diyAudio F5 Build Guide

[A Jedi]

Hello experts. What is the smallest chassis from the DIY store that is thermally ok for this amp (vanilla build)? It will spend part of its time in a desk setup so size is a concern. Thank you!

 

[6L6]

4U 300 or 3U 400. Smaller if you want to use a fan.

This really isn’t a desk amp, it burns about 60W of bias current before any losses. I.E., it gets pretty warm…

That said, you still should build it, it’s absolutely amazing.

 

[A Jedi]

4U 300 or 3U 400. Smaller if you want to use a fan.

This really isn’t a desk amp

Yeah definitely. It will be on a rack next to the desk but I'd still prefer a smaller footprint.

 

[A Jedi]

Is there any difference in the heat dissipation between the Deluxe and Dissipante heatsinks (for the same size chassis)?

 

[wcwc]

No difference.

 

[A Jedi]

Thank you sir.

 

[decommo]

Love this build and Super Dumb question to ask. If the toroidal transformer is mounted on the faceplate, what do we do with the hole that mounting screw goes through? Do we normally leave it as it is so it is visible from the front?

 

[Ben Mah]

A blind hole may be drilled and tapped into the front panel. That is difficult to do.

An easier method is with a mounting bracket:

https://toroid.com/l-bracket/

A diy option is to purchase a Simpson StrongTie A24 bracket or similar from your local home improvement/hardware store and drill mounting holes to suit:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson...-in-x-2-1-2-in-Galvanized-Angle-A24/100375162

 

[decommo]

A blind hole may be drilled and tapped into the front panel. That is difficult to do.

An easier method is with a mounting bracket:

https://toroid.com/l-bracket/

A diy option is to purchase a Simpson StrongTie A24 bracket or similar from your local home improvement/hardware store and drill mounting holes to suit:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson...-in-x-2-1-2-in-Galvanized-Angle-A24/100375162

Thank you so much, Ben. Fully understood. I could not find any L mounting bracket for toroidal transformer in my country so might have to go for DIY option from Hardware store.

 

[Jason]

If you get the silver front panel with the 9 threaded, tapped holes you can mount a riser panel to it, and then the toroidal to that. Many moons ago, a lot of thought went into the design of the baseplate and riser panels so there would always be a dead-horizontally-centered hole for mounting toroidals to the baseplate or the risers. You can also mount risers to the baseplate if you don't want to use the front panel.

The blind LED hole is also tapped, so depending on the size of the transformer you could consider using that (upside down perhaps).

 

[decommo]

If you get the silver front panel with the 9 threaded, tapped holes you can mount a riser panel to it, and then the toroidal to that. Many moons ago, a lot of thought went into the design of the baseplate and riser panels so there would always be a dead-horizontally-centered hole for mounting toroidals to the baseplate or the risers. You can also mount risers to the baseplate if you don't want to use the front panel.

View attachment 1037444


The blind LED hole is also tapped, so depending on the size of the transformer you could consider using that (upside down perhaps).

Thank you very much, Jason. Is the riser panel/baseplate strong enough? It looks great and save trouble DIY but i am using 500VA toroidal transformer and they are quite large and heavy.

 

[Jason]

YMMV, use your own discretion and build to your own level of satisfaction. I was just pointing this option out....