[ARC5] Vibrator power supply

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 12 Dec 2012 at 9:37, J. Forster wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> It's really hard to judge much about the vibrator condition when
> operating in-circuit because of the responses of the inductors and
> capacitors.

Correct. Even so, it sure looks like the vibrator contacts are deteriorated to 
me. I am basing this on both what I have seen in my own experience, and 
what I have seen in the ARRL handbooks on vibrators.

> Consider operating the vibrator with just a pair of resistive loads
> with the design voltage and current applied. That will immediately
> tell you the contact condition, bounce, etc.

Yes. This would certainly preclude having to take the derned thing apart. My 
success rate for doing this was about 50%, at best...

I really wouldn't do it if I could avoid it.

I have always felt that vibrators were a big PITA, in any case, and that 
transistors and/or power-FETs were a great blessing for this purpose.

Ken W7EKB