Class D frequency?

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My own interest in class D is for subwoofer only in a multiamped system. So the class D amp would only have to go to 100hz, nothing more.

So, it could sample as low as 200hz, but of course that is audible.

So, maybe have a low sampling frequency and filter it out.

Or, maybe has a higher sampling freq, but not as high as 40khz. So it is inaudible.

What is the concensus on these topology and architecture issues.

I've looked but if another thread deals with this, I'll go there.🙄
 
I'm not fully sure what you are asking but I don't know why you would want to sample the incoming signal so slowly. If you want to use that as a way to filter then you'd be better off using a simple op amp filter then sample at the higher frequency to get excellent resolution. If you're talking about the PWM oscillation frequency switching slower improves efficiency and helps on EMI issues but you only want to go so low. I liked 75kHz for a sub woofer application with a 100Hz type frequency repsonse. I set my LC filter in the low kHz range just because going lower meant a bigger physical size inductor and more cost but there is no reason you couldn't set the filter point at like 1kHz. You don't want to set the LC filter at 100Hz or too close as there will be phase shift as the filter begins to affect the signal. Use an input filter to nicely filter out the audio frequencies you want to filter. The LC filter is for filtering the PWM waveform. Or I don't know what I am talking about and ignore the above.

-SL
 
Class D design is complex.

Slower sampling does give higer efficiency. I'd like to try and keep it bipolar. That was why I suggeste 25khz. Then I could put the filter in the khz range, as you said, because going lower means larger components.

But still, some 25khz would beed through to the driver.
 
I'd like to stay with bipolars, taking advantage of the fact that this amp doesn't have to cover the full audio range.

I'd like to stay with bipolars because the same number of them handles more power than MOS.

I know that such designs are complex and there are many trade off issues raised.

Is it OK to let a significant amount of say 25khz, hit the driver?
 
The next question would be what sort of power output are you looking for from the amp?

You can always parallel a couple mosfets if you need more current capability.

Higher frequencies going to the sub will just be wasted as heat in the voice coil. If the driver can handle it then it won't matter too much.
 
1kW is an awful lot of power to be aiming for if you don't really know what you're doing. (I'm only assuming this since you asked what a good switching frequency would be in the first place). At 1kW you'd need to supply a lot of base current to get bipolars conducting. You'd need a lot of current to charge up the gates of mosfets too, but it would only be for a short period of time. You'd have less losses too.

It is impossible to totally filter out the switching frequency, but you can certainly reduce it to an acceptable level. There isn't any standard, but like I said before, most try to make the switching frequency reasonably high to reduce the size and cost of the filter components.
 
1000W? At 4 ohm or 8 ohm?

For new class D DIYer this is not an easy job. Further more you deal with high voltage switching, expensive parts and lot of of trial.

On my brain the amps will need material such as mosfet like advances device ATP18XXXXXXX, with snubering, disable body diode (expensive diode too...) triangle generator... imho you could not successfull with self oscillate, gate driver ic.

You can use half bridge topology for that power level. Don't use bipolar, you really need high grade mosfet.

Hi zenmasterbrian,

What bipolar for 1000W switching amps?

Best regards,
kartino
 
Many switching amps go at high freq because they want the full audio range.

I've decided that this is the lowest part of a multi amp system. So it doesn't have to be that high. But I do believe it needs to be ultrasonic, because it will not be possible to totally filter it out.

Any good books that deal with class D. Usually it is considered beyond the scope of DIY, but still any thing good to read?😀
 
Sorry for you Kartino, APT have just been buy by MicroSemi and nothing is avaible for now, just wish that they will be back on the market as soon as possible! All my D-Amp work with APT product, and now stock is low!

PS dont ever think to use bipolar for switching amplifier, you will lose more power to feed current to output device base than you will put out of amplifier!

Fredos

www.d-amp.com
 
I'm going to read the materials on your linked page carefully.

It looks like those amps lack a power transformer. I'm not real comfortable with that.

It also looks like they don't have much filter capacitance. So they are using the output transistors to in effect, also regulate the DC power.

Maybe this is unavoidable, but I still think it should be with in bounds.

As far as which works better, bipolar or MOS, I think it really depends on the switching frequency. That is why I started this thread, to look at the trade offs.
 
zenmasterbrian said:
I'd like to stay with bipolars because the same number of them handles more power than MOS.

I know that such designs are complex and there are many trade off issues raised.

Is it OK to let a significant amount of say 25khz, hit the driver?

Compare APT30M85BVR with the Highest power Bipolar available and see which one has more power......

Yes Class-D designs were complex as long as you donot understand what you are designing.....

Bipolars consume lot of Base current[Several amperes]
and are Harder to Drive whereas Mosfets require only fraction of ampere to DO THE JOB!



Hi Fredos,
I emailed Them and they answered it :
"Microsemi is due to release the power devices in the market as soon as they rectify some managerial issues within APT....."


regards,
K a n w a r
 
Gate driver current capability is perhaps relaxed in direct comparison to BJT's however it isn't at all to be neglected, in fact I'd consider it an area of concern.

So Fred, what is it that APT does with the body diode that's so very unique.. and that can't be solved by other means? Arent' they extremely expensive as well? I know they make a great product, but very expensive as well. I'm sure you've explored the alternatives and weighed the options, why not share a little of that with us if you please.
 
Whether MOS, IGBT, or BJT is best, really depends on the frequency. That is why I started this thread.

Given that this is a subwoofer amp, the Nyquist frequency is going to be low.

But I think it still needs to be ultrasonic, no?

So, how low can it be? Then we can talk about how to realize it best.
 
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