| There are several on the HP forum that are famililar with that product 
Hardy. 
I also have one but claim no expertise since it still works well.
hp_agilent_equipment@yahoogroups.com
Carl
KM1H
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hardy Landskov" <n7rt@cox.net> 
To: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji@w8ji.com>; "Bill Wichers" <billw@waveform.net>
Cc: <n4zr@contesting.com>; <topband@contesting.com>; "HAROLD SMITH JR" 
<w0rihps@sbcglobal.net>; "Shoppa, Tim" <tshoppa@wmata.com> 
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: Submerging variable caps in oil 
assubstituteforvacuumvariables 
 
FYI All,
The HP4815A Vector Impedance Meter submersed the main tuning capacitor in 
an oil bath of some kind to get the capacitance up. Apparently dissipation 
factor was not of concern when the unit was designed. If there are any 
retired HP folks out there they may be able to identify what they used. I 
have read some years ago that hydraulic jack oil was very close.
I need to open mine up and replace one of the capacitors because the 
oscillator will not start on the higher frequency ranges. I am gun shy at 
this point until I know exactly what I am dealing with. 
73 Hardy N7RT
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji@w8ji.com> 
To: "Bill Wichers" <billw@waveform.net>
Cc: <n4zr@contesting.com>; <topband@contesting.com>; "HAROLD SMITH JR" 
<w0rihps@sbcglobal.net>; "Shoppa, Tim" <tshoppa@wmata.com> 
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 6:16 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: Submerging variable caps in oil as 
substituteforvacuumvariables 
 The major issue with dielectrics is dissipation factor at 2 MHz, which 
affects losses and Q. Dissipation factor is not published all the time. I 
can't find dissipation factor for mineral oil.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Wichers" <billw@waveform.net> 
To: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji@w8ji.com>
Cc: "HAROLD SMITH JR" <w0rihps@sbcglobal.net>; "Shoppa, Tim" 
<tshoppa@wmata.com>; <n4zr@contesting.com>; <topband@contesting.com> 
Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 4:05 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Submerging variable caps in oil as 
substituteforvacuum variables 
I was reading this thread and all the concerns about oil in the 
capacitor. Has anyone ever thought about trying SF6 as a dielectric? It's 
commonly used in high voltage (hundreds of kilovolts) switchgear by 
utilities. 
Just a thought, more curiosity than anything else.
-Bill
Sent from my iPhon
On Jan 30, 2014, at 5:32 AM, "Tom W8JI" <w8ji@w8ji.com> wrote:
 Still I am intrigued by the thought of a remote tuning capacitor via 
hydraulic tubing :-). The capacitor plates could be as simple as two 
concentric cylinder conductors with appropriate spacers. I betcha crud 
collecting on the top of the oil would set voltage limit.>>>
I would be as concerned, or more concerned, with the dissipation factor 
of the oil at short wave frequencies. 
The thing that worries me is I cannot recall every seeing a single good 
high-Q oil-dielectric capacitor above power line and audio frequencies. 
As a matter of fact, many years ago I tried to use a surplus 20-40kV oil 
capacitor from Fair Radio as a plate blocking capacitor, and it 
overheated so badly it exploded. 
I looked for HF data on mineral oil as a dielectric and couldn't find 
anything. That would be my main concern. I guess I could stick mineral 
oil between the plates of a capacitor and see what happens to Q. 
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