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I would like to make a 1:1 balun with М1000НМ ferrite core (magnetic permeability - 1000) and 1 mm thick copper wire using triple bifilar winding. Unfortunately I didn't manage to find a clear instruction on how to determine the required number of turns. Some sources say to use 3-5 turns, others suggest to use about 20.

I would like to use the balun in 3.5-14.35 Mhz range. The target impedance is 50 ohms. I would like to use the balun as a part of a dipole, to connect a coax cable to it.

I have a lot of copper wire. If I just wind as many turns as possible (it will be about 20 for this core) will it be OK?

UPD: TWIMC I've found a great article that explains a lot about baluns and why my original idea to use a voltage balun with a dipole was not that great http://www.arrl.org/files/file/History/History%20of%20QST%20Volume%201%20-%20Technology/AntComp1-Lewallen(1).pdf

UPD2: Here is a research done by G3TXQ on RFI chokes which you might find very useful http://www.karinya.net/g3txq/chokes/

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    $\begingroup$ Are you trying to construct a current balun or a voltage balun? What is the target impedance for the balun - 50 ohms? $\endgroup$
    – Glenn W9IQ
    Dec 11, 2018 at 16:41
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    $\begingroup$ In that case, you do not need a trifilar winding, only bifilar since you need a current balun for this application $\endgroup$
    – Glenn W9IQ
    Dec 11, 2018 at 19:36
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    $\begingroup$ You might even be able to use coax in lieu of wire (that's what I always do). I highly recommend k9yc.com/RFI-Ham.pdf. I used Fair-rite type 31 material. I'm not sure how your M1000HM material compares to it. $\endgroup$
    – Mike Waters
    Dec 11, 2018 at 20:51

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The ideal number of turns depends on core material, geometry, and frequency. This is why you find such variance in how many turns should be used.

More turns increases the choking impedance up to a point, but decreases the choke's self-resonant frequency (SRF). Once the SRF goes below the operating frequency, adding more turns increases the distributed capacitance and decreases the overall choking impedance.

You could determine the optimal number of turns empirically. Measure the common-mode current when transmitting a test signal, then add or remove turns until you find a number of turns that minimizes the common-mode current.

With appropriate test equipment the choking impedance can be measured directly as well. See G3TXQ's method, for example.

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  • $\begingroup$ Can a clamp meter (e.g. UNIT-T UT210E) or an NCV tester be used to measure common-mode current? I also have a signal generator and an oscilloscope. Are there any tests (maybe not related to the common-mode current) worth running on a balun using these devices? $\endgroup$
    – Aleksander Alekseev - R2AUK
    Dec 16, 2018 at 9:23
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    $\begingroup$ @AleksanderAlekseev I wouldn't expect a clamp-on meter to measure RF current unless explicitly designed to do so. The clamp-on part is probably fine, but the attached meter is designed for 50 or 60 Hz. If you didn't mind modifying your meter, you could build an RF detector from a diode and Frankenstein them together. $\endgroup$
    – Phil Frost - W8II
    Dec 16, 2018 at 13:43

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