Bride of zen (for a complete beginner)

[Pictus]

Hi everybody.

I'm Pictus, 21 years old. I live in Belgium. I'm very interrested by the audio, the music (I'm a saxophone player, and a Lp's 33rpm lover).
I'm sorry for the mistakes in my english.

I'd like to built my own hi fi system, not to save money but for my pleasure. 3 month ago, I tried to build the BOZ but I'm wasn't very good informed about the choice of the electronic components and my BOZ didn't work. Than I'm here to learn about hi fi electronic and diy audio.
1) I'm going to built the BOZ on a breadboard, than as I do an error, it's going easier to replace component. Is it possible to do it with a good result? If it works good, I do the pcb ect...
2) Resistor. Metal or carbon? There are 2x3W resistors (OK) but for the other resistors, have I to chose 1/4W, 1/2W or 1W resistor?
3) Capacitor. On the schematic of N. Pass, there are capacitor with a "+" and some capacitor have not the "+". Why? Is it the same capacitor but for the capacitor with a "+" I have to pay attention for the direction and not for the other?
There are electrolytic, ceramic, chimical, metal film capacitor, which have I to chose?
4) Zener diode 10V, I think I can use 1W and also 1W for the zener diode 20V, is it true?
For other diode, I'm sure I can use 1N4004 or higher like 1N4007. True?
5) Irf 610 and Tip29C, OK no problem.
6) I've got a 240V -> 2x30V 50VA transformer, it's alright in my country.
7) Potentiometer, I'm not sure, but for P101 and P201 I've got 2 blue 10K potentiometers like that :Novatera Electronic - AJUSTABLES MULTITOURS HORIZONTAUX **R T18 ou T89P
Is it the good poten.?
8) For the volume control, I'm going to buy an ALPS 2X10K log potentiometer, the value 10K is not the same as design by N. Pass : 5K. What have I to change?

I think I've asked all my first questions about the choice of the good components. I'm going to stand your answers to buy the components.
Thank reading me. Thank for your answers.

P.S.: Here the link for the BOZ explication and schematic: http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/brideofzen.pdf

Ciao. Pictus.

[Pictus]

Is there someone who can help me?

[ra7]

Patience. Your questions will be answered.

Why did the first effort not work?

[meanman1964]

Originally Posted by Pictus

Is there someone who can help me?

Do you speak dutch then you could mail me.I've build the Brid of Zen do have some components left over.You do know Bride of Zen is a pre amp?

[Pictus]

ra7 : My first effort didn't work because my part assembly wasn't very well done, and maybe the components weren't the good component. Moreover I didn't use a protection for the circuit like a fuse than the zener and some resistors burned...

meanman1964: Ik spreek ook nederlands maar niet duits. Ik woon in Belgïe.

Ok, I'm going to stand the answer to buy the component.

[digits]

You likely made a small assembly error, there are not realy good and bad parts (well maybe some fakes). It is normal, and something that happens. Getting back on the horse and finding your mistakes aer the important part.

I recommend you google how to do toner transfers, and buy some press and peel and get to make PCB's right from the start, it just opens so many avenues to you.

[Pictus]

For example, capacitor, electrolytic, ceramic, wima, tental?
For the resistor, 1/4W is right?
Zener diode 1W too?
I've read the methode to do pcb with laser printer ... I'm going to try it but to try the circuit I prefer the breadboard, it's easier to replace some burned components...
I know it's very interreting to do pcb, when you can do the pcb, chose the good component, you can do a lots of diy audio.

[vdi_nenna]

Capacitor. On the schematic of N. Pass, there are capacitor with a "+" and some capacitor have not the "+". Why? Is it the same capacitor but for the capacitor with a "+" I have to pay attention for the direction and not for the other?

Some capacitors are polarized. These are the caps with + or - indicators on the package. Others are non-polarized like metal film or ceramic caps they can be installed either direction. You must pay attention to the polarity of capacitors. Polarized capacitors can explode if not installed correctly in a the circuit.

Some non-polarized caps (high-end caps) sometimes have indicators for which direction they will sound best in a circuit, but don't worry about this now. Pay attention to electrolytic and other polarized capacitor directionality.

[vdi_nenna]

Also, be sure you are using the diodes correctly. Find the symbol for zener and other diodes and identify which side is the cathode and which side is the antode on the physical diode.

See attached picture.

Vince

[digits]

When they have a +, or as pointed out, are electrolytic, they will have a DC voltage rateing, this needs to be at least the voltage they will see x 1.414 + another 20% for variations in mains voltages.

For the other types of capacitors, ceramics are normaly not a good choice, except for circuits that make use of their qualities. Rather use a film type, polyester will do, polypropelene is better. For small values one can use mica, but it is very expensive, there is no NEED for mica though.

To work out wattages for resistors, look at voltage resistor has over it, divide that by the resistance in ohms, then multiply that with the voltage again. This is the dissipation, you want to make sure to stay well above this number with your part selection. look at datasheets for resistors to see how hot they get at x dissipation. Sometimes even choosing reistor with much higher rateing is not much cooler, just stronger, then it is best to use two resistors to share the heat.