Complete Novice Needs Help

[richluvsound]

Hi Folks ,

I have just started to collect the parts for my first amp build . I have the PCB's ,matched fets , and 8 Jamicon 15000 uf 35 v caps for the Aleph 30.I will be using the amp to drive my K2 clone 2 way . In the future I would like to bi-amp and use the aleph on the HF and something else on the bottom end . But ,I have an amp to build and a lot to learn first

Like I said , I'm complete novice . I can see I will need a lot of learning to achieve this goal .

I'm due to have quite a big operation that will leave me pretty much house bound for a few months and thought this would be a great time to do something I have always wanted to do .

I have heard a good bit of Nelson Pass's gear over the past 30 years and have always loved the sound and design of his projects.

I'm not asking to be spoon fed , but if there a few among you that could help
me get going I would appreciate it greatly . I have a little understanding ,but best I forget what I have think I know and start from scratch with the help of people that do know ......

I'm not a lazy person, so even if its just a link to anywhere with the answer it would great .

The humble and excited beginner , Rich

[AndrewT]

Pass Labs: Technical articles
Pass Labs: Technical articles
FIRST WATT HOME

You can do little better than visit Pass' own websites.

Learning just 10% of that content will take you past the knowledge of 60% of our Membership.

[richluvsound]

great bloody start ... My name should read " richluvsound " can I change it ,or could a moderator change it for me .... ?

TIA Rich

[SY]

I'll be happy to do so.

[richluvsound]

SY,

well that is the kind service no one can grumble about ... thank you .

Rich

[richluvsound]

Gents,

I received the correct heat sinks today and now I'm looking into bonding the
fets ...

I would like some opinions on the best kind of product to use ?

The rear of the sink is not that good as to be expected with extrusion .

Ideally I need something with a gap filling quality..

TIA , Rich

[AndrewT]

flatten the contact face of the heatsink.
You can use a file laid on flat and crosscut the whole back face if the sink is really bad.
Follow up with coarse, then medium, then fine, and finally very fine emery or silicon carbide. I'm thinking grits 100, 200, 400, 600or 1200.

It should almost look like a polished flat surface when it is ready to receive your output devices.

[richluvsound]

Thanks for that Andy... It would be useful if you could suggest a product to bond with .
I was thinking if I used a thermal epoxy I could avoid all the drilling and tapping .
Or, I could mount the fets on 6mm x 40mm copper strip and mount that to the sink .
I have a few skills I can draw on !

Rich

[AndrewT]

use normal mica and thermal paste or thermally conductive insulators without thermal paste.

I would not rely on gluing them unless you have good test facilities to determine the fatigue life of the glued joint with the repeated thermal stress across the interface. I am told that the soldered joint inside the device suffers from fatigue cracking due to the thermal cycling.

[richluvsound]

thanks for your help Andy,

I get the feeling it can be a bit frosty round here for the newbe's


I will stick to the tried and proven . I have been using Conrad Electronics and RS ,are there any others here in the UK you could recommend ?

I have been treated really well by Birmingham Aluminium . They double checked all my calcs and then sent me even bigger sinks than I asked for ... Bless em .. there are still some good ones out there ,
Rich