Channel switching

General discussion area for tube amps.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Post Reply
jestaudio
Posts: 654
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:12 pm
Location: UK

Channel switching

Post by jestaudio »

i could do with a bit of advice,ive implemeted channel switch on a dpdt realy shunting the signal to earth fo the unused channel, i have a problem with audible click when the relay operates, its pretty loud
Any suggestions on getting over this, the sytem is based around the dumble syle switching
User avatar
rdjones
Posts: 818
Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 2:20 am
Location: Music City, TN

Re: Channel switching

Post by rdjones »

jestaudio wrote:i could do with a bit of advice,ive implemeted channel switch on a dpdt realy shunting the signal to earth fo the unused channel, i have a problem with audible click when the relay operates, its pretty loud
Any suggestions on getting over this, the sytem is based around the dumble syle switching
1. Make sure there's no DC on the relay contacts.
2. Use a high value "damper" (2M - 10M)* resistor across the contacts to bleed off any residual charge.

rd

* M=1,000,000
User avatar
Structo
Posts: 15446
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:01 am
Location: Oregon

Re: Channel switching

Post by Structo »

Do you also have a diode across the coil of the relay?
Tom

Don't let that smoke out!
jestaudio
Posts: 654
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:12 pm
Location: UK

Re: Channel switching

Post by jestaudio »

Structo wrote:Do you also have a diode across the coil of the relay?
Yep, i pretty much lifted the switching sytem from the dumble layout i used for my od50
jestaudio
Posts: 654
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:12 pm
Location: UK

Re: Channel switching

Post by jestaudio »

rdjones wrote:
jestaudio wrote:i could do with a bit of advice,ive implemeted channel switch on a dpdt realy shunting the signal to earth fo the unused channel, i have a problem with audible click when the relay operates, its pretty loud
Any suggestions on getting over this, the sytem is based around the dumble syle switching
1. Make sure there's no DC on the relay contacts.
2. Use a high value "damper" (2M - 10M)* resistor across the contacts to bleed off any residual charge.

rd

* M=1,000,000
Is that across the coil or across the switching contacts
John_P_WI
Posts: 1457
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:29 pm
Location: Wisconsin

Re: Channel switching

Post by John_P_WI »

Across the contacts.
d95err
Posts: 168
Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:52 pm
Location: Uppsala, Sweden

Re: Channel switching

Post by d95err »

A schematic would be helpful, to see where in the circuit the relays are placed (draw a simple one on paper, take a foto and post).
jestaudio
Posts: 654
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:12 pm
Location: UK

Re: Channel switching

Post by jestaudio »

d95err wrote:A schematic would be helpful, to see where in the circuit the relays are placed (draw a simple one on paper, take a foto and post).
I think i,ve gone about it the wrong way, if i,m correct just shunting the channel to ground should mute the channel, what i have tried is swirching the hot signal between channels rather than powering both channels and grounding the unused channel
d95err
Posts: 168
Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2006 6:52 pm
Location: Uppsala, Sweden

Re: Channel switching

Post by d95err »

Shunting to ground is always the quietest way to switch things, but not always possible to do, depending on the topology of the amp. Lots of amps switch the hot signal without problems. You should try to switch the signal as late in the signal chain as possible, to make sure relay noise is not amplified more than necessary.

You might also want to look at the grounding of the relay coil circuit. Make sure it is separated as much as possible from signal grounds.
jestaudio
Posts: 654
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:12 pm
Location: UK

Re: Channel switching

Post by jestaudio »

d95err wrote:Shunting to ground is always the quietest way to switch things, but not always possible to do, depending on the topology of the amp. Lots of amps switch the hot signal without problems. You should try to switch the signal as late in the signal chain as possible, to make sure relay noise is not amplified more than necessary.

You might also want to look at the grounding of the relay coil circuit. Make sure it is separated as much as possible from signal grounds.
i,ve managed to reduce the noise to a acceptable level, not totallt silent but close, i,ve used a couple of 5.1 m resistors across the contacts which seems to have done the trick, be nice if i got it totally silent so anymore suggetions would be great :D
Post Reply