help check my work (PSU designer content)

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thetragichero
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help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by thetragichero »

building a jcm800ish 100w bass amp running 4xKT77 so i've been playing with the power supply designer before i start sourcing what i don't have on hand/heating up the iron
i'm thinking 2k2 screen resistors may be in order to drop that voltage just a little bit more (jj kt77 datasheet says max screen voltage of 600v but i like a cushion... especially since this is an OLD transformer and the 122v my outlets average will probably bump up the b+ a bit more)
so how am i doing?

Image

any suggestions/advice/pointers/admonitions/etc are graciously welcomed!
PRR wrote: Plotting loadlines is only for the truly desperate, or terminally bored.
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roberto
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by roberto »

Why you have chosen 40 uF on plates, 165 on screens and 100 on other nodes, with such low resistors?
thetragichero
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by thetragichero »

filter caps on hand (besides standard lower value stuff):
2x80uf 450v (not sure what i purchased these for)
2x330uf 315v (pulled from the dsl donor amp)
2x100/100 500v can caps

i *could* put the two 330uf in series on the first node but i'd feel much more comfortable with 900v power handling vs 630v

low value resistors due to the voltage on the b+ nodes. i tried Marshall-like 10k but ended up with very high voltage on the first two nodes and very low voltage thereafter

edit: i may purchase some 450v 270uf or so caps when i place a mouser order. my real questioning is along the lines of the dropping resistors and whether or not I'm doing something wrong by not getting expected voltages from psu designer when i use Marshall dropping resistor values
PRR wrote: Plotting loadlines is only for the truly desperate, or terminally bored.
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roberto
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by roberto »

the reason why you get wrong voltages, is because you are simulating wrongly.

The voltages of your PSU are due to the voltage divider composed by all the resistor you have from B+ to ground, including the choke resistance and even the PT secondary resistance takes place in the game.
You need to simulate each node with the expected current, this way it will be realistic.

Then you need to buy some caps and use them in a more reasonable way: 10k and 22uF give an RC of around 1 Hz, that is typical. You can keep it as a good starting point for different combinations.
First node is the one with the highest current demand, so the one with the highest capacity, especially if you plan to keep the amp stiff even on lowest palm mutes at highest volumes (do you, really? :mrgreen: ).
Second node it's a matter of taste if you want it stiffer go to higher values for Henry and Farad but lower in Rdc, on the opposite side you can use a resistor and a small value capacitor. But it's a good point to change the attack of the amp at different volumes.
Third node is where you need to smooth the ripple for following stages (with worse ripple-induced noise rejection), but usually something between 22 and 47 uF, with typical 4k7 to 15k dropping resistors, are enough.

Then it's up to you how to distribute the power supply: in series with two stages per node, in parallel, in series/parallel with every stage on its own node, all stages together with an higher filtration, etc...
thetragichero
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by thetragichero »

gotcha now. gotta order a bunch of pots and a relay for my oven anyway so I've got a pair of 470uf/450v caps in my cart for c1. this is intended for bass so I'm trying to keep this as stiff as possible, but maybe I'll lose the 100/100 can cap on the last two nodes in favor of some 47uf caps. much cheaper. don't know why i didn't consider parallel nodes further up (down?) the chain
thank you. i figured i was using it wrong
PRR wrote: Plotting loadlines is only for the truly desperate, or terminally bored.
thetragichero
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by thetragichero »

so I'm thinking i just didn't consider ohms law. if my furthest node is only drawing 2ma then a series dropping resistor of 10k would drop 20v. further upstream towards the transformer the currents of thenext nodes would add and increase the voltage drop on their respective dropping resistors
now the power supplies from the jcm800 makes more sense
thank you
PRR wrote: Plotting loadlines is only for the truly desperate, or terminally bored.
Stevem
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by Stevem »

Your going to need more then just one 1n4007 on each leg of the PT to handle the reverse voltage spike.
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thetragichero
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by thetragichero »

setup for two. i may throw a third in for the halibut
PRR wrote: Plotting loadlines is only for the truly desperate, or terminally bored.
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trobbins
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by trobbins »

Can you elaborate on how you determined the power transformer voltage and winding resistance?

Roberto is referring to adding a 'current tap' for each node that consumes a certain static level of current (like the output stage, and another tap for the screen, etc). Perhaps if you post an updated schematic.
thetragichero
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by thetragichero »

winding resistance with multimeter. secondary voltage from the schematic of the unit i salvaged it from. it'll probably be a bit higher since the unit is from the 50s
how to add current taps in psu designer? i tried the help menu and couldn't find it
PRR wrote: Plotting loadlines is only for the truly desperate, or terminally bored.
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trobbins
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Re: help check my work (PSU designer content)

Post by trobbins »

Just check that you have the latest version of PSUD2.

Select the transformer symbol in the schematic area, and it will bring up a 'Edit transformer properties' box. Select the '...' small box on the right of the 'Source res' property entry section. That will bring up a 'Source Impedance Calculator' box, where you can enter the transformer primary and secondary details - so you need the primary winding voltage and its resistance, as well as the secondary winding voltage and resistance (for a full-wave circuit this is the half-winding voltage and resistance) - and then press OK to update the main schematic with the new transformer parameters.

To insert a current tap along your ladder of RC sections, select the section after where you want the tap, and right-click to see the pop-up with change / insert / delete options - select insert to see options that include 'Current tap', that will then insert a current tap, which you can then select to define its parameters.
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