I have a solid state Millen dip meter that functions fine, however, its lowest range is 1700 KHz. Question: why can't the range of this be extended by custom winding a coil that is a multiple of the inductance used for the 1700 KHz range? I have not tried this but the theory is sound. You could even utilize a coil with a ferrite core to tweak it to an exact multiple. Has anyone out there done this to a Millen dipper? Thanks.

Hi

You have a good point.. No reason it wouldn't work on lower frequencies. You have to do your own calibrating for the new coil.

Most of these grid dip meters were used by amateurs on short wave frequencies. They wouldn't have had a use for lower frequencies.

Norm

:I have a solid state Millen dip meter that functions fine, however, its lowest range is 1700 KHz. Question: why can't the range of this be extended by custom winding a coil that is a multiple of the inductance used for the 1700 KHz range? I have not tried this but the theory is sound. You could even utilize a coil with a ferrite core to tweak it to an exact multiple. Has anyone out there done this to a Millen dipper? Thanks.

Hi,
I am in agreement with Norm, However I would not waste too much time with a ferrite insert. Just wind the new coil as a fractional multiple, or whole multiple of the frequency you want to center on, and just wind it. That is how one winds coils for regenerative recievers, and vintage radios that require a tuned coil in general.

You may want to use Litz wire to reduce the capacitive effects of that much winding, but it should give a more linear response.

:Hi
:
: You have a good point.. No reason it wouldn't work on lower frequencies. You have to do your own calibrating for the new coil.
:
: Most of these grid dip meters were used by amateurs on short wave frequencies. They wouldn't have had a use for lower frequencies.
:
:Norm
:
::I have a solid state Millen dip meter that functions fine, however, its lowest range is 1700 KHz. Question: why can't the range of this be extended by custom winding a coil that is a multiple of the inductance used for the 1700 KHz range? I have not tried this but the theory is sound. You could even utilize a coil with a ferrite core to tweak it to an exact multiple. Has anyone out there done this to a Millen dipper? Thanks.

:Hi,
:I am in agreement with Norm, However I would not waste too much time with a ferrite insert. Just wind the new coil as a fractional multiple, or whole multiple of the frequency you want to center on, and just wind it. That is how one winds coils for regenerative recievers, and vintage radios that require a tuned coil in general.
:
:You may want to use Litz wire to reduce the capacitive effects of that much winding, but it should give a more linear response.
: Thanks guys. I have good HP inductance bridge so I think I will wind a coil for exactly double the L of the lowest existing frequency range which extends down to 1.7 MHz. However, I still plan to use a coil form that will accept a ferrite adjustable core so that I can adjust the L once I have everything assembled. That should also reduce the number of wire turns on the coil since the permeability will be increased if I remember correctly. When I begin winding the coil I plan to have the ferrite core about one-fourth the way into the form and check the L periodically as I proceed winding. Whatcha think?
:
:
:
::Hi
::
:: You have a good point.. No reason it wouldn't work on lower frequencies. You have to do your own calibrating for the new coil.
::
:: Most of these grid dip meters were used by amateurs on short wave frequencies. They wouldn't have had a use for lower frequencies.
::
::Norm
::
:::I have a solid state Millen dip meter that functions fine, however, its lowest range is 1700 KHz. Question: why can't the range of this be extended by custom winding a coil that is a multiple of the inductance used for the 1700 KHz range? I have not tried this but the theory is sound. You could even utilize a coil with a ferrite core to tweak it to an exact multiple. Has anyone out there done this to a Millen dipper? Thanks.

Hi,
You may be getting more involved than you need to in order to produce the desired coil, but it should work just fine. You may want to start your coil from the top (assuming the ferrite slug is at that end too.) This will help keep the windings tidy since you will not be able to run the coil end wire inside of the coil form with a slug in place. And 2, as you move away from the slug your inductance will still increase with the extra turns, but not at as fast of a rate as you would winding towards the slug. This makes attaining your inductance value easier to attain with better precision.

::Hi,
::I am in agreement with Norm, However I would not waste too much time with a ferrite insert. Just wind the new coil as a fractional multiple, or whole multiple of the frequency you want to center on, and just wind it. That is how one winds coils for regenerative recievers, and vintage radios that require a tuned coil in general.
::
::You may want to use Litz wire to reduce the capacitive effects of that much winding, but it should give a more linear response.
:: Thanks guys. I have good HP inductance bridge so I think I will wind a coil for exactly double the L of the lowest existing frequency range which extends down to 1.7 MHz. However, I still plan to use a coil form that will accept a ferrite adjustable core so that I can adjust the L once I have everything assembled. That should also reduce the number of wire turns on the coil since the permeability will be increased if I remember correctly. When I begin winding the coil I plan to have the ferrite core about one-fourth the way into the form and check the L periodically as I proceed winding. Whatcha think?
::
::
::
:::Hi
:::
::: You have a good point.. No reason it wouldn't work on lower frequencies. You have to do your own calibrating for the new coil.
:::
::: Most of these grid dip meters were used by amateurs on short wave frequencies. They wouldn't have had a use for lower frequencies.
:::
:::Norm
:::
::::I have a solid state Millen dip meter that functions fine, however, its lowest range is 1700 KHz. Question: why can't the range of this be extended by custom winding a coil that is a multiple of the inductance used for the 1700 KHz range? I have not tried this but the theory is sound. You could even utilize a coil with a ferrite core to tweak it to an exact multiple. Has anyone out there done this to a Millen dipper? Thanks.