Capacitor died :(

[VE3GZB]

I was trying the transmitter this evening, experimenting to find where the best impedance match would be for maximum power transfer.

I have a 250pF 2500V Solar Mica cap switched across the final tank for 80 meters.

While I was running tests the switch started to flame. Hmmmm...not a good sign. Shut things down, found the 250pF cap had become a short circuit.

I don't have another cap just like this so I'll have to figure something out now. Without the cap I can still work 40 meters, the cap is only required to pad the 150pF 3kV varicap in the final tank so I can hit 80 meters.

73s
geo
VE3GZB

[VE3GZB]

Luck! I managed to find something that will do in the meantime, an old 1920s style Sangamo cap, 250pf! On my cap meter it measures 221pf but that's good enough!

I don't know what the maximum voltage is on these old style caps but I ran it slowly up to maximum DC input and the cap didn't fail, so that's a good sign for now!

73s
geo
VE3GZB