So... lately I have seen with some consternation that the new "amp racks" I recently bought are already stuffed with big black boxes with a blue light out front.
It came to me that in the lab we use big programmable metrology quality power supplies. We don't put power supplies in our stuff, instead we rely on external units with voltage and current controls.
Already in some components, particularly low level and Big Pass Irons, the power supply is on a second chassis.
The next step would be to separate the power supply from ALL components... why rebuild the power supply every time the amplifier boards get redesigned?
After all, the job of the power supply is to provide a stable voltage with very little noise. We could add some current limiting as well as the cherry on top.. and for that, I can't think of anything better than what we got in the labs (or your own bench). The power supply doesn't much care if the drivers are tubes, VFETs, bipolar.... well, yeah, a tube power supply is a different thing... the amp itself might need an internal transformer to bump up the ~100VDC to ~500VDC...
How about using an instrument grade power supply instead like an HP6010/15A with ~1000 watts:
https://www.testequipmenthq.com/datasheets/Agilent-6015A-Datasheet.pdf
Sure, it will look like we brought the bench to the living room and it will require a cheat sheet not to burn up the amps... but, but.... if would be nice if it could look like this:
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details...output-tungar-dc-power-supply/images/4433276/
Something retro that looks like the stuff the Traitors Of Earth used to communicate with Ming Of Mars. Will fit nicely with the danish mid century furniture.. sort of.
It came to me that in the lab we use big programmable metrology quality power supplies. We don't put power supplies in our stuff, instead we rely on external units with voltage and current controls.
Already in some components, particularly low level and Big Pass Irons, the power supply is on a second chassis.
The next step would be to separate the power supply from ALL components... why rebuild the power supply every time the amplifier boards get redesigned?
After all, the job of the power supply is to provide a stable voltage with very little noise. We could add some current limiting as well as the cherry on top.. and for that, I can't think of anything better than what we got in the labs (or your own bench). The power supply doesn't much care if the drivers are tubes, VFETs, bipolar.... well, yeah, a tube power supply is a different thing... the amp itself might need an internal transformer to bump up the ~100VDC to ~500VDC...
How about using an instrument grade power supply instead like an HP6010/15A with ~1000 watts:
https://www.testequipmenthq.com/datasheets/Agilent-6015A-Datasheet.pdf
Sure, it will look like we brought the bench to the living room and it will require a cheat sheet not to burn up the amps... but, but.... if would be nice if it could look like this:
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details...output-tungar-dc-power-supply/images/4433276/
Something retro that looks like the stuff the Traitors Of Earth used to communicate with Ming Of Mars. Will fit nicely with the danish mid century furniture.. sort of.
Not a bad idea, but I see two obvious problems:
1. Most lab PSU's have current limiting. For audio, these probably can't be adjusted high enough or turned off.
2. Loop area. You're going to need long leads to connect these to the amplifier. Not as good as a built-in PSU with v.short cables.
1. Most lab PSU's have current limiting. For audio, these probably can't be adjusted high enough or turned off.
2. Loop area. You're going to need long leads to connect these to the amplifier. Not as good as a built-in PSU with v.short cables.
Yes... I think the biggest issue might be the lack of capacitance in the lab power supply. Power wise, they do make some BIG power supplies out there that can deliver quite a bit of current. They definitely are not designed for peak... the current, however, can be controlled easily. That's the beauty of a lab supply... both adjustable voltage and current.
I'm not too worried about the leads. They can be done in 10 gauge and shielded - grounded at the PS output. Could keep them under four feet ( just over a meter in Oz ).
The HP/Agilent can put out quite a bit of current, I think. 1000 watts... so that's over 16A into 60 VDC...
They do look rather ugly in the domestic environment and are big... hmm...
I'm not too worried about the leads. They can be done in 10 gauge and shielded - grounded at the PS output. Could keep them under four feet ( just over a meter in Oz ).
The HP/Agilent can put out quite a bit of current, I think. 1000 watts... so that's over 16A into 60 VDC...
They do look rather ugly in the domestic environment and are big... hmm...
Maybe if I could combine both of the links above.... hide the power supply and have an umbilical to a "nice looking" wooden break out box with the volt and current bakelite meters and an OFF/IN switch that just breaks the connection to the remote power supply...
Those nice lab power supplies don't like being turned off.
Those nice lab power supplies don't like being turned off.
I had thought of this when I built my Alpha Nirvana and built on outboard power supply thinking I could reuse it. Of course voltage requirements change, class A looks different to the power supply than AB. Some amps they say are better with power supply built in the same chassis, and grounding is always an issue. It is just murky water and the answer changes with whoever you ask.
Bill
Bill