Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 20:11:15 +1030
From: "Leigh Turner" <invertech@frontierisp.net.au>
To: "'Paul Christensen'" <w9ac@arrl.net>
Cc: amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Reducing heat in tetrode amps with EBS
## Paul, you are not going from full class C cut off to normal operating ssb
bias.
That’s the old alpha bi-state ebs scheme. With tri-state bias, its more like
toggling
between 20 ma to 180ma on a 8877. Its only ever cut-off bias when in RX.
## the proposed digital delay scheme, on paper should work. On some of my
digital audio rack gear,
I can delay the audio output, in 1 msec increments....from 0- 2000 msecs. I
use a mixer, configured
as a splitter..., with one channel used to feed..in real time, low level audio
to phone patch
on yaesu mk-v...with mic gain on zero. This keys the vox..now..and of course
the yaesu keys the
amp key line. Meanwhile, the 2nd channel of the mixer drives the myriad of
audio rack gear,
which includes the variable digital delay..then fed into the analog BM of the
xcvr. This config
gives the relays in the amp a headstart. Works great for amps with slow mech
relays.
The mk-V and no doubt other xcvrs, already have a 0-30 msec digital delay on
TX..but only for
CW. The idea was again, to give the amps relays a head start. The yaesus
digital delay only works on
cw mode....so my experiment with delayed audio was done for ssb vox.
## Your proposed digital bias scheme appears to be the real ticket for a fully
functioning ebs scheme.
I mean one that would toggle the bias between syllables, as well as words. You
really wouldnt even need
a hang bias, or very little if any hang bias. IE: a toggling bias that follows
the audio waveform.
## But for any of these various ebs schemes to work correctly, they all
require either an audio noise gate, or
downward expander in the audio line...esp if rf processing is used, or audio
compression. Then you can set
the ebs trip point on the xcvr output to something well below 1/2 watt. Typ
ham setups, with no noise gate,
have too much background noise, which trips the ebs..defeating its purpose.
Its either that, or the ebs
threshold has to be set at a level just higher than the xcvrs background noise
output. IE: the ebs
input threshold is now being used as a RF noise gate, which is a fubar way to
go about it.
## On a related side note, Krell, who builds class A audio power amps, uses a
sliding bias scheme on their amps
to reduce heat. Another audio amp maker, Denon uses an optical encoder to
switch the audio power amp from class A
to class B. At low levels its run class A. Exceed a given threshold and its
now class B. Continental, in dallas, who builds
100kw SW AM TX, uses a reduced controlled cxr scheme to reduce heat. Its
adjustable from 0-1-2-3-4-5-6 db cxr redux.
It only works between words or pauses in the program material. The listener
sees a 0-6 db redux in cxr on his S meter
during pauses. Saves $$$ in power costs. The above schemes are all analog
based.
## IMO, if the proposed digital bias ebs scheme cant switch between words, its
really not worth it. Ideally, if fast enough
it could switch between syllables. Otherwise, conventional tri-state ebs,
used in conjunction with an audio noise gate will be
as good as it gets.
Jim VE7RF
Hi Paul,
These proposed EBS techniques you advocate using a short delay line on the
audio would work a treat...completely benign bias transitioning operation
that yields a useful dissipation / heat reduction.
Leigh
VK5KLT
-----Original Message-----
From: Amps [mailto:amps-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Paul
Christensen
Sent: Friday, 31 October 2014 7:53 AM
To: amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Reducing heat in tetrode amps with EBS
One possible solution involves a digital delay line. What is the duration
of the typical bias settling period from full class C to third-stage class
AB? Perhaps 5-10 ms? Faster? Slower?
If audio was delayed just long enough for the amp to reach linear operation,
there would be no IMD grunge produced as a result of the EBS circuit.
Coming out of EBS would require so-called "hang-bias," but even 10 ms is a
very short period and not perceptible by the ear when monitoring in
real-time.
Hang-bias is a software option in my S-QSK sequencing board and is
adjustable from 0-255 ms in 1 ms increments. Since amp control is managed
in software, I may try experimenting with a delay line when the homebrew
8877 amp gets closer to completion.
Paul, W9AC
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