RE: QCX PA Failures:-
there comes a time where you cannot protect for every
eventuality?
(If you not already seen it, have a look at the PA circuitry in the
NC2030 design,
I guess something similar was not included for reason of cost, both
component and also PCB? size increase?)
It's an example of when potentially it costs more for the protection
circuit than the likely failure scenario,
In the QCX It's Q1->3, Q6 and possibly IC3, they add up to
something sub $4 to replace??
(Q6 Should never fail spectacularly as often as it's being reported,
it's rated at 2A dissipation.
The QCX on TX consumes circa 500mA TOTAL. Why doesn't a fuse save
it?)
the failure of the si5351 is 1 in 5,500+ QCX's that have being built
occurrence?
The best protection is afforded by the operator him / her self,
perhaps think before pushing a QCX hard..
Remember there is no fancy SWR mismatch or over temp protection on
long duty cycle modes.
"Without any protection circuits the QCX? will try it's very best to
fulfil it's purpose,
right up to the point of failure."
Alan
On 27/08/2018 08:38, Alan G4ZFQ wrote:
;-)? ?I think a narrow BPF improves the
performance.
Hans,
Yes, I do not dispute that. But may I suggest the difference would
not usually be noticed without careful comparison.
I would suggest isolating IC3 pin 3
with a capacitor.
It won't work... if you capacitatively couple IC3 pin 3 to the
PA gate, then the peak-peak squarewave will be 5V BUT, it will
be centered on 0V.
Oh yes, I see...
But it seems there have been a couple of cases where PA device
failure has resulted in 12V? being sent back through IC3. One of
those affected have reported failure of the Si5351 and another has
said IC2 required replacing.
If that really is the case then I'm wondering how to buffer IC3 to
avoid this rare occurrence.
73 Alan G4ZFQ
