the peak of the waveform. However, by varying the diode bias, > you can get it to snap before or after the peak of the waveform. Generally > you can get it to snap plus or minus about 30 degrees about the peak before > the snap action degrades. > > 60 degrees of phase shift is nothing to talk about unless you are working > with the 10th harmonic, which means a phase shift of 600 degrees. Now > you've got something to work with. > > Jim > >