How does one "breadboard" an amp?

Saurav · 11th April 2003, 05:26 PM

Hi,

I assume breadboarding an amp means building it in a temporary fashion, i.e. not fastening all the components down and not soldering everything. Questions:

* Do you use alligator clip leads for all connections? I guess it would be a god idea to buy a large pack of these. Are there any requirements for minimum wire gauge or anything else?

* I could lay out transformers, resistors and caps on a table or a piece of wood or cardboard. What do you do for tubes and their sockets? Do you leave them standing upright, resting on the socket solder tabs? Do you lay them down on the side? (That seems like a bad idea, to have the tube envelope touching something)

* Anythin else I should know and/or be careful of?

One more question that's kinda related - how should I test noise levels when picking transformer positions and orientation? Let's say I'm trying to check the effect of the power transformer on the output transformer. Obviously, I need to supply AC mains to the power transformer. Do I put a load on the secondary, or leave it unloaded (making sure the wires aren't shorting)? Does it make a difference? Also, what do I do to the output transformer? I have a scope, so the probes go at the two output (secondary) taps, I guess. Does the secondary need something like an 8 ohm load resistor? How about the primary - do I leave that open?

Thanks in advance.

Saurav

dhaen · 11th April 2003, 05:48 PM

Some of us are just animals

fragman56 · 11th April 2003, 06:01 PM

Except yours is temporary--I'll listen to this for weeks!

Rick

Joel · 11th April 2003, 07:11 PM

I love your work Rick....

Saurav · 11th April 2003, 07:27 PM

OK, this is helping... somewhat

I see a combination of hookup wire and clip leads. I also see that having a large workspace helps, but that's obvious. From the pictures, I can't see how the tubes are set up too well. Are the sockets just sitting on the boards?

fragman56 · 11th April 2003, 07:56 PM

Please don't look at my "breadboard"--very bad and very dangerous!

Others in this forum will post some better pics of decent breadboards--I liked John's though with all those layers of wires!!

What an animal!

Joel,

That really hurts!

Rick

Ryder · 11th April 2003, 08:01 PM

They do not have to be so rough.
Here is a shot of John Sheerwood's set up.
Lets him make changes and presentable too. The tubing comes apart easily.

A look from the bottom

There are a few more pictures at his site. Nice for something that is close but you may want to change and are not ready to commit to a chassis yet.
Cheers
Craig Ryder

pinkmouse · 11th April 2003, 08:49 PM

My version

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...508#post153508

Saurav · 11th April 2003, 09:16 PM

Ryder, that "breadboard" looks better than some of my finished projects

Lisandro_P · 11th April 2003, 10:03 PM

Seriously, that amp came out very sweet looking....

11th April 2003, 05:26 PM	#1
Saurav diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oregon, USA	How does one "breadboard" an amp? Hi, I assume breadboarding an amp means building it in a temporary fashion, i.e. not fastening all the components down and not soldering everything. Questions: * Do you use alligator clip leads for all connections? I guess it would be a god idea to buy a large pack of these. Are there any requirements for minimum wire gauge or anything else? * I could lay out transformers, resistors and caps on a table or a piece of wood or cardboard. What do you do for tubes and their sockets? Do you leave them standing upright, resting on the socket solder tabs? Do you lay them down on the side? (That seems like a bad idea, to have the tube envelope touching something) * Anythin else I should know and/or be careful of? One more question that's kinda related - how should I test noise levels when picking transformer positions and orientation? Let's say I'm trying to check the effect of the power transformer on the output transformer. Obviously, I need to supply AC mains to the power transformer. Do I put a load on the secondary, or leave it unloaded (making sure the wires aren't shorting)? Does it make a difference? Also, what do I do to the output transformer? I have a scope, so the probes go at the two output (secondary) taps, I guess. Does the secondary need something like an 8 ohm load resistor? How about the primary - do I leave that open? Thanks in advance. Saurav

11th April 2003, 07:56 PM	#6
fragman56 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Denver, CO	Need some help here! Please don't look at my "breadboard"--very bad and very dangerous! Others in this forum will post some better pics of decent breadboards--I liked John's though with all those layers of wires!! What an animal! Joel, That really hurts! Rick

11th April 2003, 08:01 PM	#7
Ryder diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Michigan	Breadboards They do not have to be so rough. Here is a shot of John Sheerwood's set up. Lets him make changes and presentable too. The tubing comes apart easily. A look from the bottom There are a few more pictures at his site. Nice for something that is close but you may want to change and are not ready to commit to a chassis yet. Cheers Craig Ryder __________________ Ryder Any fool can ask more questions than seven sages can answer.

11th April 2003, 08:49 PM	#8
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	My version http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showt...508#post153508 __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

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11th April 2003, 07:11 PM	#4
Joel diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY	I love your work Rick....

11th April 2003, 07:27 PM	#5
Saurav diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oregon, USA	OK, this is helping... somewhat I see a combination of hookup wire and clip leads. I also see that having a large workspace helps, but that's obvious. From the pictures, I can't see how the tubes are set up too well. Are the sockets just sitting on the boards?

11th April 2003, 09:16 PM	#9
Saurav diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oregon, USA	Ryder, that "breadboard" looks better than some of my finished projects

11th April 2003, 10:03 PM	#10
Lisandro_P diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Argentina	Seriously, that amp came out very sweet looking....

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