IF transformer values for Silicon Chip Theremin

Posted: 11/5/2008 12:56:53 PM
Jonesy

From: Jyv�skyl�

Joined: 11/5/2008

Hi,

I'm planning to build a Silicon chip theremin, with these modifications http://www.thereminworld.com/
silicon_chip_theremin_modifications.html

I don't want to order a kit from Jaycar as I don't need the box or the antennas, and google couldn't help with my problem.

What values should the IF-cans be? Thanks a lot!
Posted: 11/6/2008 3:26:10 PM
djpb_designs

From: Escondido, CA

Joined: 2/6/2008

If you can find them, I would imagine 455kHz IF transformers could be used ... maybe tear apart a couple of old AM transistor radios?

Don
Posted: 11/6/2008 11:57:00 PM
FredM

From: Eastleigh, Hampshire, U.K. ................................... Fred Mundell. ................................... Electronics Engineer. (Primarily Analogue) .. CV Synths 1974-1980 .. Theremin developer 2007 to present .. soon to be Developing / Trading as WaveCrafter.com . ...................................

Joined: 12/7/2007

They are 455kHz IF transformers - T1,T2 and T3 on the EPE version are white (2nd IFT), T4 is black (3rd IFT) - My experiments with IFT's for theremins lead me to believe that they are not particularly critical - but I have not built a Jaycar Theremin.

Before getting into Theremins, I had not used an IFT for about 30 years! - So I pulled a few apart to see what made them 'tick'..In general,it seems IFT's take the form of a tapped winding and a seperate single winding.. 1st IFT has a turns ratio in the order of 20:1 (about 150 turns tapped at about 70 turns on the 'primary', and about 8 turns on the 'secondary', with a capacitor of about 100 - 200pf across the primary.. and about 700uH inductance across the 'primary'.

Turns ratio for 2nd IFT seems about 6:1.. with primary being 50 turns + 100 turns, and secondary being about 25 turns.. again, inductance measured across the primary was about 700uH, and a 150pF capacitor across the 'primary'.

It is quite difficult to measure these - the 'secondary' inductance is too low for simple LC bridge to get accurately, so one needs to inject RF etc.. Then the slug has quite a large effect on all sorts of things which an engineer like me, not well versed in inductors and HF, has problems interpreting.

If you cannot find suitable IFT's, send me an email, and I will post a set to you.. no charge - but if you find them of use, you could make some donation to http://www.streetkidsrescue.org/.

The IFT's I have are the ones supplied with the Jaycar kit. My email is on my picture.

Fred.

Posted: 11/7/2008 6:14:52 AM
Thierry

From: Colmar, France

Joined: 12/31/2007

Useful links:

http://www.elexp.com/cmp_6irf.htm
http://www.circuitspecialists.com/level.itml/icOid/1738
de.mouser.com (http://de.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?N=254428+4294620437&Ns=P_SField|0)

The latter (Mouser) includes links to detailed datasheets.


[i]Fixed long link - TW-Staff[/i]
Posted: 11/7/2008 12:34:53 PM
djpb_designs

From: Escondido, CA

Joined: 2/6/2008

Thank you, Thierry!

I had not heard anything about Circuit Specialists for years. Nice to know they carry things I can use.

Don
Posted: 1/2/2009 1:06:35 PM
Jonesy

From: Jyv�skyl�

Joined: 11/5/2008

Thank you all, I ordered parts from Mouser and now I should try to get some sound out of it..

You must be logged in to post a reply. Please log in or register for a new account.