Taking a Perfectly Fine Power Supply and Overengineering It

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kaan

kaan

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Joined 2007
#1
Having build the very capable F6 I was left wondering (more like fantasizing) about how I could improve this magnificent amplifier.
Fortunately I'm not the first one here having this crazy ambition, so I soon gathered a list of improvement candidates.
This is where my problems started. I am educated in the field of software so i quickly realized that I am in over my head when it comes to electronics.
However, this has never stopped me when creating software so I quickly decided that I'm not going to let it stop me this time either.
Having considered the options I have chosen to start with the power supply.
After gathering tips and suggestions from this forum I have settled on a dual mono power supply in a separate box.

So far I have gathered:
Two sets of Nelson's Bipolar Power Supply
Two Toroidy transformers
A soft start board from the DIY Audio Store
A Pesante 2U from Modushop

I have attached a picture of the layout I'm considering.
I welcome suggestions to this setup and anything that might make it better will be considered.
Thanks in advance.

Oh, by the way, I could use a suggestion for a nice power button for the front.
 

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#3
Dual mono + soft start should be a GREAT start. But since you asked, have you seen this thread? How much overengineering do you want to do?

C

Thread 'Universal Outboard Power Chassis for Pass'

Hey team,

I remember there being some chatter about this, but alas my searches havent been too successful. please do point me anywhere if this is already discussed.

Planning to build an outboard power supply (dual mono, 2x 400 or 500va trafo) to power various projects - Aleph J, F5, F6, etc. and beyond. Logically, a +/- 24V output is the ideal.

I had thought originally to put 2x UPS boards within the power chassis and send umbilicals up. They would sit close to each other the two, but the idea is a modular pass system so we can enjoy various builds without having to invest in...
 
#4
Would a different layout work? The two toroids next to each other on the (in the image) top side and the capacitor banks along the lower side? That way the toroids are closest to the IEC socket and the output of the cap banks could be furthest away from the AC and magnetics and closest to the umbilical. For the sake of ocd and the overengineering concept to minimize coupling.
 
#7

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#9
Zen Mod said:
CLC
Click to expand...
Im pretty sure there is no room for that. But if (more like when) I make a even more over engineered version, it will be on the top of the list.

rhthatcher said:
Dual mono + soft start should be a GREAT start. But since you asked, have you seen this thread? How much overengineering do you want to do?
Click to expand...
Thanks for leading my attention to this thread. That was a very informative read and I'm going to steal a lot from there.

schiirrn said:
Would a different layout work? The two toroids next to each other on the (in the image) top side and the capacitor banks along the lower side? That way the toroids are closest to the IEC socket and the output of the cap banks could be furthest away from the AC and magnetics and closest to the umbilical. For the sake of ocd and the overengineering concept to minimize coupling.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your suggestion. I tried several variations of that now, but it turns out that one of the limiting factors is the length of the primary windings coming out of the donuts and they both have to be in reach of the soft start output. If the cabinet had been just a little deeper, the soft start would fit between the two donuts and it would end up nice and tidy. But it isn't, so the soft start ends up in the middle, and the wiring feels better in the original configuration.

schiirrn said:
Power button: get the biggest rotary switch you can fit.
Click to expand...
I didn't find any I liked. Do you have an example?

SteveVulture said:
If you want to get the best, use this: https://evotronix.eu/product/saligny-universal-gan/

I've used one of the universal Salingy devices in a whammy build, which is a bit over the top (which is part of the fun of it !) and apart from being beautifully built, is a piece of technical excellence. And Tiberiu answers his e-mail late in the evening and doesn't make fun of your mistakes !

https://evotronix.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/saligny-universal-gan-datasheet.pdf
Click to expand...
Very interesting! For now I will use what I have, but I will have to lean more about this and maybe it will find its way in later.

SteveVulture said:
And Mundorf power capacitors, silver wire, bigger transformers. Why not ? If you max out every bit of the design you add something overall at the end. And you're not engineering it to manufacture by the 1000.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure these things would make much of a difference, but I could be wrong.

Thanks everyone for the feedback, it is greatly appreciated.
I realize now that the PSU needs to be supplemented in the amp chassis with more caps and maybe even some motor run caps.
Im also going to be looking in to building a Quasimodo test jig.
I will keep you updated as the build progress.
 
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