EZ-Dump: dump your current without really trying

Note that the Russian R10+C9 is BOTH op-amp degeneration AND the source of positive feedback, guaranteed to be some fraction of the negative feedback.
And the supply rails are exactly the negative divider times the op-amp supply which may be required given that C9 blocks low frequency positive feedback.
Also note that the drivers are the same parts as the outputs, possibly for thermal tracking match.
I'm not convinced that "base stoppers" are always a good idea: What are your thoughts about them?
 
I'm not convinced that "base stoppers" are always a good idea: What are your thoughts about them?
I don't like them either: if they are necessary, it is a symptom that the physical implementation is not optimal (or another shortcoming), and they introduce unwanted effects, like parasitic poles eating up some of the global stability margins (mostly for MOS amps, but BJT's aren't immune).

Even in switching circuits, I try to avoid them, as they tend to ruin the edges.
 
base stoppers

Exactly. Wiring to a heat sink mounted devices can pick up signal from nearby currents so a damper helps, or the driver is inductive creating an LC tank with the Miller cap, or maybe the pole from the power device is not dominant enough so adding the resistor moves it down, or the VAS pole goes away during clipping leaving local feedback to oscillate. I have seen ferrites on the leads of TO220 MOS for similar reasons. Some fast power devices have physical designs that create their own unstable feedback. I'm pondering just which lead should have a ferrite, maybe the emitter/source to avoid making a Colpitts oscillator?
 
Lead coupling

This simulation illustrates the potential problem with transistor lead coupling. This example deliberately exaggerates the problem but the point remains. Changing the coupling polarity and inductance can be used to simulate the ferrite placement.
 

Attachments

  • lead coupling.asc
    1.4 KB · Views: 48
  • Lead coupling.png
    Lead coupling.png
    25 KB · Views: 327
Member
Joined 2014
Paid Member
Elvee,
Have this amp (passive version) up and running.
All smooth, but - small problem with waves - there is some modulation on every wave. I noticed that all waves looked 'thicker'.
All with 8 Ohm resistive load, 42V rails.
Same output devices as before: MJL21193/4.
And with two 22nF caps for 2nd opamp (LF356) to +Vcc frm pins 1 and 5.

See images.
Most interesting are the last three photos when I zoomed to show the modulation.
Last image is a zoom at 1kHz sine.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0192.JPG
    DSCN0192.JPG
    224.2 KB · Views: 97
  • DSCN0191.JPG
    DSCN0191.JPG
    231.5 KB · Views: 89
  • DSCN0190.JPG
    DSCN0190.JPG
    225.4 KB · Views: 82
  • DSCN0188.JPG
    DSCN0188.JPG
    215.4 KB · Views: 71
  • DSCN0187.JPG
    DSCN0187.JPG
    225.5 KB · Views: 296
  • DSCN0186.JPG
    DSCN0186.JPG
    213.1 KB · Views: 305
  • DSCN0180.JPG
    DSCN0180.JPG
    217.6 KB · Views: 319
  • DSCN0179.JPG
    DSCN0179.JPG
    224.5 KB · Views: 321
  • DSCN0178.JPG
    DSCN0178.JPG
    212.3 KB · Views: 322
Last edited:
Member
Joined 2014
Paid Member
Tried with LT1056 - same thing, but amplitude of oscillations is bigger.
These oscillations are present at the output of the 2nd op-amp,
but not on the output of the 1st op-amp.


Also - 270pF capacitor (C7) is going to signal GND on my pcb.
That was my guess - to use signal, not dirty GND. Maybe it should go to
dirty GND?
============
There is also another difference between my previous (active EZDump) build and this one:
shifter transistors in 1st build were BC327/337 - same as in your sim.

In this build I used KSA992/KSC1845 - and when I was re-trying the sim this,
it doesn't work. When I tried to sim with BC546B/556B - this also doesn't work - oscillates in strange way.
I thought any small transistor pair will be ok for shifter transistors, can you confirm?
 
Last edited:
Member
Joined 2014
Paid Member
See images.

PCB is almost the same as for the 'active' EZDump amp built several months ago (and still working perfectly) , small changes have been made to acomodate simplified 'passive' scheme.

Asc file attached.
 

Attachments

  • EZdumpPass1.png
    EZdumpPass1.png
    63.3 KB · Views: 198
  • pcb_17june2020.jpg
    pcb_17june2020.jpg
    336.8 KB · Views: 196
  • EZ2dumpPassive.asc
    11.5 KB · Views: 56
Minek, I am just back from the clinic, where I had to stay ~4 times the initially planned duration, and had very unpleasant adventures.
Now, I am (hopefully) finally back home, but I am still a bit shaken, and it will take some time before, I can examine your problems