Another MoFo

What people are working on at the moment
Post Reply
User avatar
pre65
Amstrad Tower of Power
Posts: 21373
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: North Essex/Suffolk border.

#1 Another MoFo

Post by pre65 »

I've decided to dismantle the 50W single ended mosfet amp, it's just too big and cumbersome.

Instead, I'm going to try a MoFo.

The power supply will be fairly simple, probably a pair of LT1083 modules as I already have them and a suitable pair of toroids also to hand.

Biggest problem is the choke/inductor/reactor as I don't have anything suitable. I'm tempted to go straight to the biggest option, but if I stick with 2A max the Hammond 193U at 200mH and DCR 1.7R might be better.

Other than that it's just suitable heatsinks, although I'm sure the ones on the 50W Mosfet amp would do, they are a bit big. I'll try and work out the heat rating of 1/2 of one as I do have one spare that could (with much effort, sweat and bleeding) be hacksawed into two pieces.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
steve s
Shed dweller
Posts: 2829
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 6:19 pm
Location: east yorks

#2 Re: Another MoFo

Post by steve s »

a good project Phil, the boards I got from ray are unused now if your stuck..
I used a couple of computer fans.. cheap and work a treat on around 5 volts, a small DC to DC adjustable converter about £2+ uk Ebay is useful
Make sure you use the correct diodes, with my last build, I've had problems from spikes.. order plenty of mosfets.
Ive ordered a couple of mains delay units to turn the mofo on after the valves are on.
From what seen the mofo is good but easy to spoil by what you plug into it.
I'm not using all the power available with the smaller hammond chokes, that reminds me I need to order another pair for my next build.
Best of luck..
The tube manual is quite like a telephone book. The number of it perfect. It is useful to make it possible to speak with a girl. But we can't see her beautiful face from the telephone number
User avatar
pre65
Amstrad Tower of Power
Posts: 21373
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: North Essex/Suffolk border.

#3 Re: Another MoFo

Post by pre65 »

Thanks Steve, but I've got two boards coming from Ray. :)

Can you elucidate on the diode question, as I'm not sure what you mean. :?

The only diodes I can see are the bridge rectifier in the power supply, and the optional 20v zener diode on the PCB.

If I go with the microwave transformers as chokes (MOTs) then I'll probably go with a 24v (ish) supply and bias it up to just under 2A.

I'd like to avoid fans if possible, but I have the means to do so if necessary. If I cut my spare big heatsink in half I end up with two 8" wide, 6" high and 3" deep. I'm looking for a way to calculate the c/w rating so I have a better idea of it's suitability.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
User avatar
Nick
Site Admin
Posts: 15706
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 10:20 am
Location: West Yorkshire

#4 Re: Another MoFo

Post by Nick »

Bolt a known metal cased resistor to it and connect to a known voltage. leave for a half hour, measure the temperature above room temperature and take it from there.
Whenever an honest man discovers that he's mistaken, he will either cease to be mistaken or he will cease to be honest.
User avatar
Ray P
No idea why I do this anymore
Posts: 6294
Joined: Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:18 pm
Location: Somerset

#5 Re: Another MoFo

Post by Ray P »

Phil, I don't know if you have options for how you slice up your big heatsink but for a given area, a wide and shallow heatsink is better than a tall and narrow one. I used to have a bookmark to a page about it but it seems to have gone. As the air convects up the heatsink it warms up so towards the top of a tall heatsink the temperature differential is smaller and the air can remove less of the heat.
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
User avatar
pre65
Amstrad Tower of Power
Posts: 21373
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: North Essex/Suffolk border.

#6 Re: Another MoFo

Post by pre65 »

Thanks to Ray, and a small amount of beer vouchers ( :D ) I now have a pair of MoFo PCBs, and a pair of MOTs (microwave oven transformers) to use as chokes.

Now reading the DIY audio thread to see what R6 is, and to catch up on anything that I might need to know before starting in earnest (whoever he is :lol: ).
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
User avatar
pre65
Amstrad Tower of Power
Posts: 21373
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: North Essex/Suffolk border.

#7 Re: Another MoFo

Post by pre65 »

Do any of our MoFo builders use the optional 20V gate protection Zener ?

It seems the amp designer does not.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
steve s
Shed dweller
Posts: 2829
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 6:19 pm
Location: east yorks

#8 Re: Another MoFo

Post by steve s »

Good progress Phil, the diodes are there to protect against spikes, I would not say they are optional. I would use them. Plugging the power supply in can blow the mosfet with out them fitted. I put (not quite) the right ones in and lost a couple of mosfets..
See around page 100 on the DIY audio thread

pre65 wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:51 am Thanks Steve, but I've got two boards coming from Ray. :)

Can you elucidate on the diode question, as I'm not sure what you mean. :?

The only diodes I can see are the bridge rectifier in the power supply, and the optional 20v zener diode on the PCB.

The tube manual is quite like a telephone book. The number of it perfect. It is useful to make it possible to speak with a girl. But we can't see her beautiful face from the telephone number
User avatar
pre65
Amstrad Tower of Power
Posts: 21373
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: North Essex/Suffolk border.

#9 Re: Another MoFo

Post by pre65 »

steve s wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 5:36 pm Good progress Phil, the diodes are there to protect against spikes, I would not say they are optional. I would use them. Plugging the power supply in can blow the mosfet with out them fitted. I put (not quite) the right ones in and lost a couple of mosfets..
See around page 100 on the DIY audio thread


I'm only up to page 14 so far, but it was said the Zener was essential for a valve front end.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
steve s
Shed dweller
Posts: 2829
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 6:19 pm
Location: east yorks

#10 Re: Another MoFo

Post by steve s »

Around page 100 theres some using them to protect against power supply spikes as well Phil
The tube manual is quite like a telephone book. The number of it perfect. It is useful to make it possible to speak with a girl. But we can't see her beautiful face from the telephone number
User avatar
pre65
Amstrad Tower of Power
Posts: 21373
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: North Essex/Suffolk border.

#11 Re: Another MoFo

Post by pre65 »

steve s wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 5:44 pm Around page 100 theres some using them to protect against power supply spikes as well Phil
Up to page 27 now. :)
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
User avatar
Nick
Site Admin
Posts: 15706
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 10:20 am
Location: West Yorkshire

#12 Re: Another MoFo

Post by Nick »

You could build the thing in the time it takes to read the thread.
Whenever an honest man discovers that he's mistaken, he will either cease to be mistaken or he will cease to be honest.
steve s
Shed dweller
Posts: 2829
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 6:19 pm
Location: east yorks

#13 Re: Another MoFo

Post by steve s »

That's true nick.. I looked in once I realised I'd got a problem.
The boards take about 15 mins each to solder up
The tube manual is quite like a telephone book. The number of it perfect. It is useful to make it possible to speak with a girl. But we can't see her beautiful face from the telephone number
User avatar
pre65
Amstrad Tower of Power
Posts: 21373
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: North Essex/Suffolk border.

#14 Re: Another MoFo

Post by pre65 »

Nick wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 7:06 pm You could build the thing in the time it takes to read the thread.
Indeed, but I'd rather be sure, and my time is not chargeable. :lol:
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
User avatar
Nick
Site Admin
Posts: 15706
Joined: Sun May 06, 2007 10:20 am
Location: West Yorkshire

#15 Re: Another MoFo

Post by Nick »

pre65 wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 7:32 pm
Nick wrote: Wed Jun 24, 2020 7:06 pm You could build the thing in the time it takes to read the thread.
Indeed, but I'd rather be sure, and my time is not chargeable. :lol:
The problem is you often end up with design by democracy, where the ones who have the strongest (but possibly wrong) opinion get heard and the ones that know what to do but don't care if anyone else knows it gets ignored.
Whenever an honest man discovers that he's mistaken, he will either cease to be mistaken or he will cease to be honest.
Post Reply