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20 Watt Class-A Power Amplifier

Rod Elliott - ESP (Original Design)


Updated 0 !ar 200"
A single-ended Class-A amplifier is essentially one where there is only one active
driven output device. The passive "load" may be a resistor, an inductor (or
transformer) or - as in this amplifier - a current sin. !f the three basic options,
the current sin offers the highest linearity for the lowest cost, so is the ideal
choice.
"ome esoteric (some might say idiosyncratic) designs use inductors or #$#
transformers, but these are buly and very e%pensive. &nless made to the utmost
standards of construction, they will invariably have a negative effect on the sound
'uality, since the losses are fre'uency dependent and non-linear.
This amp uses the basic circuitry of the ()* power amp (see +nde%), but
modified for true Class-A operation - it should be pretty nice, This amp has been
built by several readers, and the reports + have received have been very positive.
*ith simulations, everything appears to be as e%pected, but although + have yet
to actually build it and test it out thoroughly, no-one has had any problems so
far. &sing -.-/) 0olt supplies - either conventional, regulated or using a
capacitance multiplier, it should actually be capable of about // * before
clipping, but e%pect to use a big heatsin - this amp will run hot.
1uiescent current has been reduced from my earlier attempts and simulations
from a bit over 2A down to /.(A - but it will still dissipate nearly ##)* per
amplifier,
There are a few things which must be considered - +n my original article, +
suggested a suitable current sin. Although this would certainly wor, the
dissipation actually e%ceeds the ma%imum for the 345/677 devices. 8unning at
77 * each, and considering that they will be at an elevated temperature
(probably around 9) degrees C), the ma%imum safe power is only a little over
:7*, so clearly two devices must be used. *ith two, the dissipation of each
transistor is "only" /9.7*, and this also allows a lower thermal resistance from
case to heatsin.
+ strongly suggest that you use either T!-2 transistors, or large (high dissipation)
plastic case devices. ;eat transfer from transistors to heatsin will be the
biggest problem you will face with this amplifier.
#ig$re " - Power Derating #or %&e !'E2())
An alternative is to use bigger transistors (even reverting to the T!-2 style), but
in the long run using two paralleled transistors is still a cheaper option, and
provides an ade'uate safety margin for the 345/677 devices. (<ote that
T+=/677 transistors may also be used, since they are more or less direct
e'uivalents for this design.)
The modifications from the original ()* amp are as follows$
>iasing diodes and the :9 !hm resistor removed
?ower transistor array removed, and replaced with a current sin.
=ower supply voltage reduced to -.-/70 3a%imum (-.-//0 recommended)
The "tail" of the long-tailed pair has been simplified to a simple resistor
The @C offset can be set using the trimpot - this balances the ?T=
;owever big the heatsin you were thining of, use a bigger one ,
#ig$re 2- %&e *ew 20W Class-A Amplifier
The current sin shown should have very high linearity, since it is based on the
same concept as the output stage devices. The )./7 !hm resistor should cause
little grief (: % # !hm #* resistors in parallel), but some e%perimentation may be
needed here, since the base-emitter voltage of the >C7:6 determines the
current. This circuit wors by using the >C7:6 to steal any e%cess base current
from the compound pair. As soon as the voltage across the )./7 !hm resistor
e%ceeds ).(70, the transistor turns on and achieves balance virtually instantly.
Determining %&e Optim$m C$rrent
The ideal operating current for a Class-A amp will be about ##)A of the pea
speaer current. +f the loudspeaer system has a nominal impedance of B !hms
(the design impedance for this amp), then with a -.- //0 supply the ma%imum
(theoretical) speaer current is
+ C 0 . 8 C // . B C /.97A
+n my original calculations, + actually decided on a 'uiescent current of /.(A - this
is really !, because the above calculation does not consider the losses in the
output stage. +n practice, it is liely that up to 2 0olts will be lost in the output
circuit, based on the losses in the output devices, emitter resistors and driver
transistors.
This now gives a ma%imum voltage of #60 pea (/.297A D B !hms). Applying
the ##)A fudge factor gives an operating current of /.(#/7A, or /.( close
enough. +f these peas are met in practice, this gives an output power of //.7*
into B !hms.
<ote that the current in the -ve supply rail remains constant, but that in the -ve
supply rail will vary from the normal steady state current (same as the -ve
supply). At signal e%tremes, the current will double (upper transistors turned on),
or will drop to almost Eero for negative peas. This is common for single-ended
Class-A amplifiers, although you will not see it in the te%t for most designs. This
can complicate the design of the power supply.
Ad+$sting %&e ,$ies-ent C$rrent
+f the current sense resistor is made a higher value than optimal (say ).22 !hm
7*), you can use a trimpot across the resistor with the wiper going to the base of
the >C7:6. This will allow you to set the current more accurately. <ote that the
sense transistor must be ept away from heat sources (such as heatsins and
power resistors) or the current will fall as the amp gets hotter. >e vary careful if
you use a trimpot, because if the wiper is wound down to the -270 supply line,
the current sin will attempt to sin infinite current - this is liely to cause
damage(,) "tart with the wiper at the most positive end (ie. the collectors of the
output devices), and carefully increase the current until the desired setting is
reached. &se of a multiturn pot is highly recommended.
#ig$re - .aria/le C$rrent So$r-e
Figure 2 shows a suggested way to mae the current sin variable. The # fi%ed
resistor ensures that even if the pot becomes open circuit (which does happen,
although rarely), the stage will not try to sin an infinite current. 8emember to
allow time for the temperature to stabilise - this may tae #) minutes or more,
depending on the siEe of the heatsin. ?arger heatsins have a greater thermal
"mass", and tae longer to reach the final operating temperature.
The heatsin is a critical part of a Class-A design, and for this amp a sin with a
thermal rating of less than ).7 degree C . *att is mandatory. *ith a dissipation of
about ##)* 'uiescent, an ).7 degree.* heatsin will give a temperature rise
(above the ambient) of 77 degrees, so for the ">ritish "tandard" /7 degree C
ambient temperature the transistors will operate at B) degrees. This is &ot. +f
possible, )./7 degree.* thermal rating is preferred, which will eep the
temperature down to a more moderate 77 degrees or so - this is still hot but
tolerable.
+ suggest that any intending builder reads that article on heatsins, to gain a
better understanding of the difficulties involved in obtaining a good thermal
transfer from transistor to heatsin. The use of T!-2 power transistors (34/677)
will also help considerably in this respect.

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