Building my Charlize, 1st DIY project.....

[kenscott30]

Dear list,

Well I am a beginner and this is my first DIY project. I am currently running a stock Sonic T amp with a 12-Volt 5amp Lead Acid Battery. My Cd player goes right into the amp. I drive Omega Mini Me speakers http://www.omegaloudspeakers.com/mini%20me.htm I have radio shack speaker wire and I am pretty happy. But I have heard that the Charlize is nicer, better bass, so I figured what the heck. I have invested :^) too much money on a nice soldering station and I have spent about 8 hours reading everything that I could on the net, about everything. I am ready, almost...

Power------Seems very important to the Charlize, I will use a SMPS unit. There are about 3 links floating around that people are using and like...I mentioned it to a techie friend on mine and he turned me on to this company, http://datasheet.astrodyne.com/RS25.pdf I will buy this one, they are local.
*If anyone would like to chime in on Load Resistors, i.e. what type and how big that would be helpful.* I will try my battery as well, just to see.

I don't have any spare parts lying around, no wire, caps or solder. Nothing. I will have to buy everything. I found this thread super helpful. http://www.churchmedia.net/CMN/showp...7&postcount=11

Lots of part listing and where to buy them.

I will use this case (in black) http://www.mouser.com/index.cfm?&han...d&N=0&crc=true

I like it, it is black and metal.

I will use this volume knob Alps 50k RK27 Potentiometer

I am thinking that I have to buy a some perf-board and standoffs, http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

Do I need to do that to isolate the amp from the box? how do I keep the amp from rattling around inside the case?

I will need a power switch and another 3 position switch for the soft start circuit. Any recommendations on nice silver or black switches? The ones with LED are cool but scare me a little for powering the LED and not having a noise issue, I don't know how to hook up the power part.

As far as connectors I was looking at Cardas GRFA http://www.welbornelabs.com/cardasconn.htm They look nice. For speaker binding posts the Cardas HCBPS 29.00 for 4 posts, CAN I DO BETTER????

They sell Vampire as well. Any thoughts on money well spent? Cardas vs Vampire or some other brand.

I will need to buy hook up wire, to hook the amp up to the connectors...http://www.welbornelabs.com/dhwire.htm or http://www.welbornelabs.com/wlabswire.htm
What gauge should I use?

And then solder.....I don't need a lot, I was thinking of Cardas Quad Eutectic Solder http://www.welbornelabs.com/solder.htm the SLD1 30' should be more than enough...

They sell Cardas contact cleaner as well but I think that I could get something like that as radio shack or parts express?

I will need a bigger gauge wire to hook up the power to the amp I believe...I will also need connectors for the power, I am thinking that I can use banana jacks? I can have female on the amp box and spades on the smps and banana males on the ends of the smps wire?

Also people have mentioned checking phase on the Charlize amp. Do I need to do that and how do I do that?

Thanks for any comments or help/input.

Ken

[kenscott30]

Could you use a Thermistor instead of building the 3-way switch to turn on the Charlize amp softly?

Something like this, an inrush current limiter, http://www.ametherm.com/Inrush_Curre...20Limiters.htm

That way you just flip the switch to 'on' when using a smps.


Thanks,

Ken

[Kriskom]

Hi Ken.....

I hv completed my Tripath and am quite happy with it.
See my last posting done today at the diyers forum

Paul
pyahya@cbn.net.id

[vt4c]

Ken,
I would think using a Thermistor will not work.

[kanaddict]

Originally posted by kenscott30
Could you use a Thermistor instead of building the 3-way switch to turn on the Charlize amp softly?

Something like this, an inrush current limiter, http://www.ametherm.com/Inrush_Curre...20Limiters.htm

That way you just flip the switch to 'on' when using a smps.


Thanks,

Ken

Hi Ken,

I have tried a Thermistor and the result was not good. When powering the amp, the noice was worst then the original "pop". Maybe not as loud, but worst

The 3-way switch (or two regular on-off switch) is the best way to go.

Regards,

[Kriskom]

Hi all.

I hv done the softstart switch by modifying a simple speaker protector relay circuit kit.

My Tripath has a additional caps bank of 2*15000uF/50V + 2*20uF/630V oilcans to add the low bass, slamm and transient handling

I operated the start-up and close down of the Tripath from the main SMPS switch of 220-240VAC , the relay circuit does the rest of connecting the output VDC supply into the Tripath.

No "pop"sound whatsoever upon start-up, idem also at close down.

If yu are interested I will send you some pics and notes how to do it....ctc me :

Paul
[email]pyahya@cbn.net.id

[kenscott30]

thank you for your help!

ken