You can, but it will perform much worse. That is, assuming that you would otherwise use the second side of a 2-side PCB as an uninterrupted ground plane which greatly reduces PCB track inductances.
You can build a class d amp on a breadboard if you want. How well it works depends on how well you construct it. How well a design works on a 1 layer board will also depend on how well the board is routed. 2 layers gives you more freedom and is usually the minimum number of layers you'd want to use if you're going to have boards made by a board house.
The PCB is one of the most important components of a switching amp. A bad PCB (i.e. construction, layout etc) will make an amp perform worse than what would be potentially possible with a given circuit.
So you can definitely build an amp on a single-sided PCB in order to check if the circuit as such is working - but keep in mind that the time you spend on this might be better used for a first "proper" prototype. But you will not be able to get reliable performance measurements this way.
Regards
Charles
So you can definitely build an amp on a single-sided PCB in order to check if the circuit as such is working - but keep in mind that the time you spend on this might be better used for a first "proper" prototype. But you will not be able to get reliable performance measurements this way.
Regards
Charles
I am waiting to get my new set of PCB:s manufactured, this will be the first time I use uninterrupted ground planes as compared to my groundplanes everywhere-approach in my last amplifier.
Will be nice to see the differences now when I know how the last one performed.
Will be nice to see the differences now when I know how the last one performed.
It is not a good idea to use single side PCB! I designed over 10 projects using 5-6 kinds of class-D/class-T amplifier but all of them need to use double layer PCB!
Hi,
I build my first UcDs on a single-side PCB, its work fine 🙂
http://www.classd.fromru.com/circuits/ucd1.html
http://www.classd.fromru.com/circuits/ucd2.html
But now i trying to use 2-side pcb, its better:
http://www.classd.fromru.com/circuits/ucd3.html
http://www.classd.fromru.com/circuits/ucd4.html
😉
I build my first UcDs on a single-side PCB, its work fine 🙂
http://www.classd.fromru.com/circuits/ucd1.html
http://www.classd.fromru.com/circuits/ucd2.html
But now i trying to use 2-side pcb, its better:
http://www.classd.fromru.com/circuits/ucd3.html
http://www.classd.fromru.com/circuits/ucd4.html
😉
From my perception it might also depend on the power which you are adressing.
I am currently struggling even with my double sided board. But my currents are high. Somewhere around 40A output current the generated noise seems to trigger undesired shut downs. At this level the di/dt in the switching devices and related rail capacitors is ranging between 500A/us to 1000A/us.
Already quite small inductances do cause remarkable voltage drops. Furtheron such powerful and fast di/dt do induce unpleasant voltage peaks in all tracks nearby...
....from what I see on my board, I would expect that you can handle amps with output currents up to 10A peak (may be 15A) with on a single sided PCB.
Things are getting generally easier, if you are willing to reduce switching speed. Please note switching speed does not just mean the operating frequency. It is more about the dv/dt and especially di/dt in the switching devices.
I am currently struggling even with my double sided board. But my currents are high. Somewhere around 40A output current the generated noise seems to trigger undesired shut downs. At this level the di/dt in the switching devices and related rail capacitors is ranging between 500A/us to 1000A/us.
Already quite small inductances do cause remarkable voltage drops. Furtheron such powerful and fast di/dt do induce unpleasant voltage peaks in all tracks nearby...
....from what I see on my board, I would expect that you can handle amps with output currents up to 10A peak (may be 15A) with on a single sided PCB.
Things are getting generally easier, if you are willing to reduce switching speed. Please note switching speed does not just mean the operating frequency. It is more about the dv/dt and especially di/dt in the switching devices.
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