Early Leakage Currents
Kirt's Cogitations #61

RF Cafe University "Factoids," "Kirt's Cogitations," and "Tech Topics Smorgasbord" are all manifestations of my ranting on various subjects relevant (usually) to the overall RF Cafe theme. All may be accessed on these pages:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37

< Previous Next >

Early Leakage Currents

The telegraph system, which performed remarkably well over long distances in the arid American west, was greatly limited in distance when installed on the humid east coast. Leakage currents through the water-impregnated wire insulation greatly attenuated the signals, especially when buried underground. To cure the problem, Sir William Thompson invented gutta-percha insulation, and in 1847 designed a screw-press for coating the wires with the gum rendered plastic by heat.

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...

All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images and text used on the RF Cafe website are hereby acknowledged.

My Hobby Website: AirplanesAndRockets.com

My Daughter's Website: EquineKingdom

Tennode RF Connectors and Cables - RF Cafe

Early Leakage CurrentsKirt's Cogitations #61

Early Leakage Currents
Kirt's Cogitations #61