Ham Radio - The Chameleon Antennas power compensator for magnetic loops.

For as simple as it is, it actually works! Increase the power handling capacity of a magloop by a factor of 2.5. Should work on other magloops as well. (according to the documentation.)
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[@kerrymckenzie970]

Yes Kevin I added two of these to my loops and found I could use up to 60 watts pep on SSB without smoking the cap, I took this along to our radio club and drew the circuit on the board. Nobody could explain how it works, so if you manage to find out could you please share it with us. I have home brewed several hf loops and included the 500 of cap and god dam it just works?? Regards Kerry

[@loughkb]

Thanks for the peer review Kerry.

[@HugDeeznueces]

@H Higgins I am very interested in his response! Never thought to add TWO of them...umm

[@kevinj8258]

H Higgins - he gets 60w input and then measures the field strength down range, and finds he is getting more power into the field. It’s just pretty nice that a loop can have a power boost for output power. -- but no mention of its effect on reception ? Or did I miss that ?

[@carllavoie3804]

Few years ago - when we introducer the CHA POWER COMPENSATOR (PC) - I made a short video show the power handling with what I had at home (not at the shop) to show the power handling oft he PC. I was able to push 100W RTTY into the LOOP and I was using a light bulb to show the power increases. As you can see the SWR stayed steady which means that no arcing was happening inside the tuning box, I was also listening very carefully as it's VERY easy to hear when arcing is happening. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWGnc4V8Zr6jbLM

[@rachmielbenberel]

I am sharing with you how it works. I believe my analysis is correct. If someone thinks otherwise, dispute it from a technical perspective rather than from a personal one. O.K. How I believe it works: I posted this before in bits an pieces but I doubt that anyone read it. I will post it here again. If the cap is not arcing, the voltage across it has to have been reduced. This would only occur if the transmitter power or the Q of the loop has been reduced. Since the transmitter power has not been changed, the Q of the loop must have changed--and this would be indicated by wider -3db points on the SWR curve. I believe that very careful measurement will indeed show that the -3db points have changed and that the loop efficiency-and therefore the voltage across the cap--has decreased (this is why it will handle more power without the cap arcing). In other words, the loop tuning curve is not as narrow as before. As far as the unconnected side of the door knob capacitor, the compensator (Cap and bar) is in my opinion, picking up RF from the larger loop, detuning it, and making it less efficient (by reducing the Q of the loop). To those who argue "but there's no connection on the other side of the compensator cap," I would suggest that they examine the way in which a Gamma Match operates (even though it is not used in this identical fashion). I think that most of you are familiar with Steve Yates AA5TB Mag Loop Excel calculator (if not, it is a worthwhile tool to have). I've used this calculator and cannot see anything which would account for a voltage reduction across a magnetic loop tuning cap without also causing a reduction in Q. One cannot take a tuned circuit, add more components to it, and then expect it remain the same. Things simply do not work this way.

[@gilbreathca]

So, that's a 500 pF door knob capacitor? Wow. Thanks for the video, Kevin.

[@davecasler]

Kevin, great video! Good detective work! 73, KEØOG

[@germibestia]

one simple test to do: put just 5W and look at the Reverse Beacon Network results. Then, add the capacitor, keep the same 5W and go for another round on the RBN. Here we see if there is any difference in the effective radiated power.

[@JDtheEE]

This really isn't scientific because at the upper HF frequencies you start to rely heavily on propagation which can change hour to hour.

[@kevinj8258]

Jon Williams - was he saying to test hour to hour?

[@kd5inm]

After playing with these magnetic loop antennas, I had a good idea what it was before you opened it Kevin, but when I saw it I knew what it was. Big doorknob capacitor. I'm sure it is capacitively coupled to the antenna in such a manner as it changes the tuned circuit and compensates for the extra power.

[@subramanianr7206]

Yes, the 500pF 10 kv door knob capacitor detunes loop as it has been like in series with the split stator capacitor in the box. Voltage handling has been increased.

[@HugDeeznueces]

Thanks for the video Kevin! I look forward to future tests with this compensator.

[@brentcrier8570]

I was wondering what was in there. A quick search on good old ebay. $20-$35 for one. Thanks for opening up one.

[@larrupinant5208]

It is a 2nd capacitor in parallel with the first existing tuning capacitor. It takes some current (depending upon capacitor ratio), so the current through the existing first capacitor is reduced, and thus the voltage across the existing first capacitor is reduced. Now you also know why the tuning point went down in frequency when the 2nd capacitor was attached; the total capacitance was increased.

[@LarryMassey]

Arrived in Yuma Tuesday, from upstate NY was 35 deg. only to see 41 deg. down here. Good video.

[@loughkb]

Yeah, it's been a bit of a cold snap. It starts warming back up tomorrow.

[@hectorpascal]

Surely all this "structure" CAN do is to disturb the near field in the vicinity of the tuning capacitor. Of course, this may also be enough to reduce the HV across that variable C, without changing the far magnetic field too much. I too would be keen to compare a few days of WSPR results before and after. I would also try an aluminium disc mounted in the same manner.

[@jptucsonaz8503]

Hello Kevin, Welcome to AZ, where if we are lucky, autumn lasts a week! Not this year, here in Tucson, it took about 4 days to go from 86 as a high to 37 as a low (with the high at maybe 73). I think the real test for that unit would be running it on your WSPR X'MTR or FT-8 and see what sorts of signal reports you get back to test the long range efficiency. I did notice the plots on the VNR seemed to show a much higher Q, so perhaps that will improve things. 73 - John

[@scottrand7626]

WSPR test.... compensator in - compensator out ???

[@Ronl53]

Great video. I always learn something when I watch your videos. I don't know much but it seems to have something to do with being connected to the shield side of the loop. It would be allot of fun to play with. I checked Ebay as well and there is $20 shipping charge added to the $35. I don't think the price they are asking is unreasonable considering the engineering, testing and packaging. The folks have to make a fair profit to stay in business and since they make a quality product I want them to be around a while. 73 Ron

[@loughkb]

Well, the coax is shorted at both ends, making it nothing more than a flexible single conductor. So, there is no 'shield side' in this case. And yeah, I agree on price. It's pretty normal in the industry for more than double parts costs to be applied to final pricing.

[@Ronl53]

@@loughkb That is true about the coax being shorted. One other thing I wanted to mention was that I did not see where you compared the relative field strength to see if you actually had an increase in radiated power when you increased to 30w. Did I miss that?

[@douglasdreger3852]

Thanks for this video. Something like this is a long time coming. Did the power registered on the signal strength meter increase when you increased input power to 30watts?

[@loughkb]

Pegged it.

[@douglasdreger3852]

@@loughkb Wow. That is great.

[@kensmith5694]

I suspect it is the ceramic of the capacitor that is doing the work. There are a lot of volts per inch in the area that the device is placed. Changing the properties of the "free space" in that area will have an effect.

[@richardtwyning]

Wow! "Technology sufficiently advanced can seem like magic" - Arthur C. Clarke

[@Liberty4Ever]

Very interesting! Nice job Chameleon!

[@tom_olofsson]

Terrific demonstration. Thanks for sharing. 73 W9OLO

[@kareneighth6045]

Thanks for the demo. I had been considering getting the compensator but was discouraged by speculative comments elsewhere that this might be just a resistor and thus wouldn’t really work. Will this work with loops other than chameleon? I have W2LI loop, also rated at 10 watts. BTW I am very happy with it, about half the price of the F-loop.

[@loughkb]

The documentation for it is on their site. It does state that it can be applied to other loops. You might have to come up with a bracket if your loop is not made with pl-259's on coax.

[@danford7532]

When you add the compensator and retune, the tuning capacitor plates are not engaged, that is why it doesn't arc at higher power. Any additional capacitance should work, as long as the main tuning capacitor plates are not meshed. Voltage of additional cap shouldn't matter as it only has one side connected.

[@loughkb]

I ran 30w later that night on psk31 down on 40 with the plates almost fully meshed and still no arc. In a past build I did with a similar spaced cap, I got arcs at 20 watts with the plates only meshed about 1/4.

[@davidj.wilcox6053]

Kevin, I read with interest and later with disgust the rubbing you and Chameleon took regarding your tests on the compensator. While I do think Chameleon is overhyped and overpriced their products do work and for most quite well. (I prefer my AlexLoop and now my out of production W4OP remotely tuned loop). I did enjoy your thorough testing of the compensator and figured out what it was the minute you opened up the case. The bottom line would be for me a far field test, something within 300 feet in two directions. My other thought is what is the difference between 10 watts and 30 watts? A couple dB? If it allowed 100 watts that would be a 10 x power boost and might really mean something. So I see no need for a compensator. Anyway I look forward to further testing from you. You are having fun and traveling around the country making friends along with enjoying your hobby. Best of luck and God Bless my friend. Dave K8WPE

[@gilbreathca]

I grabbed a 500pF / 10KV door knob capacitor off FleaBay... I'll check it out on my MLA I'm building.

[@thestonerguy5276]

How did the cap you bought work out with the MLA?

[@SpinStar1956]

It was -3°F in Pueblo Colorado and we got 12 inches of snow out of the storm!

[@HugDeeznueces]

Wassup! from COS!

[@jimgiordano8218]

How simple can you get and an off the shelf part, too. Hey, your in my neck of the woods, exact same temp when I left work at 4 am this morning.

[@stevemcnaughton-kb3jc96]

Thanks for the video Kevin, I was wondering what the heck that thing was. I admire your guts on tearing it apart! I have the Chameleon F loop, I assume that would work with it also. I do wonder though, how it could be used with the aluminum loop?

[@carllavoie3804]

Yes you can use it with the CHA P-LOOP 2.0 & the CHA F-LOOP PLUS 2.0 with the aluminum radiator.

[@MattHeere]

So if you connect capacitors in series, the voltage divides across them. This would seem to be how the compensator is protecting the internal cap from arcing - but I'll be darned if it makes any sense exactly how with only one terminal of the cap connected.

[@loughkb]

The other side must be coupling with something. The instructions were specific about the orientation, if that helps.

[@fununcle75]

At first I experienced a wow effect, but if you think about it, the introduced capacitance that was not even connected could have made a change in the Q-factor, but the swirl also decreased (look at the meter readings) ... Mysticism, we must try it too, 73 Kevin))

[@edneely]

Any idea how that works? If the tuning capacitor is getting less power (no arcing), how can the full power get to the loop? It doesn't add up.

[@alaricsnellpym]

If it's not arcing I guess it's getting less *voltage*, so perhaps it's changed the impedance to shift the power into current?

[@loughkb]

I just opened the door, I'll be interested in seeing the analysis and theories in the comments.

[@loughkb]

By the way, the tuning cap is seeing less voltage, but power is a function of voltage and current. So something a bit more complex is going on.

[@eduardopower5254]

@@loughkb you're right

[@edneely]

skywave dxer this is connected to the coax ground, it appears. How does this work? If the peak voltage is reduced, why doesn’t that impact antenna performance?

[@wimwouters634]

This reminds me of 200 years ago. At that time there were also traders selling bottles with bad tasting liquids for a lot of money. Usually these guys were hung up after a while.

[@loughkb]

When you tested it, did you still have arc's within power ranges you were unable to reach previously? Or are you just making statements without any real data?

[@Chameleon_Antenna]

@@loughkb no worries another 💩 comment from another 🤡

[@willgilliam9053]

so you put 500pF of capacitance on your feedline's shield, and you can run more transmit power. Thats something that my head is having a hard time understanding. Does it work if you put it on the radio side of the feedline?

[@loughkb]

That's not the feedline. The center and shield are shorted together, making the coax a flexible single conductor main loop.

[@waynelong4604]

I recommend checking the temperature change of the compensator after running a signal for a while (time uncertain) any change upward indicates it is absorbing energy which according to the law of energy conservation indicates that it is absorbing energy, thereby indicating less is available to be radiated. KE4GOF

[@douglasdreger3852]

This is true, but the question then is, is it absorbing and dissipating as heat all of the extra applied power? In other words if you triple the applied power (10 to 30 watts) and dissipate half of the additional applied power you are still ahead since you are not arcing the capacitor and the power going out is higher. The first experiment at low power suggests it is dissipating a near negligible amount of power. I'd like to see some far-field measurements at high power.

[@forextraderradioman]

Thank you for the test and video! Can you make another test on a frequency or band, where the tuning capacitor is almost turned "in"? So that the tuning capacitor has almost themaximum capacity by itself? And then, also no arcing? Would be interesting. vy73 from Hamburg/Germany, Dietmar, DL4HAO

[@loughkb]

Later that evening, I did some psk31 down on 40 meters where the cap was almost fully meshed and had no arcs.

[@forextraderradioman]

Thanks :)

[@rreennommaann]

Kevin, did putting more power into the antenna with the compensator actually put out more radiated power from the antenna or only into this device? Did you look at the FS meter after you raised the power?

[@loughkb]

Yes, it was proportionately higher. Had to turn it's sensitivity way down. That was the reason I looked at the meter at 5 watts with and without the puck installed. There was no decrease with it, which indicated that it wasn't dampening the produced field. A lot of people seemed to miss that detail.

[@biringen]

-8 degree celcius here in Norway and a perfect frostbiting antenna weather..

[@Oscaro9928]

Could this be used in the latest iteration of the Alex Loop? I am debating the F loop 3.0 vs an Alex loop for POTA, SOTA and emergency comms. GREAT video, thanks!

[@jackh7356]

The Chameleon website states it can be used with other loops that have a PL-259 connector. I have the F-Loop 3.0 and the Alex Loop (not the Alex Pack version). For lite weight hiking up a summit the Alex is much lighter. However, for a rugged antenna with quality components the Chameleon is much more durable. Also, I get better bandwidth using the F-Loop.

[@rachmielbenberel]

Keven, has the -3db bandwidth on each band changed when using the "compensator?" If the cap is not arcing, the voltage across it has been reduced. This would occur if the Q is reduced--and this would be indicated by wider -3db points on the SWR curve. In my opinion, near field testing of loop antennas is essentially a waste of time--for example, comparing a circular loop to a square or an octagonal configuration in the near field--for if electro-magnetically similar, both (according to Antennas by John Kraus, 1950 Edition) will essentially produce the same far-field results. What I think you should be doing is A-B testing (with the transmissions close to one another and at 5 watts each) using WSPR; then and only then should you be comparing the results. As far as the unconnected side of the door knob capacitor, the widgit--the compensator (Cap and bar)--is in my opinion, picking up RF from the larger loop, detuning it, and making it less efficient (by reducing its Q). To those who argue "but there's no connection on the other side of the cap," I would suggest that they examine the way in which a Gamma Match operates before continuing any further (even though it is not used in the identical fashion). I hope you'll continue your testing. I think that when finished, you'll agree with my analysis of what is happening. I should end this by stating that it can be a challenge to compare a highly efficient radiator driven at lower power levels to a less efficient one driven at higher power levels; and then try to determine, "Which one is better?" As I've already noted, WSPR is the perfect tool for this type of testing. Make use of it (and do not forget to use the identical power level, 5 watts, for each antenna configuration--with compensator and without).

[@loughkb]

No, no change in bandwidth.

[@rachmielbenberel]

@@loughkb What else could cause a reduction in voltage without changing the Q of the system? I cannot think of anything off the top of my head. I think that you are familiar with Steve Yates AA5TB Mag Loop Excel calculator. I've played with this and cannot see anything which would account for a voltage reduction across the tuning cap without also causing a reduction in Q. I am hoping that others who are serious about this--rather than some of the toilet mouths who criticized you--will also be challenged to do their own testing. As I wrote, WSPR is the perfect tool for this. Good luck to us all.

[@rachmielbenberel]

I should respectfully add that I do think that the -3db points have changed--nothing else makes sense to me concerning it. But since I am not able to test right now--my wife is in the hospital and I can only do internet rather than Ham radio (not being home most of the time)--I will have to just theorize on what I think is happening. If I discover that I was wrong, I'll be the first to admit it. This is supposed to be a fun hobby, not a blood sport. I believe in keeping things happy. Why these others have to show their fangs--albeit it being Halloween--is anyone's guess.

[@loughkb]

@@rachmielbenberel I'll be doing more with it in the future also. I'm going to build another loop after I pick up a couple of sacrificial variable caps at a hamfest. Then I'll have a loop I can beat up without worry. I didn't want to abuse the chameleon box since it's so well built. Yes, there's a lot of loud opinions being shouted, mostly by people that don't have one to test with, or have even built a loop themselves. I expected that, it's just static though, I look for the signals in the noise. So to speak.

[@rachmielbenberel]

@@loughkb I look forward to hearing what happens. Thanks.

[@alanread6596]

Excellent video very informative I thought the thing might be a gimmick but I am glad you have shown it actually works

[@carllavoie3804]

Chameleon Antenna aren't manufacturing gimmick.

[@HugDeeznueces]

@@carllavoie3804 Tell 'em Carl! Love Chameleon!

[@w2msa]

Thanks for the video Kevin, I was wondering what that compensator was. Can you tell me what length is the outer loop? 73

[@loughkb]

It's 3ft. diameter, so about 9 feet in circumference.

[@thomasstandley6309]

Really liked the video. Do you have any of your earlier homebrew mag loops in the RV?

[@loughkb]

Yeah, the 3 ft one with the remote tuning box. I did a video with it back in the spring.

[@thomasstandley6309]

@@loughkb I assume you're talking about the one at the end of February where you experimented with varying the height of the mag loop. In any event, I do really appreciate your willingness to mod and tear down the Chameleon to push the performance envelope.

[@douglasdreger3852]

I have another question for you. How important is the current choke on the coax? The reason I ask is the coax that came with my loop failed and I've been running coax without a choke. I don't notice any issues, but I wonder.....

[@loughkb]

You'll have some RF on the shield of the coax. At low power levels, it's not really an issue. At higher power levels, RF coming back on the shield can get back into the audio circuits of your radio and distort your transmitted audio at the least. Could be a health issue, or interfere with other electronics in the shack.

[@loughkb]

By the way, I've noticed some intermittent connection on the shield on my supplied jumper too. Those crimp on PL-259's are not well done, I think. I'll probably put new ends on it.

[@watthairston1483]

I think its acting like a corona ring by adding more surface area there at the high Z end of the loop. When you adjusted the tuning cap to compensate for the shift, was it toward higher capacitance or lower? Fascinating...

[@loughkb]

Toward lower I think. Yes, it shifted downward and I had to tweak it up in frequency slightly, so less cap.

[@watthairston1483]

@@loughkb If you could actually measure or see the voltages around that thing ill betcha the highest would would now be found on open end of that hockey puck... Thoughts? Many thanks... de K4WRF

[@andrewjohnson6633]

Looking at the VNA plots, is the Q of the loop being reduced by the compensator? 73 Andy G4RQK

[@loughkb]

No, the curve was the same, it just shifted down 80 or so hz.

[@BubbaWarbucks]

I wonder if a simple metal plate might do the same thing. This is a capacitor connected to nothing. Might be worth a check. You are living the life I had envisioned for myself (without the KZbin videos) when I bought my RV. Then reality hit. Maybe in a couple of years, after pets.

[@christophersylvain4085]

oh, it's coupled to *something*. just not connected on one side. --| |--

[@sanjithnair3266]

Hello sir, I like your videos very informative and clear. Expecting more antenna videos. De VE7JAI 73

[@R2AUK]

Thanks, Kevin. I was waiting for this video for a long time. You are the best! However. I have a similar antenna Chameleon F-Loop 2.0. I've just checked my notes on this antenna and apparently it starts to arc only when > 30 W are used. 30 W or less are absolutely safe. Thus it's quite possible that the power compensator just does nothing. 73 de R2AUK

[@loughkb]

We'll find out in the future. I'm going to build a beater loop once I pick up a sacrificial cap at the Yuma ham fest. I'll push it til it arcs, put the puck on it and see for sure. One of my home made loops had a cap with half again as much space between the plates and I couldn't get much over 30 before it lit up. That was with more space. Another loop I made with a salvaged cap spaced about the same as the one in the chameleon loop couldn't do much more than 15 before it flashed.

[@ronangsr]

I have run 60w in my f loop with this compensator no problem

[@danielwebb1004]

@@ronangsr 60W with key down in CW?

[@ronangsr]

@@danielwebb1004 30watt in cw, 60w ssb

[@glennnofsinger1658]

Did you measure the field strength (near field ) power output after increasing the power from 5w -> 30w? Is it possible the extra power is not being radiated by the loop but absorbed by the compensator? Would be great to see how the radiated power increases as you raise input power.

[@loughkb]

Pegged the meter, had to back its sensitivity way down. It was behaving as expected. That's why I checked it both ways at 5 watts. To make sure radiated power didn't suffer by putting the puck on.

[@marcclarke01]

@@loughkb so do I understand you to say that the near field field strength went up after you attach to the compensator capacitor and up to your power to 30 Watts?

[@loughkb]

@@marcclarke01 That would be the reason for the meter pegging and me having to turn down its sensitivity.

[@henripavot4492]

Hi. This is Henri, VE2WHA. Why did not you measure the field WITH more power from the transmitter ? If no more power is radiating from the antenna, this not a very valuable device. Just a protection for the VC. The question is : is there more power radiating FROM THE ANTENNA itself. Could you tell us about this measurement ? Thanks a lot. VE2WHA.

[@loughkb]

I think the idea is to allow more power to be put into the antenna, which by default would increase it's radiation, to a degree. Obviously not a linear increase, but certainly an increase.

[@denelson83]

Now what if Chameleon made a bigger one of these, maybe with double the cross-sectional area?

[@Tom6x6]

Did it affect the tuning range of the antenna?

[@loughkb]

I'd say no. It only shifted the tuning about 80-100hz.

[@Romin.777]

0 celsius over here in the Netherlands. ;)

[@ElektroLUDIKITS]

4°C this morning in North-East of France. Already dreaming of snow... :)

[@Romin.777]

@@ElektroLUDIKITS I really love snow! Camping in the snow and ice skating. :))

[@HugDeeznueces]

@@ElektroLUDIKITS We already got more than a metric ton here in Colorado :) We already have some avalanches as well.

[@Romin.777]

@@traveller-nl Sounds good! :))

[@eduardogarciamontesdeoca5935]

Do you mind to build one homebrew compensator for your homemade mag loops??? That will be interesting...

[@loughkb]

That would be redundant, I think. The documentation mentions that this can be used on other magloops. One could simply attach it to any magloop and test.

[@56932982]

How does it work when it is positioned at the same place, but electrically isolated from the loop? How does it work when it is positioned at an other place in / near the loop? Maybe the trick of this thing is not the actual capacitor, but just its ceramic dielectric material. The dielectric material interacts with the E-component of the RF field. So this thing may modify the near to far field characteristics and help the antenna radiate power by giving the E-component "some place to resonate". Keep in mind that a material with high dielectric constant is to the electric field, what a ferromagnetic material is to the magnetic field. It "conducts" the field lines far better then air (vacuum). Think of e.g. ceramic patch antennas for GPS ore GSM. These antennas would be much larger with air as dielectric. The high dielectric constant of the ceramic material in the antenna makes the antenna resonant at the same frequency but with much smaller dimensions. You could optimize the design in the other direction, e.g. to handle more power at the same dimension.

[@W4TRI]

Chameleon must be good with this. He re-posted your video here over on Julian's mag loop FB group.

[@carllavoie3804]

It's indeed a good video!!

[@loughkb]

Yes, Carl sent me an email and said, "Great video". I guess he figured someone was going to take it apart eventually.

[@ed-jf3xh]

I would check it on a frequency that requires the cap to be meshed at least 50% before I trust their claim.

[@loughkb]

Later that evening, I was doing some psk31 on it down on 40 at 30W without arcs. It does seem to work.

[@brianwild4640]

Did you show field strength at 30 watts

[@loughkb]

No, but it did increase. I figured showing that there was no decrease when adding it got the point across.

[@thuff3207]

Thank you that was very interesting.

[@wa6gxq]

Interesting... Thanks for the video.

[@Tantalicdavid]

The clue of what it does is in the name remember the current is what we want radiating the extra cap in circuit compensates for the higher voltage reducing the chance of the variable cap arcing at a higher power output

[@akademic2619]

This is the closest correct explanation of how the compensator works. In effect, the compensator is a series connected capacitor (in series with capacitance between braid and inner conductor) that lowers capacitance and and in turn lowers the frequency of resonance. (as the video shows). But the voltage capacity of two caps is greater than one and thus the voltage input can be increased. Unfortunately, the current capacity does not change, and so the field strength is unlikely to change. This was shown on the video too. Would I buy one? No, there is no practical gain other than reducing the likelihood of arcing.

[@bill-2018]

But it's not really a test if you don't try 30 Watts without the compensator. If that capacitor flashes over without it in position then and only then we know it does something. Bill, G4GHB.

[@jlukshooting]

Well it obviously does something. I can't for the life of me think what it's doing though. How can a big HV cap with only one end connected (ie it's not in a circuit) actually do anything ??

[@stridermt2k]

That is extremely cool! I built my own loop a while back before I got my general, and my cap also has pretty tight spacing. I want to use it for 10 watts SSB QRP, but this might change things... One surmises that any cap of the same or similar rating would perform the same task if installed the same way. Very interesting. Thanks for another thought provoking video! 73 de N2NLQ

[@Brassmonger]

I think this is completely fake. How this capacitor is running without second terminal.

[@Chameleon_Antenna]

🤡

[@PaulGrahamM0PGX]

Does it flash over at 30w without it?

[@loughkb]

Like I said in the vid, I dont want to risk damaging this cap. I know from my many past builds of mag loops that it absolutely would have.

[@PaulGrahamM0PGX]

@@loughkb But that makes the test inconclusive doesn't it?

[@loughkb]

@@PaulGrahamM0PGX For those that dont have experience building magloop, I suppose. I'll be picking up a sacrificial cap at the yuma hamfest to build a beater loop with. I'll revisit it then for those that want fireworks.

[@PaulGrahamM0PGX]

@@loughkb Sounds like a plan :) although I don't want fireworks. I was simply pointing out that the test doesn't have a control, other than your experience and opinion. I'm not trying to knock that and I don't doubt you either, but without a control, well, that leaves the whole thing open to speculation. What puzzles me is that attaching one side of a capacitor and leaving the other side floating should have little to no effect. Adding a control would at least help to suggest that the capacitor does do 'something' (and confuse me all the more). I've built around five mag loops ranging from 1m to 2m diameter using coax, 8mm aluminium tube and also 1" copper tube. All but one have only had low power capability because of the types of capacitor I used (that one I used coax as the capacitor, so it was pretty much set to one frequency, but it worked with 100w). I still have the large loop sitting in the outhouse. Maybe one day I'll get round to resolving the capacitor/tuning problem and be able to actually use it. Keep up the videos and have fun at the hamfest :)

[@loughkb]

@@PaulGrahamM0PGX Thanks Paul. I didn't mean to come off as annoyed, but I guess I did. Sorry about that.

[@NotGonnaSayFO]

Looks like the temp is low on your power meter...

[@Aussat]

Interesting. Thank you.

[@lyfandeth]

Magic is nice but I wish I knew the physics happening here.

[@galileo_rs]

The main claim hasn't been actually tested. You would have to find the breakdown point of the capacitor and that would have to be a point at which the capacitor arcs at least 70% of the time, then you would have to use this device and test with 2x the power. Your previous experience does not count, as the environmental conditions are not the same (humidity, temperature ...).

[@loughkb]

I plan on picking up a sacrificial cap at the Yuma hamfest and building another coaxial loop just for that purpose. As I said, I don't want to risk damaging the cap in the chameleon box.

[@galileo_rs]

@@loughkb Everyone likes a video with some electrical destruction so looking forward to that one ;)

[@douglasdreger3852]

Chameleon does have a video where they take it to 100watts (they don't recommend doing it). It did not arc in that video.

[@ElektroLUDIKITS]

Thanks for the Celcius, Kevin! ;)

[@bill-2018]

Almost £100 G.B. pounds for a capacitor in a box? Get a Silver Mica one at a radio rally and put it in a box for a lot less £'s. The fact it detuned the loop shows it had added some extra capacitance. G4GHB.

[@charlesschindler1971]

Hell-o pal! 👋

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

Darn and I was so hoping for an Arc and Fire !! Been watching to many DX Commander videos. Great Video Kevin, stay warm 73 KN4IFI

[@fundyfarm]

will it work on a CB ?

[@loughkb]

That depends on the loops range. Some will get up to 10 meters, just above CB, so they could be used on 27mhz

[@cqdx1677]

İnstead of open the cover .you could take a x-ray film of item. A non invasive film is better than autopsy ;) ..but anyway seeing is believing lol