Quote from: verpies on November 12, 2016, 05:38:36 AM
Is there any difference if you just set your push-pull driver to 28kHz without the Kacher?

Verpies your halo is slipping, Depends on how far out it is, and the bandwidth spread but needs tuning or amplitude will be really down, or just simply on another wavelength.

AG

   Guys:
   Thanks for the info about the zener diodes. Sounds like they are big power hogs, so, the voltage regulators are the way to go then. I didn't know that about the zeners consuming the output and wasting it to ground.

   Conico:  Nice going.  Good luck with your tuning. 
   Maybe you can make a bit longer video, showing a clearer close up view of your system, next time.

Quote from: NickZ on November 12, 2016, 09:27:47 AM
   Guys:
   Thanks for the info about the zener diodes. Sounds like they are big power hogs, so, the voltage regulators are the way to go then. I didn't know that about the zeners consuming the output and wasting it to ground.

What ? That depends on it's size, and look at it's wattage as if it gets hot it's reference voltage will change, the bigger the voltage reference the less dynamic current you can put through it, and it might need a heat sink too.

Quote from: NickZ on November 12, 2016, 09:27:47 AM
Thanks for the info about the zener diodes. Sounds like they are big power hogs, so, the voltage regulators are the way to go then.

Zener diodes have their place as voltage spike snubbers, although they also waste as heat the energy contained in the spikes .  ( _{My lossless-clamp design recycles the energy contained in these spikes back into the power supply.} )

The Zener diodes are not that bad when used the good way.
Linear voltage regulators are not terribly efficient either (especially the ones without the "low-dropout" option) and waste energy as heat according to P = I_OUT *(V_IN - V_OUT ), but as a reward, they provide clean output.
Switching converters have the highest efficiency which can be around 90%, the downside is that they are noisy.

See the attached PDF for a more detailed comparison.

Quote from: verpies on November 12, 2016, 10:30:00 AM
Zener diodes have their place as voltage spike snubbers, although they also waste as heat the energy contained in the spikes .  ( _{My lossless-clamp design recycles the energy contained in these spikes back into the power supply.} )

The Zener diodes are not that bad when used the good way.
Linear voltage regulators are not terribly efficient either (especially the ones without the "low-dropout" option) and waste energy as heat according to P = I_OUT *(V_IN - V_OUT ), but as a reward, they provide clean output.
Switching converters have the highest efficiency which can be around 90%, the downside is that they are noisy.

See the attached PDF for a more detailed comparison.

Yes an interesting reference page, years ago i had a scope 50mhz a 70smodel  it had 2 x 50 volt + and -, shunt stabilizers in it,  such a wast of power ! it just  had a zener between the base and its collector and it worked.