transformer selection recommendation for aleph 30

hc167 · 2nd March 2007, 07:56 PM

hi:

I am thinking of this transformer for my aleph 30. Is it gotta be too much for aleph 30? I like this transformer because it has four secondary coils so that each pair of the secondary coils can be used for one channel. that will make my aleph 30 virtually behave like dual monaural amp. but for 800VA, is it too much?

thanks a lot

GRollins · 2nd March 2007, 08:56 PM

I routinely use oversized transformers. Go for it.

Grey

hifimaker · 3rd March 2007, 02:25 AM

It's not that much over, and you will be glad you did. Lower noise, more reserve power if you later tinker with the biasing, etc.

-David

hc167 · 3rd March 2007, 03:38 AM

dw8083:

what do you mean by lower the noise? do you mean larger transformer will lower the transformer hum noise? thanks a lot for your answer.

mpmarino · 3rd March 2007, 05:25 AM

Hi hc,

I'm glad to see you moving ahead with your amp! My experience dictates that going oversize may be a good idea. But also in my experience, the larger the toroid, the more likely it will hum physically. This is a generalization - obviously a cheap small toroid will likely be noisy as compared to a quality large toroid. Keep in mind also that the larger the toroid, the larger the inrush. If I remember correctly I'm using a 600va toroid in my a30 with the bias maxed (r? removed) - no voltage sag.

What did Nelson use? add a couple hundred VA to that and I'm sure you'll be fine.

All IMHO

marc

hc167 · 4th March 2007, 12:14 AM

mpmarino:

I am still in the building process. now I have to build the chassis. I may have the local machine shop custom make it for me. that will cost about $500. so other than the chassis and the circuit design. I pretty much build everything on my own, including part selection. one more thing. for the same transformer, do you know if antek will make more hum noise or plitron will has less hum noise? thanks a lot.

mpmarino · 4th March 2007, 12:27 PM

Sorry, I have yet to use either brand. Everything I've done has been surplus; sometimes it works out great, sometimes not

. It's cheap though, and that suits me as I have been able to build several amps on quite a low budget.

If you need anything let me know, I may be able to help. I have no toroids with that spec in stock right now however.

hifimaker · 4th March 2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hc167
mpmarino:

I am still in the building process. now I have to build the chassis. I may have the local machine shop custom make it for me. that will cost about $500. so other than the chassis and the circuit design. I pretty much build everything on my own, including part selection. one more thing. for the same transformer, do you know if antek will make more hum noise or plitron will has less hum noise? thanks a lot.

Hi hc167,

Consider having the panels made by Frontpanel express. For my Aleph30, I had Frontpanel Express cut a large aluminum sheel to my design, found a reasonable local presision sheetmetal shop who bent it into a box, then I drilled and tapped all the holes in the heatsinks. Here's a link to the amp for a look to get a better idea of what I'm describing.

My 1st Aleph Amp

-David

HIPCHECK · 5th March 2007, 05:27 AM

I am currently looking to purchase my transformers to build 4 Aleph amps to tri amp my speakers (2xMiniA and 2xAleph3)
this thread got my attention.

I am looking @ some transformers from antek.

mostly these transformers:

for the 2xMiniA
http://www.toroid-transformer.com/AN-5415.pdf

and

and for the 2xAleph3
http://www.toroid-transformer.com/AN-8420.pdf

what do you guys think?

would the transformers I listed be enough to power 2 amps?

i will run a little xtra bias on both amps, plenty of heatsinking, and will be driving BG Neo8, and Neo3 speakers.

I promise that one day i will have a Pass lab amp.......but its hard to find time to build, solder, tinker in my life right now

hc167 · 5th March 2007, 03:23 PM

dw8083:

thanks for your commend. I read your posting and I like your chassis a lot (except that your chassis is not standard 17" wide in size). frontpanel express is good source for buying panel. but the problem is if I do everything myself for the chassis, then I have to buy a drill press, and my wife will most likely complain about that. well, this is my personal problem. anyway, I have purchase the same heatsink that you have (conrad heatsink ML151.5-350) and wondering how good it is for your amp's temperature. and what is your rail voltage? thanks a lot.

3rd March 2007, 05:25 AM	#5
mpmarino diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Crunchville, where I don't fit in.	Hi hc, I'm glad to see you moving ahead with your amp! My experience dictates that going oversize may be a good idea. But also in my experience, the larger the toroid, the more likely it will hum physically. This is a generalization - obviously a cheap small toroid will likely be noisy as compared to a quality large toroid. Keep in mind also that the larger the toroid, the larger the inrush. If I remember correctly I'm using a 600va toroid in my a30 with the bias maxed (r? removed) - no voltage sag. What did Nelson use? add a couple hundred VA to that and I'm sure you'll be fine. All IMHO marc __________________ Crazy Yankee.

4th March 2007, 12:27 PM	#7
mpmarino diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Crunchville, where I don't fit in.	Sorry, I have yet to use either brand. Everything I've done has been surplus; sometimes it works out great, sometimes not . It's cheap though, and that suits me as I have been able to build several amps on quite a low budget. If you need anything let me know, I may be able to help. I have no toroids with that spec in stock right now however. __________________ Crazy Yankee.

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2nd March 2007, 08:56 PM	#2
GRollins diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Columbia, SC	I routinely use oversized transformers. Go for it. Grey

3rd March 2007, 02:25 AM	#3
hifimaker diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Jose	It's not that much over, and you will be glad you did. Lower noise, more reserve power if you later tinker with the biasing, etc. -David

3rd March 2007, 03:38 AM	#4
hc167 diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	dw8083: what do you mean by lower the noise? do you mean larger transformer will lower the transformer hum noise? thanks a lot for your answer.

4th March 2007, 12:14 AM	#6
hc167 diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	mpmarino: I am still in the building process. now I have to build the chassis. I may have the local machine shop custom make it for me. that will cost about $500. so other than the chassis and the circuit design. I pretty much build everything on my own, including part selection. one more thing. for the same transformer, do you know if antek will make more hum noise or plitron will has less hum noise? thanks a lot.

5th March 2007, 05:27 AM	#9
HIPCHECK diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: ARKANSAS	I am currently looking to purchase my transformers to build 4 Aleph amps to tri amp my speakers (2xMiniA and 2xAleph3) this thread got my attention. I am looking @ some transformers from antek. mostly these transformers: for the 2xMiniA http://www.toroid-transformer.com/AN-5415.pdf and and for the 2xAleph3 http://www.toroid-transformer.com/AN-8420.pdf what do you guys think? would the transformers I listed be enough to power 2 amps? i will run a little xtra bias on both amps, plenty of heatsinking, and will be driving BG Neo8, and Neo3 speakers. I promise that one day i will have a Pass lab amp.......but its hard to find time to build, solder, tinker in my life right now

5th March 2007, 03:23 PM	#10
hc167 diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2006	dw8083: thanks for your commend. I read your posting and I like your chassis a lot (except that your chassis is not standard 17" wide in size). frontpanel express is good source for buying panel. but the problem is if I do everything myself for the chassis, then I have to buy a drill press, and my wife will most likely complain about that. well, this is my personal problem. anyway, I have purchase the same heatsink that you have (conrad heatsink ML151.5-350) and wondering how good it is for your amp's temperature. and what is your rail voltage? thanks a lot.