The ClassE coil has some interesting characteristics. It's got that 5-turn primary, made of 14-ga solid copper house wiring. If I put the scope probe on the drain side terminal of it I see the signal in great detail. If I put the probe on the other terminal I see almost nothing. Also, the phasing of the primary, the secondary and the feedback loop is critical. So that means out of 4 possibilities only one set of combinations will work properly.

@Groundloop:
Yes! That's the one, of course, and I  just managed to build it up last week, finally, after moving twice and carefully preserving it and the controller chip. I haven't been able to test it yet at higher voltages because I used the less powerful TIP122, but I've now ordered some of the MJH11022 Darlingtons from that same slow boat that PW must use for his parts. Singapore, I think they are coming from. The one TIP122 I blew was from driving a big aircore solenoid coil; I was trying to levitate some aluminum. (All 4 failed but only the one actually exploded.... darn, it would have been great if they all 4 went at once. Use MORE POWER next time, Igor !!)

Again, I thank you for the gift and apologise for not reporting on its operation before. It works quite well in the frequency range of design and makes a good squarewave, and it really looks cool too.

Could you please mention the software you used to lay out the board, and also tell us where you had them made? Thanks.....

Quote from: TinselKoala on June 24, 2012, 01:34:32 PM
@Groundloop:
Yes! That's the one, of course, and I  just managed to build it up last week, finally, after moving twice and carefully preserving it and the controller chip. I haven't been able to test it yet at higher voltages because I used the less powerful TIP122, but I've now ordered some of the MJH11022 Darlingtons from that same slow boat that PW must use for his parts. Singapore, I think they are coming from. The one TIP122 I blew was from driving a big aircore solenoid coil; I was trying to levitate some aluminum. (All 4 failed but only the one actually exploded.... darn, it would have been great if they all 4 went at once. Use MORE POWER next time, Igor !!)

Again, I thank you for the gift and apologise for not reporting on its operation before. It works quite well in the frequency range of design and makes a good squarewave, and it really looks cool too.

Could you please mention the software you used to lay out the board, and also tell us where you had them made? Thanks.....

TK,

I use Eagle CAD for my designs. The PCB are made in China (and sometimes Taiwan). Usually it takes 4 days when I order the PCBs.
The Eagle CAD can be downloaded for free (some limitations in the free version compared to bought version) from here:
http://www.cadsoftusa.com/download-eagle/

I use MPLAB for making firmware to PIC micro controllers:
http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1406&dDocName=en019469&part=SW007002

GL.

@FTC:

That's right, in this modern world it is simplicity itself to upload and link to large files, using one of many free or subscription file-sharing sites.

Of course...... it requires a little bit of knowledge, some patience, and most of all..... it requires that one has the files in the first place and is truly willing to share them with other people working on this "open source" project.

TK,

I just found the design files and firmware for the h-bridge.
I also found that it is not recommended to use darlington transistors in the switch.
The switch will work better with HEXFETS instead. When using HEXFETS then
you will need to solder a resistor from gate to source on each transistor.
This can be done on the underside of the PCB. I recommend a 1K to 330R resistor.

GL.