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Solid States Devices => solid state devices => Topic started by: telluric42 on February 01, 2010, 11:09:30 PM

Title: where can i find variable air capacitors" Australia
Post by: telluric42 on February 01, 2010, 11:09:30 PM
hi all :)

getting all my parts together for my next project :D and looking for variable caps to tune the tank circuit. i have scavenged a few TVs but they only have small ones.

looking for 100-400pf or so.......not sure the going prices ???

i was also thinking of getting a ganged one maybe 2 or 3 and wire them up in series to increase the max voltage........has anyone tried that ???

even old appliances that i could scavenge them out of would be a great help ???

I'm in Australia

thanks ;D
Title: Re: where can i find variable air capacitors" Australia
Post by: onthecuttingedge2005 on February 02, 2010, 02:17:16 AM
you could always find somebody with a CNC mill and have one made for you.
Title: Re: where can i find variable air capacitors" Australia
Post by: gyulasun on February 02, 2010, 04:11:21 AM
On ebay you can find some:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-Gang-Variable-Air-Capacitor_W0QQitemZ150393976910QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET?hash=item23042df84e

http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/KW-TUBES_Variable-capacitors_W0QQ_dmdZ2QQ_fsubZ7QQ_sasiZ1QQ_sidZ17107114QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322

rgds, Gyula
Title: Re: where can i find variable air capacitors" Australia
Post by: the_big_m_in_ok on March 04, 2010, 10:54:35 PM
Quote from: telluric42 on February 01, 2010, 11:09:30 PM
hi all :)

getting all my parts together for my next project :D and looking for variable caps to tune the tank circuit. i have scavenged a few TVs but they only have small ones.

looking for 100-400pf or so.......not sure the going prices ???
Unfortunately an American do-it-yourself electronics magazine (Popular Electronics?) had an article many years ago of how to hand-build 365 pF broadcast band radio variable caps from simple and available parts.

Is there a large library near your residence that has back issues of electronics magazines?  Especially English ones?  The English are avid tinkerers.

--Lee
Title: Re: where can i find variable air capacitors" Australia
Post by: e2matrix on March 05, 2010, 12:50:52 PM
Very old car radios also had them - in fact any old radio like 50's or before probably will have them if you can find them. 
Title: Re: where can i find variable air capacitors" Australia
Post by: gyulasun on March 05, 2010, 02:06:00 PM
Hi Folks,

If you are willing to build, here are some links how to make variable caps:

1)  http://www.eham.net/articles/5217

and a working link mentioned in the above link: http://www.mydarc.de/dl5dbm/varce.pdf

2) for higher value capacitors (1000pF): http://brneurosci.org/capacitor.html

3) further info on sources for buying: http://www.standpipe.com/w2bri/source.htm

4) a short video on a homemade one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uPwJp_rxRg

rgds, Gyula
Title: Re: where can i find variable air capacitors" Australia
Post by: scotty1 on March 05, 2010, 05:18:06 PM
Hey all.
The caps are simple to make.
I made one out of some aluminium sheet and a dowel.
It works better than the ones from old radio's... ;D
I took the dowel and cut slots in it, then glued the 1" sq bits of ally in the slots. With this setup I can also vary the plate spacing as well as the amount of plate overlap.
Here is a clip of my setup powering a wall clock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQT01-OA89k (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQT01-OA89k)

Scotty.
Melb, Victoria.