[Boatanchors] Overall Ham Bench power issues

[rbethman]

List,

This is where I completely agree with Glen.

I have a 10MHz standard oscillator that runs constantly.  It varies 
within the range of 1Hz.

It IS a reference frequency standard.

Here are the comments from Mr. Wenzel of Wenzel Associates. [ He and I 
communicate fairly frequently. He provided my shack with the reference 
oscillator, and other components:

>         This thing doesn't appear to be aging at all, maybe on the
>     order of
>         one or two tenths of a billion parts per day (1E-10). That's
>     about as good as
>         this class of oscillator gets. It would be a great unit to
>     lock to a GPS
>         receiver's 10 MHz output or even to use as a free-running
>     reference.
>
>         I can set it to within a few parts per billion but you will
>     want to
>         apply an electrical tuning voltage for finer control. Just
>     tune the
>         mechanical adjustment to get the electrical tuning voltage to
>     where you want it to be
>         centered. For example, if you were going to use 0-5 volts for
>     fine-tuning, I'd set
>         the voltage to 2.5 volts and then center the frequency as
>     close as possible with the
>         mechanical adjustment. Then the electrical tuning can change the
>         frequency up and down about 0.07 ppm/ volt X 2.5 volts = 0.175
>     ppm.
>
>         If you are going to use a voltage centered around zero, it's
>     ready
>         to go as-is since I tuned it up with zero volts on the E.T.
>     (floating).

This is going to be the reference oscillator for my VSB 6000 frequency 
synthesizer.  I am going into the microwave realm of Amateur Radio, and 
am build the boards to get myself up into that region.

I have a number of SMT amplifier ICs to kick it up to a significantly 
higher power level.

Definitely have to keep some items running to maintain stability. 
However these are powered @ 15VDC, 24VDC, 9VDC, and 8VDC, all running in 
the mA levels.

No danger of burning the home place!

It is all protected by circuit breakers and individual fuses.

The Den/Shack was renovated in 2013/2014.  Separate circuits and 
breakers were added to allow for the needs other than the normal circuits.

There is one dedicated 240V circuit for amplifier duty, and another 
dedicated 125VDC @ 30A circuit for any heavy current items.

Regards, Bob - N0DGN


On 1/15/2016 1:08 PM, Glen Zook via Boatanchors wrote:
> A number of test equipment items really should not have the power completely removed especially items that have temperature compensated frequency standards.
>
>
> As such, turning off all power to the test bench may not be a good idea.  Instead, a separate circuit needs to be in place to insure that the power remains on such equipment.  Having power strip, etc., to control things like soldering irons that do not require constant power is a good idea.  However, that circuit needs to be different from that which provides power for frequency standards, etc.
>
>   Glen, K9STH
> Website: http://k9sth.net