ClassD testing

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Joined 2003
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A quick thought: Do you want to share what kind of testing you do on a new classD design. ( Maybe relevant for all amplifiers, but lets keep to D for now)?

My process is includes something like this (not always in order, - depending on the patience on that particular day)
  1. Have simulations of the different circuit-parts so that you now what to expect when power on.
  2. Power up with slowly rising, current-limited PSU, - watch for stable oscillation
  3. Verify that current-draw is low. sometimes at a Vcc that is lower than design-target.
  4. Verify that gate-waveforms look fine and deadtime is sufficient, - always aim for larger deadtime before everything else is verified.
  5. Check clipping behavior without load and current-limited PSU, - watch for stability with varying degrees of clipping.
  6. Check distortion. Do not optimize anything yet, but verify that its in the right ballpark.
  7. Load with pure resistive 8Ohm and slowly turn up. Verify efficiency and that nothing gets hot.
  8. Load with inductive speaker-load and slowly bring to clipping. Watch for any sign of instability.
  9. Load with capacitor (1uf?) only and verify stability. Check with squarewave-signal and look for overshoot.
  10. If everything above is OK: check with a sineburst signal at max amplitude and maybe lower load-impedance to stress-test.
  11. test with full volume in dummy-load and watch for temperature-rise over time
  12. Check stability with high volume and connecting/disconnecting the load.
Repeat all of the above after every/most design-changes.

Kind regards TroelsM

Edit: spelling
 
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