Diode bridge as loop breaker question

Hello all! Long time since a post was sent here.

Been reading a lot over this forum and heard about this " dual inverse parallel Power Diode" safety thing we should (been strongly inclined to) build in our gainclone.

I'm a very curious hobbyist, ausiophile, DIY, jack-of-all-trades. I want o build a great AND safe amplifier. Would someone be kind enough to post a simple schematic or description and what parts to buy? I'm no veteran in electronics or audio conception at all so this is why a simple HOW-TO is needed. :)
 
No it doesn't matter it is schematically the same. That part is fine and meets safety approval. We use what works and passes approval with the testing agencies and then stick with it.
I don't know if the inverse parallel diode bridge has been approved.
Does anyone have evidence that an approval organisation has given it their blessing?

It's nice to see N.Pass is showing approval of the diode bridge rather than the NTC shown on some Pass schematics.
What has worked well for me is to buy (cheap) the GPB type diode
bridges rated at 30A, and tie the two AC lugs together and the + and -
lugs together. One goes to AC earth/chassis, the other to signal ground.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
The one and only
Joined 2001
Paid Member
It's a bit grey area and an old issue. The AC earth ground should be
attached directly to chassis, no fooling around. The connection between
signal ground and chassis is a problem because you tend to get ground
loops when you directly attach them. A few ohms or a volt of isolation
is generally adequate for that.

The key is that the isolation should be such that a fault will trip the AC
breaker(s)/fuses without generating too much voltage between chassis
and circuit ground. A big resistor/thermistor can do it, and a 30 amp
bridge can do it.

Currently it seems that CSA is good with either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
A question about chassis grounding for Nelson:

The SIT-1, SIT-2, and a few other Papa designs have power supplies floating in order to generate the bias voltage for the SIT or other depletion mode FET. The RCA ground appears to be connected to chassis ground through a thermistor (inrush current limiter). Is there any concern for the possibility of transformer (toroid) failure causing a high current into the negative power supply rail? In other amplifier designs where the negative (or positive) rail is ground, there is a low impedance path to the thermister connected to the chassis which would blow the fuse in the event of a transformer failure.
 
Official Court Jester
Joined 2003
Paid Member
if there is Donut failure, impedance between actual amp GND and most neg leg of PSU is low enough to ensure enough current to burn mains fuse

besides, role of chassis grounding circ ( as you called it), be it NTC or bridge+NTC, is to keep user alive, not necessarily amp (circuit) itself

but, let's be real, in all these years, I still didn't stumble on Donut gone so far south
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
if there is Donut failure, impedance between actual amp GND and most neg leg of PSU is low enough to ensure enough current to burn mains fuse

besides, role of chassis grounding circ ( as you called it), be it NTC or bridge+NTC, is to keep user alive, not necessarily amp (circuit) itself

but, let's be real, in all these years, I still didn't stumble on Donut gone so far south
Not only must the impedance between actual amp GND and most neg leg of PSU be low but the resistor must be able to dissipate power long enough for the fuse to blow before the resistor itself blows.

But like you say, I have never heard of a failure in a toroid.