nub question about output caps

MEXXX · 9th November 2004, 03:59 PM

I have little experience with electronics so my question is probably gonna sound newbish.

I have a couple small chip amps out of PC speakers and they all have 16v 1000uf caps on the speaker outputs. If I take them out of the signal path the amp seems to draw max current even with little or no input signal. It draws so much current in fact that it melted the wall wart it was running off off.

I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that the amp sees a load at all times instead of being frequency dependent with the caps in line.

carlmart · 9th November 2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MEXXX
I have little experience with electronics so my question is probably gonna sound newbish.

I have a couple small chip amps out of PC speakers and they all have 16v 1000uf caps on the speaker outputs. If I take them out of the signal path the amp seems to draw max current even with little or no input signal. It draws so much current in fact that it melted the wall wart it was running off off.

I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that the amp sees a load at all times instead of being frequency dependent with the caps in line.

Output caps on power amps is usually due to using single power supplies. You shouldn't take them out or you can blow your speakers, as the caps are there to block DC which can fry your speakers.

Carlos

MEXXX · 10th November 2004, 12:41 AM

Thanks Carlos, I figured that they were there to block DC, but I thought it was for the safety of the amp not the speakers.

The caps are 1000uf which starts to roll of the response around 40hz on a 4 ohm skeaker (i think). Can I put some better quality 25v 2000uf caps in their place, and would it be better if I used NP caps instead of regular ones?

TIA,

MEXXX

soundNERD · 10th November 2004, 01:46 AM

PC speakers with single supplies are usually cheap 2 speaker sets, with only a couple of watts output power (if you are lucky).

The speakers in them have almost no ability to reproduce sound below 40hz (I dont even think they can get that deep).

9th November 2004, 03:59 PM	#1
MEXXX diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	nub question about output caps I have little experience with electronics so my question is probably gonna sound newbish. I have a couple small chip amps out of PC speakers and they all have 16v 1000uf caps on the speaker outputs. If I take them out of the signal path the amp seems to draw max current even with little or no input signal. It draws so much current in fact that it melted the wall wart it was running off off. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that the amp sees a load at all times instead of being frequency dependent with the caps in line.

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10th November 2004, 12:41 AM	#3
MEXXX diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2004	Thanks Carlos, I figured that they were there to block DC, but I thought it was for the safety of the amp not the speakers. The caps are 1000uf which starts to roll of the response around 40hz on a 4 ohm skeaker (i think). Can I put some better quality 25v 2000uf caps in their place, and would it be better if I used NP caps instead of regular ones? TIA, MEXXX

10th November 2004, 01:46 AM	#4
soundNERD diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Illinois	PC speakers with single supplies are usually cheap 2 speaker sets, with only a couple of watts output power (if you are lucky). The speakers in them have almost no ability to reproduce sound below 40hz (I dont even think they can get that deep).