Tuner up-grade

[w7lpn]

I replaced the "Click" type inductor in my old Ten-Tec tuner with a salvaged silver and ceramic roller. I can't up load a pic for some reason.

[WB2WIK]

What's a click-type inductor? You mean a tapped inductor, having switch-selected taps?

So, after you replaced it with a roller inductor, how'd it work?

[wa9cwx]

I LOVE my "click" selected (tapped) tuner!

The roller inductor takes WAY too long when I want to change bands.

If I had a very short antenna, perhapse more critical tuning of the inductor would be needed, but the open wire fed antenna is 400 feet long, and, although I am not positive, I think this is why I have such an easy time simply finding a close point with the taps, and fine tuning with the caps.

Why did you change ?

And did it do what you wanted ?

[w7lpn]

I'll try to answer both of you. I can key up on low power and turn the roller while adjusting. #The instructions say don't do that with the "Tap" inductor. (Thanks for the proper term). It now has greater coverage, easily tunes from 6 to 160 meters. Before 10 to 80 was about it. 6 meter was about 2.7 to 1. I disagree with the "slower" comment due to the ability to tune while keyed. I am cutting a view slot in the top and inserting a piece of plexyglass and rigging a needle to knotch marks to record where certain bands tune in. This will speed things up a bit. The peices of the tap were all copper clad and a bit loose from use, and would not click solidly. #So, yes it did what I wanted and I like it a bit better now. #
P.S. I like to tinker and will occasionally screw something up trying to improve it or just figure it out on my level...like grampa's pocket watch. HAR!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[VK2TIL]

I like your idea of the "view window".

You can buy surplus turns-counters, eg

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Turns-Counter-Amp-Tuner-Roller-Inductor-Nice_W0QQitemZ9744404520QQihZ008QQcategoryZ48700QQ
ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/Turns-C....iewItem</a>

but your idea is clever & cheap.

[w7lpn]

Quote[/b] (VK2TIL @ June 21 2006,19:25)]I like your idea of the "view window".

You can buy surplus turns-counters, eg

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Turns-Counter-Amp-Tuner-Roller-Inductor-Nice_W0QQitemZ9744404520QQihZ008QQcategoryZ48700QQ

ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/Turns-C....iewItem</a>

but your idea is clever & cheap.
So, this counter mounts onto the end of the shaft then screws into the face of the tuner?

[VK2TIL]

Yes; you can see the output shaft which goes to the roller inductor shaft in the photo below (the second photo in the ebay ad.

You would need a coupler to connect the counter shaft to the inductor shaft; you would also need enough space between the panel and the front of the inductor to fit it in.

Turns counters are difficult to get here in VK but they seem to be a little more readily available in the US.

[w7lpn]

I'd have to mount it on the face of the tuner due to lack of inside space, but i like the idea.

[VK2TIL]

It looks as if it was designed to mount from the front; most of them are mounted this way. Screws come-in from behind the panel; you can see the tapped holes in the photo.

You would have to cut a sorta-rectangular hole in the panel to allow the gears etc to pass through but that should be simple enough.

[VK2TIL]

Well, we know where the shaft coupler is;

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Roller-Inductor-Large-Hi-Power-Amp-Tuner-Transmitter_W0QQitemZ220000389058QQcategoryZ48711
QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/Roller-....iewItem</a>

Same seller.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[KA4DPO]

Nice job LPN, I like to see folks doing creative mods. Buy getting rid of the switch you increased the power handling capability of the tuner.

[w7lpn]

Quote[/b] (VK2TIL @ June 22 2006,21:31)]It looks as if it was designed to mount from the front; most of them are mounted this way. #Screws come-in from behind the panel; you can see the tapped holes in the photo.
There's not much room up front. That scares me a little. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif I think building a little metal box on the front is probably the best idea. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[w7lpn]

Quote[/b] (VK2TIL @ June 22 2006,22:41)]Well, we know where the shaft coupler is;

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Roller-Inductor-Large-Hi-Power-Amp-Tuner-Transmitter_W0QQitemZ220000389058QQcategoryZ48711

QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/Roller-....iewItem</a>

Same seller.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
http://www.fairradio.com/l35.htm

Lots cheaper. I bought 2...gonna try to make a screwdriver antenna with a stainless whip. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

[w7lpn]

Pic from the web page. Lots of cheap cool stuff on this site! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[VK2TIL]

Yes, a rectangular "spacer", the same size on the outside as the counter body and with a suitable hole taken out to fit the counter gears etc would work fine.

If you know someone with a milling machine it would be easy to make from a thick piece of aluminium plate or plastic.

I've just finished a project which used plastic material which had to be heat-resistant; I used material cut from a piece of 3/8" black phenolic sheet, as used in switchboards.

Wasn't too expensive from my local plastics bloke. Another source could be an electrician; I think that commercial/industrial electricians make switchboards and might sell/give you an offcut.

Not too hard by hand, really; just some patient work with a hacksaw/drill/file. Scrollsaw or hobby bandsaw could be used to cut the centre out.

Perhaps this ebay one is not the one for you; I just picked it at random for illustration.

I imagine these turns counters can be had at hamfests or from the junkbox of many a US amateur.

I envy you US blokes one thing; the amount of stuff available at hamfests, flea markets, ebay and great firms like Fair Radio Sales (as mentioned by LPN) and others.

Getting stuff for homebrewing here in VK is often very difficult.

[w7lpn]

Quote[/b] (KA4DPO @ June 23 2006,06:10)]Nice job LPN, I like to see folks doing creative mods. #Buy getting rid of the switch you increased the power handling capability of the tuner.
I wonder how much power it can handle now.

[WA2ZDY]

I dunno about the power handling capability now, but you should consider making a cabinet and just using the capacitors and the roller inductor for your tuner. This way it reflects YOUR taste and you can build it to fit the components you will use.

[w7lpn]

Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ June 24 2006,12:45)]I dunno about the power handling capability now, but you should consider making a cabinet and just using the capacitors and the roller inductor for your tuner. #This way it reflects YOUR taste and you can build it to fit the components you will use.
Neat Idea! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif