[Elecraft] K3S QST Article

[ab2tc]

Hi,

Well, as I remember it there was once a push to move to 48V for automotives
but that never happened (so far).

I was always skeptical on the wisdom on moving to FET finals at the 12V
level. Generally bipolars work better at this low voltage. FETs come come
into their own at higher voltages (24-75V).

In general I still think it is silly to make modern radios compatible with
the old 12V car power system. For portable use there are plenty of ways to
provide higher voltages. (Eventually power supplies manufacturers will make
notice.)

AB2TC - Knut


David Gilbert wrote
> There was a major initiative at least 15 years ago in the automotive 
> industry to go to 28 volt systems in order to reduce the cost and weight 
> of the heavier wires that were needed to cope with the expanding current 
> drain as more things in the car went electronic. Not sure what happened 
> to that since I've been retired, but I assume ways were found to make 
> the new electronics more energy efficient in the first place.  As I 
> remember, one of the issues holding back 28 volt systems was the higher 
> breakdown voltages that would be needed for the various semiconductors 
> involved ... not everything gets more efficient or cost effective as 
> voltages go up.
> 
> 73,
> Dave  AB7E
> 
> 
> On 10/15/2016 12:49 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
>> And therein lies the reason for using 12V. It would have been easier had
>> we
>> gone from 6V automotive power to 28V as is used on many aircraft so
>> manufacturers were encouraged to build generators and equipment for that
>> voltage, but that didn't happen.
>>
>> 73, Ron AC7AC
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:

> Elecraft at .qth

> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to 

> lists+1215531472858-365791 at .nabble





--
View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3S-QST-Article-tp7623295p7623405.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.