I just wanted to share what I've been up to...
So a local shop I've been going to asks me if I could design and make a line driver for them that meets their needs like minimal parts in the signal path, low distortion and independent gain on all channels.
I said, give me some funding and I'll see what I can do. eight or so months later this is what we came up with.
We used PCBCart to make the PCB's, a local shop to make the the enclosure but we still haven't decided a catchy name for this thing.
I didn't have pics of the black anodized case or the copper plated one too (looks really nice) we also have an 8 channel model based on 1 and a half PCB (SMPS cut off the second board then daisy chained) and a wider chassis. other options like Fine Gold input caps and OPA2604 op amps are used on the 8ch model that the shop owner will use. this one's mine.
some specs that I measured on my unit:
Voltage input: 0.89v - 3.69V
gain adj range: 8.5dB to 21dB
Voltage output: 9.8V RMS before clipping LED lights up
Signal to noise ratio: 110dB
Channel Separation: 100dB (measured between adjacent channels)
THD+N: 0.007%
Frequency Response:
20Hz-20kHz +0dB/-0.06dB
10Hz-100kHz +0dB/-1.2dB
So a local shop I've been going to asks me if I could design and make a line driver for them that meets their needs like minimal parts in the signal path, low distortion and independent gain on all channels.
I said, give me some funding and I'll see what I can do. eight or so months later this is what we came up with.
We used PCBCart to make the PCB's, a local shop to make the the enclosure but we still haven't decided a catchy name for this thing.
I didn't have pics of the black anodized case or the copper plated one too (looks really nice) we also have an 8 channel model based on 1 and a half PCB (SMPS cut off the second board then daisy chained) and a wider chassis. other options like Fine Gold input caps and OPA2604 op amps are used on the 8ch model that the shop owner will use. this one's mine.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
some specs that I measured on my unit:
Voltage input: 0.89v - 3.69V
gain adj range: 8.5dB to 21dB
Voltage output: 9.8V RMS before clipping LED lights up
Signal to noise ratio: 110dB
Channel Separation: 100dB (measured between adjacent channels)
THD+N: 0.007%
Frequency Response:
20Hz-20kHz +0dB/-0.06dB
10Hz-100kHz +0dB/-1.2dB
Thanks.
I did the manual assembly. it actually isn't too hard. the most tedious part was winding the toroid. I'll be making the boards by myself filling up the orders. I just hope they don't order 50 units all at once
first time I used that Amidon toroid, I blew the switching transistors after about 40 minutes continuous operation because I was using a too high frequency causing too much core losses. didn't realize something was wrong because it worked and measured fine within a few minutes of running while the core was cold.
the shop owner was planning to keep the "High End" theme so they will come stock with BB OPA2604 op amps, Nichicon Fine Gold input caps and Panasonic FM PS caps. he does want something better for the trimmers. any substitutes to the Bourns that is better but fits the footprint?
I can say that you're far better than I am at SMD assembly. I can never get the solder paste that consistent.
Increasing the number of turns will also reduce heating. For testing in the future, connect a milliamp meter in series with the B+ supply for the line driver and use a heat gun to heat the core. If the increase in current is significant, you know that you need to make changes. If you can find the P-material cores in the size you need, they may be a good choice. The loss is at its lowest at about the maximum operating temperatures you find in vehicles.
Increasing the number of turns will also reduce heating. For testing in the future, connect a milliamp meter in series with the B+ supply for the line driver and use a heat gun to heat the core. If the increase in current is significant, you know that you need to make changes. If you can find the P-material cores in the size you need, they may be a good choice. The loss is at its lowest at about the maximum operating temperatures you find in vehicles.
Thanks, I did not use solder paste though. each one is placed and soldered using 63/37 leaded solder wire. takes me around 2 hours or so to complete a board when all parts are at hand. talk about hand crafted
I used 77 material core from Amidon. FT-63A-77
20+20T for primary and 26+26T for secondary. haven't done much tests if it is optimum though. before, it was 15+15 and 18+18 and freq is 57kHz and the core heated too much from core losses and blew the switchers. dropped it to 38kHz and the waveforms are perfect square waves with no ringing/overshoot and no heating. will try the heatgun trick and further optimize the toroid when I dismantle it again to replace parts with Neutrik RCA's, BB op amps and Panasonic FM caps.
I used 77 material core from Amidon. FT-63A-77
20+20T for primary and 26+26T for secondary. haven't done much tests if it is optimum though.
before, it was 15+15 and 18+18 and freq is 57kHz and the core heated too much from core losses and blew the switchers. dropped it to 38kHz and the waveforms are perfect square waves with no ringing/overshoot and no heating. will try the heatgun trick and further optimize the toroid when I dismantle it again to replace parts with Neutrik RCA's, BB op amps and Panasonic FM caps. 
we chose OPA2604 for the high voltage and high current capability. BUF634 will increase performance further but will add complexity and more parts in the signal path. the customers wanted as few parts in the signal path as possible.
nope. it's open loop. I only used the oscillator and soft start function of the TL494. not enough board area to do a regulated PS unless going with more specialized controllers. seems to work just fine
I have used the same circuit for several power amp smps's already. just used bigger fets, transformers and rectifiers. the basic controller circuit is the same.
I have a few varieties of open loop smps controllers here. just let me know if you want one.
my partner is working at it at the moment. he's looking at asian sources to cut cost. not sure if there are fake ferrites out there?
from what he told me, Amidon increases the shipping charge with bigger orders so there is little to be saved. last resort would be to get a relative of his in the US to buy it so shipping will be lower but would take a while.
from what he told me, Amidon increases the shipping charge with bigger orders so there is little to be saved. last resort would be to get a relative of his in the US to buy it so shipping will be lower but would take a while.
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