Build a Hypex, SMPS or trafo?

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carrejans said:
Hi Jan-Peter,

I am going to build a bass guitar amp. The preamp will be tube amp (based on Ampeg Classic); and for the power amp I want to use your Hypex UCD400 module.
I still have a few questions.

1) Will a UCD400HG make a big difference for a bass guitar amp, against the UCD400ST?

2) What will be the difference between using the SMPS400 or using UCD Supply (ST) + transfo TR400?

3) There are two different voltage versions of the SMPS400. I think I should use the 49V version for one UCD400, right?


Thank you very much.

1) I would go for the UcD400ST.

2) lower weight and more power.

3) no you should use the 67V version.

Be carefull with the tube amp, a good timer so the tube is heated up before you made the connection to the amp. When the tube warms up there is generated a lot of DC.

We are building for a customer now some mono blocks, one SMPS 400 and one UcD400. Very tiny box, very low weight, very low EMI, and output power will be 400W @ 20Hz in 4 ohm.... 😉

Regards,

Jan-Peter
 
Hi Jan-Peter

If Carrejans was looking for 2-ohm stability would it be best to order the 49V version? Bass players are a funny lot, always plugging in multiple cabinets.

I wouldn't mind seeing if you can come up with a switchable output voltage power supply.
Low voltage when you need to plug in many cabinets but want the amp stable.
Higher voltage with single cabinet but you want to retain available power.

I'm looking forward to the 1200w SMPS. I still hope at some point you come up with a higher power SMPS with the features of the smps180. This would incredible for bi-amp setups.

Thanks for all the support you give around here.
 
carrejans said:
Hi Jan-Peter,

I am going to build a bass guitar amp.


Hey carrejans,

I highly recommend you add a limiter. Here's some good ideas: http://sound.westhost.com/project53.htm

Here's something to think about, tube output sections start limiting frequency response as the amps are cranked up. Full power output starts looking like a bandpass. So if you add a couple of filters to the limiter circuit you'll mimic the behavior of a tube output section. Maybe one filter to limit below 70hz and another above say 700hz. Play with the values to find a fit for your or your customer's style. You'll keep the punch :drink: ,raise the overall perceived volume, and keep the speakers and horns safe.

With these hypex modules and SMPS you're going to have one killer lightweight amp. Bass players will be taking double takes trying to figure out how you get all the great sound out of a little box.

Good luck and post pictures.
 
raintalk said:
Hi Jan-Peter

If Carrejans was looking for 2-ohm stability would it be best to order the 49V version? Bass players are a funny lot, always plugging in multiple cabinets.

I wouldn't mind seeing if you can come up with a switchable output voltage power supply.
Low voltage when you need to plug in many cabinets but want the amp stable.
Higher voltage with single cabinet but you want to retain available power.

I'm looking forward to the 1200w SMPS. I still hope at some point you come up with a higher power SMPS with the features of the smps180. This would incredible for bi-amp setups.

Thanks for all the support you give around here.

No, the combination SMSP 400/67 + UcD400 will be 2 ohm stable, altough power will be limited to the maximum output current of the UcD400. The SMPS 400/67 (or 49V) can deliver more power (650W~30s) as the UcD400, so it's the UcD400 what goes first in protection. The UcD400 has a two steps current protection, first 50~70ms it's a continious current protection. Above that time the amps shuts down for a second or so. With music signal this will be never happen, so you will have a form of current limiting.

We are running a small pre-production run of the SMSP 1200, end of May we will have them in house for further testing. Altough these SMPS series what we are working on now are performing remarkable well.... 😉

The 3000W SMPS is also working, next week we will finnish the desing for starting with the pre-production run...😉 😉 😉

Jan-Peter
 
Thank you Jan-Peter and raintalk for your input.


Jan-Peter said:
Be carefull with the tube amp, a good timer so the tube is heated up before you made the connection to the amp. When the tube warms up there is generated a lot of DC.

Does it really has to be physically disconnected during heating?
Or is it enough to just use two power-on switches like on most all-tube guitar amps?

What will be the problem actually when the poweramp will get a lot of DC? (just interested in the working of amps)


This text is from your diyclassd website:

Q: Do UcD amplifiers work well with tube preamps? A: Fundamentally there is no problem of course. However, most tube preamplifiers are designed alongside tube power amplifiers which are always AC coupled. As a result, many tube preamplifiers lack precautions against turn-on/turnoff transients. Some are liable to produce the full anode voltage at their outputs during turn-on and turn-off. We find that a large proportion of repairs are due to tube preamplifiers discharging their output caps into the UcD’s input circuit. Note that most solid state amps dislike such treatment, not just UcD.

Are you talking here about the same problem? Or is this another problem? Because here you talk about transients.
If this is another problem: how do you have to take care of this?



Then, I still have another question. Will there be no problem (soundwise) with all the switching of the SMPS? Especially with tubes.


Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Jan Carremans
 
raintalk said:


Hey carrejans,

I highly recommend you add a limiter. Here's some good ideas: http://sound.westhost.com/project53.htm

Here's something to think about, tube output sections start limiting frequency response as the amps are cranked up. Full power output starts looking like a bandpass. So if you add a couple of filters to the limiter circuit you'll mimic the behavior of a tube output section. Maybe one filter to limit below 70hz and another above say 700hz. Play with the values to find a fit for your or your customer's style. You'll keep the punch :drink: ,raise the overall perceived volume, and keep the speakers and horns safe.

With these hypex modules and SMPS you're going to have one killer lightweight amp. Bass players will be taking double takes trying to figure out how you get all the great sound out of a little box.

Good luck and post pictures.


Thank you for the link of the limiter. I think I will add this circuit.

And I will really consider you suggestion about adding the bandpass. First I will read the full text about the limiter. (no time right now)

I will definitely keep you updated. (also with pics of course 🙂 )
 
Does it really has to be physically disconnected during heating? Or is it enough to just use two power-on switches like on most all-tube guitar amps?
Don’t connect the signal between tube preamp and amp before the tube is fully heated up and is free from DC transients.

What will be the problem actually when the poweramp will get a lot of DC? (just interested in the working of amps)

From your diyclassd website;
Q: Do UcD amplifiers work well with tube preamps? A: Fundamentally there is no problem of course. However, most tube preamplifiers are designed alongside tube power amplifiers which are always AC coupled. As a result, many tube preamplifiers lack precautions against turn-on/turnoff transients. Some are liable to produce the full anode voltage at their outputs during turn-on and turn-off. We find that a large proportion of repairs are due to tube preamplifiers discharging their output caps into the UcD’s input circuit. Note that most solid state amps dislike such treatment, not just UcD. from your diyclassd website:

Yes this is the problem.

Are you talking here about the same problem? Or is this another problem? Because here you talk about transients. If this is another problem: how do you have to take care of this?
Indeed


Then, I still have another question. Will there be no problem (soundwise) with all the switching of the SMPS? Especially with tubes.
No NONE problem. Our SMPS generate very less EMI, far below the official EMI limits.

Regards,

Jan-Peter
 
Jan-Peter said:


Yes...., we will build the first production batch next week. And if everythign goes well, we will release the product the week after that..... :angel:

Later we will introduce a profi version: SMPS 400 + 2xUcD400OEM + DSP, www.hypex.nl/docs/PSC2.400.pdf

Hypex will now step in DSP controlled systems... 😎

Regards,

Jan-Peter

Thats good news, estimated time for DSP ?.
will it be possible too get and digital input ?

André Jensen
 
Hi Jan-Peter,

Seems that my SMPS400 is on the way. I have one question want to confirm with you. Since I use SMPS400 to drive UcD, so I do not need a soft start, and SMPS400 should have DC protection and pop free, am I right?

Thanks in advance.
 
Jan-Peter

Further to your answer to 'sleep888' question about softstart module and changing to SMPS400.

I plan to do the same but, I still want to use the blue led push button, so will I still use the softstart module or can I use the push button with SMPS on its own?


John
 
acousticimagery said:
Jan-Peter

Further to your answer to 'sleep888' question about softstart module and changing to SMPS400.

I plan to do the same but, I still want to use the blue led push button, so will I still use the softstart module or can I use the push button with SMPS on its own?


John

No, that will not be possible. If you will use a push button like the one we have with a blue led, you have to use an auxaliery power supply.

In this case the only solution is to use the softstart module.

Regards,

Jan-Peter
 
We are running a small pre-production run of the SMSP 1200, end of May we will have them in house for further testing. Altough these SMPS series what we are working on now are performing remarkable well....

Jan-Peter,

Because I need to design an interface board for your SMPS, Is it possible to have a preliminary datasheet of the SMPS1200 to know the location and pinout of the I/O connectors?

Franck
 
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