August 1965 Electronics World
Table
of Contents
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles
from
Electronics World, published May 1959
- December 1971. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
|
Even
with the ready availability of programmable calculators and smartphone apps, there are still times
when having a handy-dandy nomograph printed out and hanging on the wall for quick reference can be a
great asset. This one provided ready conversion between voltage and power gain to volts or
millivolts and watts or milliwatts.
Amplifier Gain Nomogram
By Max H. Applebaum
Warwick Electronics, Inc. Pacific Mercury Div.

Power and voltage gain of amplifiers with equal input and
output impedances are readily found.
To find the power gain of an amplifier, it is necessary to
compute the ratio of its output to input power, take the log
and multiply by 10. When the input and output resistances are
equal, the voltage gain of the amplifier can be calculated by
multiplying 20 times the log of the ratio of output to input
voltages.
This nomogram eliminates the tedious calculations involved,
and gain can be determined in a much simpler manner.
For values of 10n or 10-n times those
on the E1 scale, subtract or add, respectively, n
times 20 db from or to the values on the voltage-gain scale.
(n times 10 db from or to the power-gain scale when the P1
scale is used.)
For values of 10n or 10-n times those
on the E2 or P2 scales, add or subtract
respectively n times 20 db to or from the values on the voltage-gain
scale and n times 10 db to or from the values on the power-gain
scale.
Example: Find the voltage gain of an amplifier whose input
and output resistances are equal, when 6 volts output is measured
for 200 mv. input.
Solution: Place one end of a straightedge over 6 on the left-hand
scale and the other end over 200 on the right-hand scale. Find
29.6 at the point where the straightedge crosses the center
scale. This is the voltage gain in db.
Nomographs / Nomograms Available on RF Cafe:
-
Symmetrical T and H Attenuator Nomograph
-
Amplifier Gain Nomograph
-
Decibel
Nomograph
-
Voltage and Power Level Nomograph
-
Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Power Nomograph
-
Resistor Selection Nomogram
-
Resistance and Capacitance Nomograph
-
Capacitance Nomograph
-
Earth
Curvature Nomograph
-
Coil Design
Nomograph
-
Voltage, Power, and Decibel Nomograph
-
Coil Inductance Nomograph
-
Antenna Gain Nomograph
-
Resistance and Reactance Nomograph
-
Frequency / Reactance Nomograph
Posted June 4, 2015