Amplifier Gain Nomogram
August 1965 Electronics World

August 1965 Electronics World  [Table of Contents] People old and young enjoy waxing nostalgic about and learning some of the history of early electronics. Electronics World was published from May 1959 through December 1971. All copyrights are hereby acknowledged. See all Electronics World articles.

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.

Nomographs Available on RF Cafe:

- Decibel Nomograph
- Voltage and Power Level Nomograph
- Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Power Nomograph
- Resistor Selection Nomogram
- Resistance and Capacitance
- Capacitance Nomograph
- Earth Curvature Nomograph
- Coil Design Nomograph
- Coil Inductance Nomograph
- Antenna Gain Nomograph
- Resistance and Reactance Nomograph

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.

 

 

Posted June 4, 2015