Good VFM? The PANDA headphone amp. I'll say so!

[Deleted]

Thanks Mike. It looks, as usual, incredibly neat and clean in there. You have a lot of patience.

That isoprop. is bloody hard to get. I used to use it all the time until the chemist refused to sell it to me. All of a sudden, it became an 'illegal' substance. There's nothing like it for cleaning.

Also, another tip I got from you was to use WD40 for cleaning amps. I tried it and they come up brilliant looking. I leave them 'wet' for a few days and then a gentle buff and you'd think that there was a new amp there.

Take your time Mike. Please don't bust a gut.

Crikey, you had good weather up there. I flew in a private plane to Paris and back and when I got out, I felt like I'd been chucked around inside a tin can on the weekend. The cloud cover here has been terrible and this morning, it was dark until really late.

Did you quietly make my amp last Summer?

[elysion]

Oct 4, 2010 20:44:33 GMT PinkFloyd said:

I suppose isopropyl is illegal now in London (and all other major UK cities) because of the amount of idiots that are roaming the streets.... if you could still buy it by the gallon the streets would probably be full of crazed isopropyl drinkers or "fanatics" driving a van full of isopropyl, at 100mph, into the wall of a goverment building or something

I'm still surprised the paranoid "nanny state" actually allows people to buy PETROL and MATCHES.... very easy to start a BIG fire with that stuff

Next time I'm in town I'll get you 5 litres of isoprop and send it down to you.... God, I would HATE to live in London these days with all the restrictions, it must be like living in a police state.... I remember (not too long ago) you could walk right up to the front DOOR of 10 Downing Street and get your picture taken with the two policemen standing next to you.... look at it now, fenced off!

I had no problems to get isopropyl alcohol in Switzerland. I've used that stuff for years for the cleaning of mostly electronical gear. I can't get it everywhere, but at least in small quantities it's no problem.

I use also benzine and alcohol absolutus with 2% MEK (methyl-ethyl-ketone). The alcohol absolutus is hard to get, but with that 2% MEK it's sometimes the only real solution. It's not suitable for cleaning PCB's though (but benzine is). MEK is a very potent solvent and with alcohol absolutus with 2% MEK you can remove most markings with one wipe.

[PinkFloyd]

Jesus.... the lighting makes it look like my soldering is crap!



I really must learn how to take a DECENT macro shot ....... the "shaded" part looks ok but the bits with the sun shining on them have a bit of natural shade on the joints which makes them appear as if they have been soldered by a blind monkey.....

I don't have a lot "spare" at the moment but my next big spend will deffo be on a Nikon.

[Deleted]

My kit arrived today. Its a lovely board and I have it almost finished.

The caps are Nichicon on mine. One thing, board is marked for + for the 10uf caps, I take it its OK to use the bipolar green ones?

Mike
Your pictures and Q&A session with Claus have been invaluable today.

Syd

[PinkFloyd]

Oct 4, 2010 22:40:17 GMT @juke said:

My kit arrived today. Its a lovely board and I have it almost finished.

The caps are Nichicon on mine. One thing, board is marked for + for the 10uf caps, I take it its OK to use the bipolar green ones?

Mike
Your pictures and Q&A session with Claus have been invaluable today.

Syd

Hi Syd,

YES fit the Green non polar MUSE caps in the 10uF positions..... even though they are classed as "non polar" I still fit them as a polar cap with long leg going to - and short leg to + .... I haven't got the time to explain "why" (and it doesn't matter what way round you fit them) but for "absolute" SQ fit them with long leg going to - and shortest leg to +

Please keep us updated Syd

Mike.

[Deleted]

Great Mike, thanks. I'll mount them as you suggest. I've just a few diodes to sort out and hopefully some time tomorrow it should be powered up.

Just gave it a first clean with the alcohol and tissues as you suggested. Gets scarily like its never going to come clean but as you said it all comes right eventually.

Syd

[PinkFloyd]

Oct 4, 2010 22:57:01 GMT @juke said:

Great Mike, thanks. I'll mount them as you suggest. I've just a few diodes to sort out and hopefully some time tomorrow it should be powered up.

Just gave it a first clean with the alcohol and tissues as you suggested. Gets scarily like its never going to come clean but as you said it all comes right eventually.

Syd

Pictures?

[Deleted]

Hopefully pictures tomorrow

[PinkFloyd]

Oct 4, 2010 23:11:11 GMT @juke said:

Hopefully pictures tomorrow

Deffo pics tomorrow Keep confident.

Mike.

[mrarroyo]

That looks like ... JVC/Victor DX1000!

[clausdk]

Oct 4, 2010 23:39:39 GMT mrarroyo said:

That looks like ... JVC/Victor DX1000!

That is correct, they are my favorites..

[Deleted]

I'm just finishing the PCB. I was intending to replace the IN4001s with UF4001 but I can't find any in my spares box. I have a load of UF4002 and enough BYV26C. Would either of these do the job?

Thanks

Syd

[PinkFloyd]

Oct 5, 2010 9:26:20 GMT @juke said:

I'm just finishing the PCB. I was intending to replace the IN4001s with UF4001 but I can't find any in my spares box. I have a load of UF4002 and enough BYV26C. Would either of these do the job?

Thanks

Syd

UF4002 are fine Syd

[Deleted]

hi all

my Panda kit (heating repair board ) arrived today. great quality board and components.
I'm going to make a start tomorrow with the resistors and diodes.

looks like fun

so now for stupid question No 1

do the tip41c and 42c need to be isolated from the heatsinks?

I've not built on a board before so it's all new.

my wife was relieved to know that we have a spare board for the heating system with the winter coming up. lets hope nothing goes wrong.

it's all good

take care

[PinkFloyd]

do the tip41c and 42c need to be isolated from the heatsinks?

Nope, they are meant to touch the heatsinks. You "can" fit Mica insulators if you want but they aren't necessary here. You could also apply a small film of thermal grease if it takes your fancy... I just fit mine "naked".

[Deleted]

my Panda kit (heating repair board

I wouldn't be able to sleep!!

[Deleted]

hi mike

thanks for the info , I'll just bolt them on then.

hi rabbit

if all goes pear shaped I'll blame the supplier for sending the wrong board

I'll keep you posted

take care

[Deleted]

Here's the board finished







The white flecks on the underside are bits of tissue, not solder!

Now for the scary bit....

Syd

[Deleted]

if all goes pear shaped I'll blame the supplier for sending the wrong board :'(I'll keep you posted

Unless i was spending the food, or the morgage heating and lighting money, i think i would rather be single than live like that, just an observation!! ;D

[Deleted]

Oct 5, 2010 13:06:24 GMT @juke said:

Here's the board finished







The white flecks on the underside are bits of tissue, not solder!

Now for the scary bit....

Syd

Nice one Sid, looks perfect, if mine looks half as good as that i will be a happy bunny. Great stuff!! i think you have done this building Amp business before

[Deleted]

Happiness too soon

I managed to mount a 220uf 50v wrong way round. I got smoke and a bulging cap, not surprisingly. I'll order some up now as I don't have any 50v type.

Would a 25v 220uf do temporarily?

Mick, I have built the AK SCHA, twice, the first never got finished, ordered a second kit and its my favourite HA. Then built PSUs for the Buffalo. All under guidance from Alex and Will. Plus I've fitted several of Mike's excellent XCan kits, that's about it but I never really had difficulty soldering, just keep putting components in the wrong way round

If you take your time you'll be fine, its a lovely kit. The only trouble with kits as distinct from BOM based projects you can't order a few of everything at the same time.

Lets see how quick Farnell come through.

Syd

[Deleted]

I would use 35V type minimum.
If you are using a 18V transformer the DC voltage on the cap will be around 26V.
Will work with anything between 47uF and 470uF with a minimum voltage of 35V if it's only for testing/checking operation and adjustment.

[Deleted]

Syd,

That looks REALLY good. Well done. Actually, it looks amazing.

However, Shaun .....
When you get it into the boiler, won't the wife be suspicious if she sees you listening to the radiator on a headphone.

It could be a case of Water Music followed by the Fireworks if you get caught. how will you 'Handel' that eh? You don't want a Baroque marriage. I hope it doesn't cause dischord. I'd rather have harpsichord. (sorry!!)

My wife is the opposite. If she sees stuff that's dearer, she tries to get me to buy the dearer version because she knows I have bat's hearing and may not be happy with it.

Mike has made for a happy household here because she knows I'm chuffed to bits with the V1 and V2. (And very soon, a Panda of my own..... (my precious!!)) I'm very lucky that way. She's happy as long as I'm smiling with headphones on!!

[Deleted]

hi all

''Unless i was spending the food, or the morgage heating and lighting money, i think i would rather be single than live like that, just an observation!!''

was supposed to be a tongue in cheek jokey thing.

honestly my wife is fantastic and is happy for me to be happy

she had a great laugh at my five wives sketch so please don't worry on my account as most Londoners have a bit of warp in their humor.

nice work Juke if mine looks half as good as yours I'll be happy we have all done the cap thing so don't worry it will soon be fixed

take care

[Deleted]

as most Londoners have a bit of warp in their humor.

Absolutely.

I thought that was a really funny post actually. My wife nearly wet herself laughing when she saw it and she asked me whether you were joking!! I said 'no', you were going to fit the board into the boiler and listen to it when she wasn't looking.

She believed me. ;D

BTW, it's really nice to see a newbie with the RG warped sense of humour. i don't think a lot of new people get it sometimes!!!!