High power on low-power antennas

[oyvdahl]

Hi

I have some planar antennas that are designed for low-power applications and therefore they have no power ratings. What would happen if I put 50W of power on them?

Best Regards
Oyvind

 

[Darkcrusher]

calculate the power loss in the antenna. Find references on temperature rise.
Heating effects might cause your material properties to change

 

[chuckey]

Look especially at the cables/connectors, 50W = 1A at 50 ohms, this can overload and burn out thin cables.
Frank

 

[oyvdahl]

Thank you for your suggestions!

 

[oyvdahl]

Is there any risk of damaging the amplifier or is it only the antenna that will be destroyed if it cannot take the power?

 

[chuckey]

The higher the power, the more likely the amplifier will be to be damaged if the aerial is damaged by excessive power. For example a TV broadcast transmitter might have a rates power of 100 KW if the reflected power from a miss matched aerial exceeds 1KW, then the transmitters are tripped off as that is at the limit of their ability to accept reflected power. At a level of .1W this is not likely to be a problem and the amplifier can operate without any load at all.
Frank

 

[oyvdahl]

The higher the power, the more likely the amplifier will be to be damaged if the aerial is damaged by excessive power. For example a TV broadcast transmitter might have a rates power of 100 KW if the reflected power from a miss matched aerial exceeds 1KW, then the transmitters are tripped off as that is at the limit of their ability to accept reflected power. At a level of .1W this is not likely to be a problem and the amplifier can operate without any load at all.
Frank

Thank you for your reply.
But I didn't quite understand it. What is an 'aerial'?
For my case, putting 50W on an antenna rated for low-power, do you think there is a high probability for damage to the amplifier?

Oyvind