[Elecraft] DL1 Accuracy

Robert Block [email protected]
Wed Dec 31 14:43:21 2003


What is the practical and/or typical accuracy of the DL1?
Assuming that you can measure the actual resistance of both banks, it 
should be much better than the claimed 10%

The formula given for converting DMM-measured voltage to power is based on 
a 1:2 tap ratio (i.e. both resistor banks are equal), a 0.15 drop across 
the diode and 50 ohms total resistance.

In my kit, the measured values were 99.9, 99.9, 100.0, 100.0, 100.1, 
100.2, 100.2, and 100.3.  When I assembled them, I paired them off so that 
both banks were very close.  There's no guarantee of what the actual 
values you'll receive in your kit, but you can always measure them and 
determine actual values to use for '1.414' (which is actually N *sqrt(2), 
where N is the ratio between the total resistance and the lower bank) and 
the total resistance  (mine was 50.03 ohms).

My DMM claims a basic accuracy of 0.025%.

It seems that I should be able to achieve an overall uncertainty of much 
better than 10%, even considering that the resistors will change value 
when they get warmed up.  Or have I forgotten something?