[Lowfer] Loading Coil Former ?

[Bill Ashlock]

>Just picked up a large fiber barrel for a loading coil duty. It's 23 In
>dia. by 32 In tall. It has one end-piece of same filer. Only issue is
>with the two steel end rings about the circumference. What is the
>liability of having them in the coils proximity??

Peter, the rings will act like shorted turns and destroy the Q as well as 
lower the inductance. There's a physically large eletromagnetic field 
surrounding the coil and any metallic objects within a coil diameter can 
have a large effect.

>I plan to seal the 1/4 In fiber board of the now sturdy container.
>Using No. 14 house wire, some, the required L could be wound in the
>center and away from the steel rings, but is that separation adequate?
>An option is to remove 1 or both rings and re-enforce in their absence
>-- a lot of work. Another is to cut the rings through so as to be
>"open," if that is better.

A cut in the rings is better but you still have steel in the field of the 
coil that will eat energy, reducing the Q. I would ge rid of them. Also, and 
hope this doesn't cause undue discouragement, this fiber may not be a high Q 
material, especially when introduced to the elements. A lot of the guys use 
5 gal polyethylene (or equi) paint buckets for the coil form with good 
results.

Good luck.

Bill A

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