Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
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Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
I was wondering what the result would be if one were to replace all electrolytics in a particular circuit with plastic types...? I was thinking about a scratch build using Solen Fast Caps for the high capacitance values where the e-lytics would normally go.
thanks!
thanks!
Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
It's been done. Someone posted a pic of his build with Solens in the power supply. They looked like beer cans in the chassis.
Kevin O'Connor uses Solens - go to Londonpower.com and look at his preamp and reverb pics.
Kevin O'Connor uses Solens - go to Londonpower.com and look at his preamp and reverb pics.
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Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
Yeah, that was where I got the idea. I was curious though, if Solens are used in other places than just filters (i.e., in the tone path), is there a certain characteristic that they will impart on the final sound, as compared to e-lytics?MarkB wrote:It's been done. Someone posted a pic of his build with Solens in the power supply. They looked like beer cans in the chassis.
Kevin O'Connor uses Solens - go to Londonpower.com and look at his preamp and reverb pics.
Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
From what I've read, I'd expect to hear a difference. The only reason electrolytics are used in the larger values is cost. Whether the improvement would be worth the cost is another matter. In any case, great sounding amps have been built with e-lytics, so I personally wouldn't spend the money.
Try them out, and report back to us.
Try them out, and report back to us.
Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
Carr amps use all-Solen power supplies also.
Wife: How many amps do you need?
Me: Just one more...
Me: Just one more...
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Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
Another alternative would be the Polypropelene / oil caps from http://www.angela.com/ they big but not too expensive, 50uf 600v are $18 each
Allan
Allan
Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
mlp-mx6 wrote:Carr amps use all-Solen power supplies also.
There's gut shots of a Carr amp at the Amp Chassis Pic site.
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Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
Angela SCR (Solen) Non-Polar power supply. The response of the power supply is very fast, but you lose some of the forcefullness in the bass frequencies. Overall, i like the sound. If you want to hear the effect without changing your power supply, change one of your cathode bypass caps with one of the smaller Solens.
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Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
Nice build. It's a really clean look.
- David Root
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Noticed some other interesting things
It certainly is. Unless I'm much mistaken, you are using electrolytics in the DC filament supply (1) and bias supply (2), the smaller black caps. Also, could you explain why you use double twisted wires from each of the Solen positives, or is that I just can't see the other contact?
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Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
Thanks. I am using electrolytics in the bias supply, and for the cathode bypass caps (just because I don't have room on the board). The DC heater system isn't actually hooked up, because it was actually quieter with AC. The power supply is standard arrangement. 47uF - Choke - 32uF - 10k - 22uF - 10k - 8 uF. The twisted wires are each connected to their own filter cap, the connections are on the underside of the boards/strips, so they're hidden in that pic.
- David Root
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Re: Elimination of electrolytics from amp circuit?
400V is fine, I assume you're asking about the 200V caps. If you go back far enough in time, you'll find preamp designs that put 100-130V on the plates e.g. older pre-narrow panel tweeds and Gibsons, so it is possible.
Alternatively just series them and you'll get a 400V composite cap at half whatever the nameplate uF is. Don't forget to parallel them with two series resistors, 220K @ 1W should be OK.
How old are these things? "Philco" makes me think of 50s/60s era. They could leak in service if they're that old, do they look OK?
Alternatively just series them and you'll get a 400V composite cap at half whatever the nameplate uF is. Don't forget to parallel them with two series resistors, 220K @ 1W should be OK.
How old are these things? "Philco" makes me think of 50s/60s era. They could leak in service if they're that old, do they look OK?