Bird Technologies 4304A User Manual
RF DIRECTIONAL
THRULINE® WATTMETER
MODEL 4304A
©Copyright 2011
Instruction Book Part Number 920-4304A Rev. F
Thruline
® and
by Bird Electronic Corporation
Termaline
® are registered trademarks
of Bird Electronic Corporation
THIS page intentionally left blank
16
Safety Precautions
The following are general safety precautions that are not necessarily related to
any specific part or procedure, and do not necessarily appear elsewhere in this
publication. These precautions must be thoroughly understood and apply to all
phases of operation and maintenance.
WARNING
Keep Away From Live Circuits
Operating Personnel must at all times observe general safety precautions. Do not
replace components or make adjustments to the inside of the test equipment
with the high voltage supply turned on. To avoid casualties, always remove power.
WARNING
Shock Hazard
Do not attempt to remove the RF transmission line while RF power is present.
WARNING
Do Not Service Or Adjust Alone
Under no circumstances should any person reach into an enclosure for the
purpose of service or adjustment of equipment except in the presence of
someone who is capable of rendering aid.
WARNING
Safety Earth Ground
An uniterruptible earth safety ground must be supplied from the main power
source to test instruments. Grounding one conductor of a two conductor
power cable is not sufficient protection. Serious injury or death can occur if
this grounding is not properly supplied.
WARNING
Resuscitation
Personnel working with or near high voltages should be familiar with modern
methods of resuscitation.
WARNING
Remove Power
Observe general safety precautions. Do not open the instrument with the
power on.
iii
Safety Symbols
WARNING
Warning notes call attention to a procedure, which if not correctly performed,
could result in personal injury.
CAUTION
Caution notes call attention to a procedure, which if not correctly performed,
could result in damage to the instrument.
The caution symbol appears on the equipment indicating there is
important information in the instruction manual regarding that particular area
Note: Calls attention to supplemental information.
Warning Statements
The following safety warnings appear in the text where there is danger to operating and maintenance personnel, and are repeated here for emphasis.
WARNING
Never attempt to connect or disconnect equipment RF equipment from the
transmission line while RF power is being applied.
Leaking RF energy is a potential health hazard.
WARNING
When working with RF powers of 200 watts or more, the potential of the
center conductor of the line section will exceed 100 volts.
Do not touch the center conductor while RF power is on.
iv
Caution Statements
The following equipment cautions appear in the text whenever the equipment is
in danger of damage, and are repeated here for emphasis.
CAUTION
Do not drop. Calibration could be disturbed or the meter could be damaged
as a result.
CAUTION
Above 800 MHz, do not exceed 150 W RF power.
CAUTION
RF power must not exceed range switch setting.
CAUTION
Do not attempt to remove the RF center conductor. This will damage the line
section.
CAUTION
When handling the circuit board, use caution:
Do not bend the dc contact finger that extends into the line section.
Do not lose the contact finger insulator or the
spacers on the mounting screws.
Do not disturb the potentiometer settings.
v
Safety Statements
USAGE
ANY USE OF THIS INSTRUMENT IN A MANNER NOT
SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER MAY IMPAIR THE
INSTRUMENT’S SAFETY PROTECTION.
USO
EL USO DE ESTE INSTRUMENTO DE MANERA NO
ESPECIFICADA POR EL FABRICANTE, PUEDE ANULAR LA
PROTECCIÓN DE SEGURIDAD DEL INSTRUMENTO.
BENUTZUNG
WIRD DAS GERÄT AUF ANDERE WEISE VERWENDET ALS VOM
HERSTELLER BESCHRIEBEN, KANN DIE GERÄTESICHERHEIT
BEEINTRÄCHTIGT WERDEN.
UTILISATION
TOUTE UTILISATION DE CET INSTRUMENT QUI N’EST PAS
EXPLICITEMENT PRÉVUE PAR LE FABRICANT PEUT
ENDOMMAGER LE DISPOSITIF DE PROTECTION DE
L’INSTRUMENT.
IMPIEGO
QUALORA QUESTO STRUMENTO VENISSE UTILIZZATO IN
MODO DIVERSO DA COME SPECIFICATO DAL PRODUTTORE
LA PROZIONE DI SICUREZZA POTREBBE VENIRNE
COMPROMESSA.
vi
SERVICE
SERVICING INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR USE BY SERVICE TRAINED PERSONNEL ONLY. TO AVOID DANGEROUS
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT PERFORM ANY SERVICING
UNLESS QUALIFIED TO DO SO.
SERVICIO
LAS INSTRUCCIONES DE SERVICIO SON PARA USO EXCLUSIVO
DEL PERSONAL DE SERVICIO CAPACITADO. PARA EVITAR EL
PELIGRO DE DESCARGAS ELÉCTRICAS, NO REALICE NINGÚN
SERVICIO A MENOS QUE ESTÉ CAPACITADO PARA HACERIO.
WARTUNG
ANWEISUNGEN FÜR DIE WARTUNG DES GERÄTES GELTEN
NUR FÜR GESCHULTES FACHPERSONAL. ZUR VERMEIDUNG
GEFÄHRLICHE, ELEKTRISCHE SCHOCKS, SIND
WARTUNGSARBEITEN AUSSCHLIEßLICH VON
QUALIFIZIERTEM SERVICEPERSONAL DURCHZUFÜHREN.
ENTRENTIEN
L’EMPLOI DES INSTRUCTIONS D’ENTRETIEN DOIT ÊTRE
RÉSERVÉ AU PERSONNEL FORMÉ AUX OPÉRATIONS
D’ENTRETIEN. POUR PRÉVENIR UN CHOC ÉLECTRIQUE
DANGEREUX, NE PAS EFFECTUER D’ENTRETIEN SI L’ON N’A
PAS ÉTÉ QUALIFIÉ POUR CE FAIRE.
ASSISTENZA TECNICA
LE ISTRUZIONI RELATIVE ALL’ASSISTENZA SONO PREVISTE
ESCLUSIVAMENTE PER IL PERSONALE OPPORTUNAMENTE
ADDESTRATO. PER EVITARE PERICOLOSE SCOSSE
ELETTRICHE NON EFFETTUARRE ALCUNA RIPARAZIONE A
MENO CHE QUALIFICATI A FARLA.
vii
RF VOLTAGE MAY BE PRESENT IN RF ELEMENT SOCKET - KEEP
ELEMENT IN SOCKET DURING OPERATION.
DE LA TENSION H.F. PEAT ÊTRE PRÉSENTE DANS LA PRISE DE
L'ÉLÉMENT H.F. - CONSERVER L'ÉLÉMENT DANS LA PRISE LORS
DE L'EMPLOI.
HF-SPANNUNG KANN IN DER HF-ELEMENT-BUCHSE ANSTEHEN ELEMENT WÄHREND DES BETRIEBS EINGESTÖPSELT LASSEN.
PUEDE HABER VOLTAJE RF EN EL ENCHUFE DEL ELEMENTO RF MANTENGA EL ELEMENTO EN EL ENCHUFE DURANTE LA
OPERACION.
IL PORTAELEMENTO RF PUÒ PRESENTARE VOLTAGGIO RF TENERE L'ELEMENTO NELLA PRESA DURANTE IL
FUNZIONAMENTO.
viii
About This Manual
This manual covers the operating and maintenance instructions for the following models:
43 43P 4301 4305A 4431 4527
4521 4522 4526
Changes to this Manual
We have made every effort to ensure this manual is accurate. If you discover any
errors, or if you have suggestions for improving this manual, please send your
comments to our Solon, Ohio factory. This manual may be periodically updated.
When inquiring about updates to this manual refer to the part number and revision on the title page.
Literature Contents
Chapter Layout
Introduction — Describes the features of the 43 Wattmeter, lists equipment
supplied and optional equipment, and provides power-up instructions.
Theory of Operation — Describes how the 43 Wattmeter works and
Installation — Describes how to set up and prepare the 43 Wattmeter for use.
Operation - All instructions necessary to operate the equipment appears in
this chapter.
Maintenance — Lists routine maintenance tasks as well as troubleshooting for
common problems.
Model Differences — Describes how each indivdual models vary from
each other.
Specifcations — Specifications and parts information are included in this
chapter.
ix
Table of Contents
Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Safety Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Warning Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Caution Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Safety Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
About This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Changes to this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Chapter Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Chapter 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 2 Theory of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Travelling Wave Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Coupling Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Load Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Standing Wave vs. Traveling Wave Viewpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ρ vs. φ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Component Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Impedance Mismatch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Chapter 3 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Load Matching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 4 Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Normal Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Low Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
VSWR Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Chapter 5 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Zero Adjust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Connector Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Element Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Back Cover Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Line Section Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Meter Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Calibration Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Seup Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Calibrating a Bird Element 4304A-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
xiii
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Available “QC” Type Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
xiv
Chapter 1 Introduction
5
15
50
150
500
6-7/8”
(175 mm)
4”
(100 mm)
2-3/8”
(59 mm)
“QC” CONNECTORS
FEMALE N NORMALLY
SUPPLIED
4”
(100 mm)
1-3/4”
(44 mm)
POWER RANGE
SWITCH
ELEMENT
Purpose and Function
The Bird 4304A Wattmeter is an in-line sensor that measures RF power and load
match in 50Ω coaxial transmission lines. It can be used with CW, AM, FM, and TV
modulation, but not pulse modulation. It is supplied with a special broadband
element with a frequency range of 25 to 1000 MHz. It can measure up to 500 W,
depending on the frequency, and has a maximum VSWR of 1.07 with the standard “N” connectors. A range switch allows the full scale power to be reduced
for greater accuracy.
The wattmeter is portable, with an included carrying strap. It has an aluminum
housing and an easily removed back cover, with bumpers on the base and back
that allow the meter to stand or lie flat. For additional protection, the
microammeter is specially shock mounted. A screw on the lower front face of the
meter is used to zero the pointer. Below the meter face, the RF line section protrudes slightly from the wattmeter housing with the element socket in the center.
The RF line section is precision machined to provide the best possible impedance match to the transmission line under test. A formed phosphor-bronze
spring finger protrudes into the element socket to make contact with the element. At each end of the line section are Bird Quick-Change RF connectors that
may be interchanged with any other Bird “QC” connector. The wattmeter housing does not interfere with connector changes.
Combining the Thruline Wattmeter with a Bird Termaline Load Resistor creates
an accurate absorption wattmeter. With this combination, readings only need to
be taken in the forward direction because the reflected power will be negligible.
Figure 1 Bird 4304A Thruline Wattmeter Outline Drawing
1
Loading...