My NI chipamp Mark-II - Mr. Ed :)

[Russ White]

Ok, so I got a little bored today and decided I would layout a PCB pretty much to the datasheet of a non-inverting LM3886 amplifier using some of the techniques I have gleaned so far.

The idea behind this is a one board monobloc amplifier, with as optimal ground paths as I could manage and seperate signal ground. Everything is on the PCB but the trafo.

It includes an output zobel, but that can be omitted, it also includes a power LED section but that can omitted as well.

So what do you think?

Ohhh, yeah the name... Well I called it "Mr Ed" after a friend who sponsored the caps for this project... hmmmm who could that be

Cheers!
Russ

[Nisbeth]

Originally posted by Russ White
So what do you think?

I'd buy a handful if they were for sale


/U.

[Ed LaFontaine]

Oh, Hi, Wilbur

I thought I was taking a break from yard work. Look what I found!

Would there be any value in developing a ~12V source for powering a thermister controlled cooling fan? I'm thinking of a cpu heatsink/fan combination.

If the production run of boards were "panelized" with the LM3886 along the outside edge and scored, they could be left together so the row of monoblocks could share a common heatsink, or broken apart.

Or, how narrow can the board be? Would 3 chips fit on one of those neat barred boss heatsinks?

Let's get some feedback on the interest in any of these. I'm promoting ideas for discussion, not exhaust the golden goose.

[jackinnj]

the 100nF bypass caps should be ceramic, not film (I can hear the groans now.)

220uF is a bit of overkill -- you can use 10uF.

make sure that the via's for the ground jumper (J1) are big enough to handle the current flowing on this node.

one final thing -- make sure that there is enough clearance between the big electrolytics so that you can wedge a screwdriver in there !!! elsewise you'll have a devil of a time attaching the chip to the heatsink.

[Russ White]

Originally posted by jackinnj
the 100nF bypass caps should be ceramic, not film (I can hear the groans now.)

220uF is a bit of overkill -- you can use 10uF.

make sure that the via's for the ground jumper (J1) are big enough to handle the current flowing on this node.

one final thing -- make sure that there is enough clearance between the big electrolytics so that you can wedge a screwdriver in there !!! elsewise you'll have a devil of a time attaching the chip to the heatsink.

I have tested with 220uf, I like it thanks. But cetainly anyone could put whatever they like there. I have tried 47uf there as well, and that also was fine. So I agree there is some room to 'speriment.

Cermic caps would fit fine on those pads, but I would use metal film. But hey its all good.

As far as mounting on the heatsink I use one of those right angle screw drivers which look like an "L". Its the arrangement as on Mauro's boards. No prblem mounting the heatsinks. There is no gap there on purpose, those caps are blocking EMI from the rectifier bridge. Why let some leak through?

I have already built two of these. I will post more later.


Cheers!
Russ

[Russ White]

Originally posted by bg40403
Oh, Hi, Wilbur

I thought I was taking a break from yard work. Look what I found!

Would there be any value in developing a ~12V source for powering a thermister controlled cooling fan? I'm thinking of a cpu heatsink/fan combination.

If the production run of boards were "panelized" with the LM3886 along the outside edge and scored, they could be left together so the row of monoblocks could share a common heatsink, or broken apart.

Or, how narrow can the board be? Would 3 chips fit on one of those neat barred boss heatsinks?

Let's get some feedback on the interest in any of these. I'm promoting ideas for discussion, not exhaust the golden goose.

Hmmm wilber.... hey that might stick...

I will look into the aux power thing.

Yeah panelizing is a good idea.

They are too wide for three, but two would definitely work.

Those barredboss sinks rock. Just recieved 6 more. Black anodized.

[balance]

I must admit, I am a little excited about your layout Russ. I like the idea of putting the PSU on the amp board, even though the trend has been to separate the two to allow for separation and prevent noise. I'm confident that with the proper arrangement of components this amp will be very quiet. I also like the fact that it is single-sided.

I was quite impressed by the tiny 3886 PCB you posted a while ago, but was wondering when you'd put Mauro's invaluable feedback (a la your interpretation of his my_ref rev. C) into a the more typical 3886 design.

Anyway, I have a simple question about the connectors you choose. Does it make sense to use one connector for the output/output ground instead of two. I'm sure there is a good reason for your doing this, but please enlighten me. I'm just starting to create my own PCBs in Eagle and appreciate any insight.

Thanks,

Brian

[Russ White]

Originally posted by balance

Anyway, I have a simple question about the connectors you choose. Does it make sense to use one connector for the output/output ground instead of two. I'm sure there is a good reason for your doing this, but please enlighten me. I'm just starting to create my own PCBs in Eagle and appreciate any insight.

Thanks,

Brian

Hi Brian, you are very kind. The connectors I chose for out and out ground are the faston type simply because they have more current handling capacity. Honestly you could probably get by with pin headers, but I like the more solid connection of the fastons. one other option I considered was just putting wire pads there, but I like to be able to quickly disassemble and reassemble an amp.

Cheers!
Russ

[balance]

Originally posted by Russ White

..The connectors I chose for out and out ground are the faston type simply because they have more current handling capacity...

I thought these were screw terminals. Oops. You know, the ones where each pin is isolated from the next, thus the confusion. Fastons work for me, though I prefer the screw type. Does someone have a part number from Mouser or Digikey for these male PCB mount Fastons? I see every kind of Faston except for the PCB mounts.

EDIT Just found 'em... Mouser part#: 571-626501

Thanks again,

bRian

[Russ White]

The dimensions of the board are 2-5/8" x 3-1/4"

Or 67mm x 82mm.

Cheers!