[HBR] HBR Tuning Cap, Coil Forms

[hbr@mailman.qth.net]

In a message dated 12/26/02 2:08:26 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
hbrnut@earthlink.net writes:

> As far as the variable capacitor is concerned, I wonder if anyone has tried 
>  removing plates from a three section 365 P.F. capacitor. I can tell you 
>  from experience that the values of the capacitor are by no means absolute, 
>  although it would mean experimenting with the number of turns and the tap 
>  location on the coils.

I haven't tried it, but I suspect the results might not be as good as 
desired. The tiny plate spacings and non-precision construction of most 
triple-365s leaves something to be desired for an application like the HBR.

Here's an idea that may work, though I haven't tried it (yet):

Look around for a really trashed ARC-5 receiver, preferably one with the 
6-9.1 Mc. range (BC-455). All you want is the tuning capacitor, and if its 
gears are bad, so much the better. 

Simply remove all the gears and you have a nice big solid 3 gang cap of about 
62 mmf per section. Glass insulated, with separate rotors for each section. 
Mounts by the 4 tapped feet that originally held it to the front panel. Even 
has trimmers and a slotted rotor plate. 

While decent ARC-5s command high prices today, you may still come upon parts 
units at low prices. Certainly worth asking around, or crawling under the 
tables at the next hamfest.

73 de Jim, N2EY