Pros/Cons Remote Power Supply

[chris ma]

Hello Folks,

I would like to see more options when building a remote PSU for power amp.

The amp that I am building does not have room for all PSU components. So I would like to know more pros and cons for different configuarations;

My amp have room for the voltage regulators and may be the bridge recitifier but not the filter caps banks and the transformer.

Option
A/ -- Build entire separate PSU connect to amp via 3 foot long DC power cord 2sets, one for poistive and one for negative.

B/ -- Build PSU with only transformer, bridge rectifier, filtering caps then connect to amp where the voltage regulators can be located within the amp chassis closer to the power transistors.

Thanks
Chris

[Jan Dupont]

In my oppinion the best solution is your own suggestion B/

[peranders]

I would say skip the idea and build the PSU together with amp. It ads nothing to have long wires, infact I think this is a disadvantage. I can see a advantage for pre amps and MC preamp in particular.

For power amps it's common knowledge for striving to compactness, short wires and low resistance and inductance. It's also better from a RFI perspective, smaller antenna.

[tiroth]

I think split PSU has merits: box 1 with xform, bridges, moderate capacitance; box 2 with main caps and active circuitry. This provides much greater isolation from mains noise and transformer EMI than is generally possible in all but the best layouts. It is a lot of effort to implement though.

[Jan Dupont]

Peranders:
You may be right, but this is not the question here.
tiroth don't have space for the PSU in the amp cabinet

[slowmotion]

Hi chris ma,

If you want to go all the way
( or even half way there )
your suggestion B/ makes more sense to me,
I would hardwire the powersupply and the amp together,tho


cheers

Jan

[moamps]

Originally posted by chris ma
A/ -- Build entire separate PSU connect to amp via 3 foot long DC power cord 2sets, one for poistive and one for negative.
B/ -- Build PSU with only transformer, bridge rectifier, filtering caps then connect to amp where the voltage regulators can be located within the amp chassis closer to the power transistors.

Hi,

What's maximum DC current thru cord (amp power)?
"voltage regulators" are for power amp or for low level circuitry?
Do you think about separate power supply for each amp?
3 foot?...... Long distance.

Regards

[chris ma]

Hi,

I am using two of those group buy heatsinks which is 11"X11"X2.75" each.

For each channel there are two heatsinks stacking on top so the amp is standing 22" high already. It is kind of like a large plate amp ready for future(may be) speaker project. The PSU will be regulated between 20 to 28 V and bias will be between 3.5A to 4A. Transfomer is 22-0-22 400VA

It is going to be mono block with it's own PSU.

The plate amps although it seems big but it is rather thin so there is no room for the PSU, just the amp is measured at 11"(w) X 22"(H) X 8"(D) the depth part includes the fins of those heatsink.

Chris

[jleaman]

I would do this. Buy some nice Ofc Cable and make nice Power cables to the power amp from the psu.

make the Psu contain the Transformer Caps and regulators and bridge rectifiers. Use some nice Silver connector....

You that is what im doing for my small blue amps.

[Peter Daniel]

I would do this. You say you use 2 of those heat sinks per amp and it makes them 22" tall. Why not use heat sinks on both sides for lower height?

3 feet of power cord from supplies to the amp will definitely introduce the sonic signature of the cable to the sound. Also, buildinf separate PS is like building two amps instead of one. IMO, the drawbacks involved with separate PS are bigger than possible gains.