250 - 400 µH Variometer.
Tuning an LF antenna can be tricky. An antenna that's much shorter than
a quarter wavelength will have a high Q and consequently a narrow bandwidth. A
loading coil with a series of taps can be used, but a constantly adjustable
inductor like a variometer will make tuning a lot easier.
A variometer only contributes a small percentage of the total loading inductance
necessary to tune the antenna. 5 - 10% is typical, a variometer is used in
series with a conventional coil. Finally, it's possible to use remote controll by using a small motor. e.g. a radio modelers servo. Being able to
tune the antenna from the comfort of your warm shack is a real treat.
Mechanical design by Otto, G0RKA
The variometer is a inductor which has an outer fixed winding and an inner section that can be rotated. The total inductance is at a maximum when the inner section is in a position that puts its magnetic field in phase with the field of the outer coils. As the inner section is rotated through 180 degrees the fields are in opposition and the overall inductance is at a minimum. For maximum Q the variometer should be used at a value near maximum inductance where the windings are in series not in opposition
With this variometer the range is 250 to 400µH.
Construction.
Hopefully the pictures show the general arrangement. It's not
necessary for every aspect of the design to be reproduced, but the details here
may prove helpful in designing a similar unit more suited to your specific application.
The two fibreglass tubes are standard sizes and are detailed below. The shaft is
a plastic rod drilled so the wires can pass through to connect the outer and
inner coils. Small collars with grub screws hold the shaft in place.
The wire passed through the shaft is PTFE insulated with additional PVC sleeving
over each of the two wires. The external coils are wound with standard PVC
insulated stranded 'equipment' wire.
Outer Tube
110mm OD 255mm long 102mm ID
Inner Tube
82mm OD 58mm long
Top winding (ext)
33t 16/0.2mm 55mm long
Lower winding (ext)
33t 16/0.2mm 55mm long
Distance between windings 48mm
Internal windings
2 off 9t 19/0.1mm with PTFE insulation covered with self-amalgamating
tape