Baby Huey components

[WindChill]

Hi all,

I've been through the Baby Huey thread more than once and I'm starting to put the components together for a pair of monoblocks. I've ordered the iron, and most of the other components seem straightforward, but I'm kind of unsure about the caps. Looks like Black Gate is out of production and I'm not sure what I'm looking for. One of the caps is shown as "SMR" and I'm not familiar with that one either.

Anyone have any advice on caps in particular and components in general?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[boywonder]

Michael Percy Audio still sells black gates, although the selection is getting a little thin.

http://www.percyaudio.com/Catalog.pdf

For the HV electrolytic caps in the PS, use low ESR caps with good life and temp ratings, like Panasonic TS-HA (400V), TS-HB (450V) available at Digi-Key. Allied electronics also sells Cornell Dublier HV caps.

Are you building the original version or the MOSFET coupled version?

[WindChill]

Originally Posted by boywonder

Michael Percy Audio still sells black gates, although the selection is getting a little thin.

http://www.percyaudio.com/Catalog.pdf

For the HV electrolytic caps in the PS, use low ESR caps with good life and temp ratings, like Panasonic TS-HA (400V), TS-HB (450V) available at Digi-Key. Allied electronics also sells Cornell Dublier HV caps.

Are you building the original version or the MOSFET coupled version?

Thanks, I'm using the schematic on the first page of the thread, so the original?

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by WindChill

Thanks, I'm using the schematic on the first page of the thread, so the original?

Yes, the early design without MOSFETs. That's what I built, and it sounds very nice. I used Orange Drop .22u/630V coupling caps; they are very inexpensive, although there are lots of choices for these.

[boywonder]

I don't know what SMR is either, but you want a good quality film cap there as a bypass cap for the large value electrolytics, like a WIMA MKP, etc.

PPS is a polypropylene Sulfide film cap.

EDIT: SMR is Evox Rifa SMR Series.

Gingertube discusses them here:

anyone ever used metalized polypropylene caps from Digi-key?

If you want to go a little more upscale you could use film/foil caps instead of metallized film, although I don't know if there will be any sonic difference.

[WindChill]

Originally Posted by boywonder

Yes, the early design without MOSFETs. That's what I built, and it sounds very nice. I used Orange Drop .22u/630V coupling caps; they are very inexpensive, although there are lots of choices for these.

I think I sourced WIMAs for those but the Orange Drops might be easier to work with.

The ones I'm having trouble with are the 100uF 385V in the amplifier, and the Bias Block and CCS caps (47uF 35V, 22uF 6.3V, 470uF 63V, and the 1uF 63V SMR). When I search for those at DigiKey and Mouser I seem to get ridiculously expensive caps -- like $100 -- so I must be looking for the wrong caps.

Any direction on the Bias and CCS caps?

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by WindChill

I think I sourced WIMAs for those but the Orange Drops might be easier to work with.

The ones I'm having trouble with are the 100uF 385V in the amplifier, and the Bias Block and CCS caps (47uF 35V, 22uF 6.3V, 470uF 63V, and the 1uF 63V SMR). When I search for those at DigiKey and Mouser I seem to get ridiculously expensive caps -- like $100 -- so I must be looking for the wrong caps.

Any direction on the Bias and CCS caps?

At the risk of stating the obvious......you can use caps rated for higher voltages without issue. They give you additional dielectric safety margin, have lower ESR, but will take up a little more space.

You can try both the WIMA's and orange drops for coupling caps......easy enough, and cheap.

For a 100u/385V, look at Panasonic TS-HA 100u/400V Digi-Key P/N P-6873-ND or P-6842-ND. Same values, slightly different form factor.

For the 47uF 35V, 22uF 6.3V, 470uF 63V electrolytics, you could go Nichicon Muse (also available from Michael Percy and a few other suppliers) or Black Gates, or select some Panasonic FM, ED, etc series from Digi-key, they are sub $1 or a couple bucks each max.

For the bypass cap look at WIMA, solen, etc. they are going to be a couple of $$ each.

[WindChill]

Originally Posted by boywonder

At the risk of stating the obvious......you can use caps rated for higher voltages without issue. They give you additional dielectric safety margin, have lower ESR, but will take up a little more space.

You can try both the WIMA's and orange drops for coupling caps......easy enough, and cheap.

For a 100u/385V, look at Panasonic TS-HA 100u/400V Digi-Key P/N P-6873-ND or P-6842-ND. Same values, slightly different form factor.

For the 47uF 35V, 22uF 6.3V, 470uF 63V electrolytics, you could go Nichicon Muse (also available from Michael Percy and a few other suppliers) or Black Gates, or select some Panasonic FM, ED, etc series from Digi-key, they are sub $1 or a couple bucks each max.

For the bypass cap look at WIMA, solen, etc. they are going to be a couple of $$ each.

Thanks, I don't think the obvious is ever wasted on me. I'll see what I can find but I appreciate the advice. That helps a lot.

[boywonder]

FWIW, Athos56 posted a parts list excel file in post #345 of the baby huey thread.

[WindChill]

Originally Posted by boywonder

FWIW, Athos56 posted a parts list excel file in post #345 of the baby huey thread.

Very useful, thanks again.