The σ11 Regulated Power Supply

Parts list for standard configuration

The table below illustrates a standard configuration σ11 PSU, for 24VDC output rails. Please refer to the Board & heatsinks section for heatsink considerations. See the sections below for specific parts recommendations and options. Items shown in italic are available from the AMB audio shop.

PartQuantityDescription
Circuit board
-1σ11 printed circuit board
Resistors
R1, R8, R16, R1041/8W 1% metal film resistor 10KΩ (see notes below about R10)
R311/8W 1% metal film resistor 1KΩ
R4, R521/8W 1% metal-film resistor 100Ω
R12, R1322W 5% metal-oxide resistor 0.47Ω
Capacitors
C1, C2, C3, C4, C165multilayer ceramic capacitor 220pF
C52aluminum electrolytic capacitor 1500µF 63V
C7, C182metallized polyester capacitor 1µF
C9, C132aluminum electrolytic capacitor 100µF 63V
C111aluminum electrolytic capacitor 470µF 63V
C141film capacitor 3900pF
Transistors
Q1, Q3, Q43NPN small signal BJT BC546B
Q7, Q8, Q113PNP small signal BJT BC556B
Q13, Q142International Rectifier N-channel power MOSFET IRLZ24N
Diodes
D1, D2, D3, D448A ultrafast recovery rectifier MUR820
D5112V 500mW zener diode BZX55C12 (see notes below)
LED1Your choice (superbright)
CR1, CR22Current regulator diode 2.4mA 1N5307
CR31Current regulator diode 4.7mA 1N5314
Power transformer
-1Amveco TE62062 2x12V 25VA toroidal (see notes below)
Miscellaneous
-2TO-220 extruded heatsink Aavid-Thermalloy 529802B00000 1.5"
-2TO-220 heatsink mounting kit (if required, see notes below)
-1heatsink thermal compound (if required, see notes below)
-10.200" 4-circuit terminal block
-up to 40.200" 2-circuit terminal block
-1IEC power entry receptacle with fuse
-1power switch (optional)
-4circuit board standoffs or spacers (not needed for Hammond 1455N)
--hookup wire
--heat-shrink tubing
-1chassis case (your choice, see below)
-4rubber feet for chassis case
--imperial #4-40 or metric M3 machine screws, hex nuts
--other hardware as needed

Parts recommendations & options

To obtain the blank σ11 circuit board and some related parts, visit the AMB audio shop. You can get almost everything else from the vendors listed on the AMB Audio DIY Page. The favorite vendors are Mouser and Digi-Key.

The following is a list of recommendations and options. Please read through this carefully before you order any parts.

Resistors


Notes about R8 and R10

The voltage gain of the error amplifier is determined by the ratio of R8 and R10. This gain, multiplied by the D5 zener diode voltage, determines the output voltage of the regulator.

The gain is computed by the formula:
        G = (R8 / R10) + 1
When R8 and R10 are both 10KΩ the gain is 2. With a 12V zener diode as D5, then the output voltage is 24V.

Please do not change the value of R8, because it forms a RC time constant with C16 which shapes the high frequency response of the error amplifier. These values were carefully tuned to provide extended bandwidth while maintaining stability.

The following table gives a list of example R10 values and the appropriate zener diode to use for some common output voltages. Other combinations of D5 and R10 values may be used to achieve different voltages.

Output voltageR10 valueZener diode (D5)
36V4.99KΩBZX55C12 (12V)
30V6.81KΩBZX55C12 (12V)
27V7.87KΩBZX55C12 (12V)
24V10KΩBZX55C12 (12V)
15V39.2KΩBZX55C12 (12V)
12Vnot installedBZX55C12 (12V)
9Vnot installedBZX55C9V1 (9.1V)
5Vnot installedBZX55C5V1 (5.1V) or LM336-5.0 (ADJ pin unused)

Notes about R16:

R16 is the current limit resistor for the LED. The optimum value of these resistors depends on your choice of LED. Use this online LED resistor value calculator to determine what value your R16 should be. Depending on the value of the resistor and the voltage drop across it, you should be mindful to use a resistor rated at high enough power. The actual power dissipation is computed by:
	Watts = V2 / R

	where V is the voltage dropped and R is the value of R16.
For example, if you use a 10KΩ resistor and the voltage dropped is 28V, then the power dissipation will be about 0.08W. In this case a 1/8W or 1/4W resistor will work fine.

The type of resistor is not critical as long as it fits well.

Capacitors

  • C1-C4: multilayer ceramic capacitor (NP0 or C0G)
    220pF
    Lead spacing 0.100" or 0.200"
  • C7, C18: metallized polyester film capacitor
    1µF
    Lead spacing 0.200"
    • Wima MKS2 (AMB audio shop; Mouser 505-MKS21/63/10)
    • Vishay-BC MKT370 (Mouser 594-2222-370-11105; Digi-Key BC1622-ND)
    • Vishay-Roederstein MKT1817 (Mouser 75-MKT1817510064)
    • AVX BF/BQ series (Mouser 581-BF074D0105J, Digi-Key 478-3367-ND)

  • C5: aluminum electrolytic capacitor 63V low-ESR high-reliability
    2x 1500µF or 1x 2700µF
    Lead spacing 0.300", 18mm diameter (2 per rail) or
    Lead spacing 0.400", 25mm diameter (1 per rail)
  • C9, C13: aluminum electrolytic capacitor 63V low-ESR high-reliability
    100µF
    Lead spacing 0.200", 10mm or 13mm diameter
  • C11: aluminum electrolytic capacitor 63V low-ESR high-reliability
    470µF
    Lead spacing 0.200", 13mm diameter or
    Lead spacing 0.300", 18mm diameter
    • Panasonic FC (Digi-Key P10351-ND)
    • Nichicon HE (Mouser 647-UHE1J471MHD)
    • Nichicon PW (Mouser 647-UPW1J471MHD6 or 647-UPW1J471MHD3)
    • Nichicon KZ (Muse), FW or FG ("boutique")
    • Vishay-BC 136 RVI series
    • Elna Silmic or Cerafine ("boutique")

  • C14: metallized polyester film capacitor
    3900pF
    Lead spacing 0.200"
    • AVX BF/BQ series (Mouser 581-BQ014D0392J, Digi-Key 478-3399-ND)

Notes about C5:

The circuit board has holes for two 0.300" pitch, 18mm diameter 1500µF capacitors, or for one 0.400" pitch, up to 25mm diameter 2700µF capacitor.

Diodes

  • D1-D4: TO-220 2-pin rectifier diode (8A 100V minimum)
    Lead spacing 0.200"
    • MUR820 8A 200V ultrafast recovery rectifier (Mouser 863-MUR820G, Digi-Key MUR820GOS-ND)
    • other similar

  • D5: 500mW zener diode, DO-35 or DO-41
    Lead spacing 0.300"
    • BZX55Cxx series (AMB audio shop 12V: BZX55C12; 9.1V: 512-BZX55C9V1, 5.1V: 512-BZX55C5V1)
    • 1N52xx series (Mouser 12V: 512-1N5242B, 9.1V: 512-1N5239B, 5.1V: 512-1N5231B)
    • LM336BZ-5.0 or LM336Z-5.0 5V reference diode, ADJ pin unused (Mouser: 512-LM336BZ50, 512-LM336Z5; Digikey: LM336BZ-5.0-ND, LM336Z-5.0-ND)

    This zener diode sets the reference voltage, which, along with the voltage gain of the error amplifier, sets the output voltage of the PSU. See notes above for the R10 resistor for details.

    Note: The accuracy of σ11's output voltage depends on the accuracy of the D5 zener voltage. Zener diodes have a fairly wide tolerance, so your actual output voltage may not be exactly on target. Normally this is inconsequential, because audio circuit are not usually sensitive to such voltage tolerances. If your application requires a high level of voltage accuracy, then you should get a handful of D5 zener diodes to pick from. You may want to use sockets for D5 on the σ11 board to allow changing diodes without desoldering.

  • CR1, CR2: 2.4mA current regulator diode
    DO-35, DO-41, TO-92 or TO-18 (see the Instructions section)
    • Central Semiconductor 1N5307 (Mouser 610-1N5307)
    • Vishay-Siliconix CR240 (Mouser 781-CR240)
    • Vishay-Siliconix J508
    • Semitec E-202

  • CR3: 4.7mA current regulator diode
    DO-35, DO-41, TO-92 or TO-18 (see the Instructions section)
    • Central Semiconductor 1N5314 (Mouser 610-1N5314)
    • Vishay-Siliconix CR470 (Mouser 781-CR470)
    • Vishay-Siliconix J511
    • Semitec E-562

  • LED:
    Lead spacing 0.100"
    Your choice of size and color (affects value of R16, see notes above for R16 for details)

Transistors

  • Q1, Q3, Q4: NPN small signal BJT BC546B (TO-92)
    (AMB audio shop, Newark)

  • Q7, Q8, Q11: PNP small signal BJT BC556B (TO-92)
    (AMB audio shop, Newark)

  • Q13, Q14: N-channel power MOSFET International Rectifier IRLZ24N (TO-220AB)
    (AMB audio shop, Digi-Key, Newark)


Notes about the transistors:
  • No special transistor matching is necessary.
  • Do not substitute the transistors and MOSFETs with other types. The compensation capacitors' values were tuned for optimum performance with the specified devices. Changing to other types may degrade the performance or cause stability.
  • Do not mount the MOSFETs off-board on a remote heatsink. The added wiring from the board to the MOSFETs may cause oscillations.

Heatsinks

Your choice of heatsink will affect chassis case compatibility due to height and other mechanical/physical attributes.

Board-mount heatsinks:
  • Aavid-Thermalloy 529802B00000 (onboard, 1.5" tall, screw-mount) (AMB audio shop, Digi-Key)
  • Aavid-Thermalloy 529802B02500 (onboard, 1.5" tall, pin-mount) (Mouser, Digi-Key)
  • Aavid-Thermalloy 529902B02500 (onboard, 2" tall, pin-mount) (Mouser, Digi-Key)
  • Aavid-Thermalloy 530002B02500 (onboard, 2.5" tall, pin-mount) (Digi-Key)
  • Wakefield 647-15ABP, 657-15ABP or 657-15ABPN (onboard, 1.5" tall, pin-mount) (Mouser, Digi-Key)
  • Wakefield 657-20ABP (onboard, 2" tall, pin-mount) (Mouser, Digi-Key)
Off-board heatsinks:

TO-220 heatsink mounting kit

If the tops of the heatsinks will be in close proximity to the top metal cover when the board is installed in your chassis case, then you should mount the MOSFETs to the heatsinks using TO-220 mounting kits, which electrically isolate the MOSFETs' mounting tabs from the heatsinks. If you are using offboard heatsinks, then TO-220 mounting kits are also required. Otherwise, you may mount the MOSFETs to the heatsinks directly.

Heatsink thermal compound

Not needed if using mounting kits with Thermalsil or Sil-Pad isolators.
  • Radio Shack 276-1372
  • Wakefield 120-SA (Mouser 567-120-SA; Digi-Key 345-1006-ND)
  • others

Connectors

PCB terminal blocks (optional, allows easy wiring connect/disconnect to PCB):
  • Phoenix Contact 1729128 0.200" screw terminal block, 2-circuit
    (Mouser 651-1729128; Digi-Key 277-1247-ND)
  • Phoenix Contact 1729128 0.200" screw terminal block, 4-circuit
    (Mouser 651-1729144; Digi-Key 277-1249-ND)

Power transformer

Single-secondary, dual-secondary and center-tapped secondary transformers are supported. Toroidal type is recommended for minimum stray magnetic field. The following table lists the transformer secondary recommendations for various output DC voltages.

Output voltageTransformer secondary
36VDC32V (or dual 16V in series)
30VDC30V (or dual 15V in series)
27VDC24V (or dual 12V in series)
24VDC24V (or dual 12V in series)
15VDC18V (or dual 9V in series)
12VDC15V (or dual 8V in series)
9VDC12V (or dual 7V in series)
5VDC9V (or dual 9V in parallel)

For other output voltages, a rule of thumb for this PSU is that approximately 7V drop should be maintained across the pass MOSFETs under load. This allows for the 2V Vgs of the MOSFETs plus about 5V of headroom to allow for line voltage fluctuations. Using the 24V output as an example, the pre-regulator voltage should be 31V. Accounting for a couple of volts drop across the rectifier diodes, that figure goes up to 33V. The transformer voltage should be 0.707 times that of the rectified DC voltage, so 33V * 0.707 ~= 23V. Thus, a 24V or dual 12V transformer should work well.

The appropriate VA rating of the transformer depends on the intended load. The recommended transformer ratings for a M³ or Millett Hybrid headphone amplifier is 15VA or 25VA. For a PPA headphone amplifier, a 15VA transformer is sufficient.

The following are some recommended transformer types:

Chassis / case

Be sure to use a case that provides enough internal clearance for the heatsinks you choose. If your heatsinks are not external to the case (exposed fins), then you should cut ventilation slots in the case (if not already so equipped) to ensure proper cooling. The following are some examples of case styles that may be used with the σ11.

Miscellaneous

  • IEC power entry receptacle with fuse
  • SPST toggle, paddle or rotary switch for power on/off (if IEC receptacle doesn't have an integrated switch)


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