[Milsurplus] Vibrator failure

[aGEnuine Ham]

John:

Actually, the solid state replacements help solve the resonance issue, as
the 'make' and 'break' events are much softer than the metallic contact
closure.  Chapter 9 of the Mallory book which Robert mentions leads you
through the buffer capacitor issue.  The problem arises from applying a
square wave to a transformer.  And, not a very good square wave at that. 
The solid state replacements do not have contact bounce, the off to on
transition is clean, repeatable, and can itself be shaped to whatever is
desired.  The buffer capacitors tune the transformer so the field
collapse waveform follows the voltage produced by the vibrator more
closely, and at the same time 'clean up' some of the higher frequency
harmonics, producing an output which is easier to deal with, and less
likely to punch through the transformer insulation.  

Anyone interested in vibrator power supplies needs at least the Mallory
book.  I have often wondered if there are any other texts which shed more
light on this arcane corner of radio?

73,
George
W5VPQ

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