Measurement tables for the Extended Top-load Spiral Aerials

The following measurement tables are for the extended top load aerials with the double spiral. This consists of a spiral inductor wound from the centre out to the ends on the underside of the bamboo cross supports and then continued, in the same winding sense, back into the centre but cleated to the top of the cross arms. The measured inductance of the double spiral was 709 uH. The first table is for a double spiral with the conical capacity hat. The increased inductance of the double spiral decreases the natural resonance to 447.3kHz.

Frequency
in kHz
Capacitance
in pF
Resistance
in ohms
122 180 57
150 180.7 47.9
220 186.2 34.9
280 193.6 30.9
300 198.5 30.9
350 206 34.8
425 374 98.0
435 543 138
440 782 171
445 1658 216

The next configuration has the double spiral, with the 16 wires forming a conical capacity 'hat', then a 28 metre wire was attached to the pinnacle and led away at the same height for 14m and then sloped towards the ground. (Model A on the diagrams). The natural resonant frequency was 342.7kHz

Frequency
in kHz
Capacitance
in pF
Resistance
in ohms
122 331 48
150 343 42.7
220 401 34.0
280 558 37.6
300 689 42.7
325 1261 52.3

In the next configuration the top wire was connected so there were two 14m wires connected either side to the apex of the conical capacity hat.(Model B). The natural resonant frequency was measured at 349kHz

Frequency
in kHz
Capacitance
in pF
Resistance
in ohms
122 308 44
150 321 38.7
220 365 30.0
280 496 33.2
300 604 36.6
325 952 45.8

A further two wires 14m were connected to the apex or the conical capacity 'hat' to give a total of four, they are not at right angles due to the available space and supports. This is shown as Model C, and its natural resonant frequency of 311kHz.

Frequency
in kHz
Capacitance
in pF
Resistance
in ohms
122 472 34.1
150 503 30.3
220 680 27.5
280 1696 36.5

For Model D the ends of two of the pairs of top wires were connected togther to form a 'bowtie' wire load. The extra capacitance brought the natural resonance down to 266 kHz. The reason we were able to start measurement now at 87kHz was that, between the last two measurements, Finbar carried out some 'surgical operations' on his bridge drive oscillator.

Frequency
in kHz
Capacitance
in pF
Resistance
in ohms
87 544 36.3
100 557 33.1
122 581 29.6
137 613 29.3
150 643 27.5
180 746 26.6
220 1070 28.7

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