--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 11 2010 [
Note: I rearranged this thread for oldest-post-first, makes more sense to newcomers]
I'm going to start a mini-blog of my build here. I think maybe it will some other people who are trying to get all the pieces together and get one built. Especially for the guys in the US I will be putting together a BOM.
Aside from this forum thread I found most of the parts list by cross referencing the PCB layout with the LA2A schematic and the Drip Audio BOM. The most difficult part is double checking the PCB footprints of all parts so that they fit silent:arts PCB. I will be adding notes in detail as I go along.
Things I haven't ordered yet
1. Power transformer [undecided]
2. 0.1uF polypropylene caps
3. 12BH7A & 6AQ5A tubes [undecided]
Things that haven't arrived yet
1. (2) 24-position switches [diypartssupply.com / part #Elma 24 position rotary]
2. 2U Enclosure [par-metal.com / part #10-19113B]
3. (2) input transformer [edcorsa.com / part #WSM600/15k]
4. (2) output transformer [edcorusa.com / part #WSM15k/600]
5. (4) Arco 46-series Trimmer Capacitor [surplussales.com / part #(CTM)465]
Parts on-hand
1. T4B [acquired pair of NOS for decent price]
2. Resistors, caps, connectors, relays [most already on-hand, rest from Mouser, BOM to come]
3. (2) 100k potentiometers [Digikey]
4. Tube sockets [tubedepot.com]
5. (2) VU meters [hairballaudio.com / part #HB-8037]
Things I still need to complete the main PCB
1. 0.1uF polypropylene caps. I still need four. I have various mallory, vishay etc.., but most are >20mm long and don't fit the footprint which is meant for a Solen.
2. Install sockets for the 6AQ5A's. I am going to have to trim the leads on these. I'm going to wait until the enclosure arrives to determine exactly how much I need to.
3. Install heater wires. I will do this last, before the last time I clean the PCB.
Thanks everyone for sharing all the knowledge here on the forums, I've been able to pick around and find most of what I need. Also thanks to crisotop for answering my PM's regarding some specific details.
As probably everyone who has completed one of these already knows the hard part of this clone is not actually building it, it's ordering all the correct parts, options, etc.. and managing the build!
As I mentioned above I will be uploading a US BOM shortly as I get all the info together.
click on images for link to large versions
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 12 2010
A few notes on stuffing the PCB.
1. I used 1/2W resistors throughout (except where 3W required). The board was laid out for 1/4W so it can be a tight fit in some cases. I used 1/2W because I had them and the original used them, although I didn't simulate the circuit or anything so it's very likely 1/4W is ok as has been used by many. Just be careful if using 1/2W it'll be tight, see pics below.
2. The PCB footprint for the 3W resistors is short for most 3W resistors you will find. No problem, you'll just need to stand them up on one end as you can see below (and in many other peoples builds).
3. About the front panel I'm having one made by front panel express. I'll share it when I'm done.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 13 2010
I ordered the power transformer(s) today. I'm using two to avoid having to have a custom made.
1. Antek AN-IT250, 100VA, 250V @ 0.20A + 6.3V @ 3A. This will power the main circuit and the heaters.
2. Antek AN-0012, 5VA, 12V @ 0.20A. This will power the relays (12V version) and the VU meter lamps which are also 12V.
I also finally ordered the 0.1uF Solen caps while placing another order from tubedepot.com, as well as some of those nice antique style knobs they have.
I also bought some NOS RCA tubes for the 12BH7A and 6AQ5's.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 21 2010
1. power transformers came in. Not crazy about the big 100VA torroid, way overkill for the application, might try to find one lying around at work that'll give me more space and help me keep it out of the way from the PCB.
2. audio transformers are due early next week, they are the Edcor 2x WSM600/15k, 2x WSM15k/600.
3. Elma 24 position rotary's are also due next week. I decided to use them for all four controls.
4. last of the caps and other remaining parts came this week.
5. Par-metal enclosure came this week, www.par-metal.com, part #10-19113x, price is good and has vents.
I was able to test the height of the setup in the 2U enclosure. Even with generous 1/4" standoff's I still have a good 1/4" space at the top of the enclosure. The Par-metal enclosure is a six-sided type, and typically gives the most height from top & bottom since the top & bottom panels screw
over the end panels so there is no wasted height. I have not tested whether the top panel can deflect enough to touch the T4B's and the 12BH7's (they are at about exactly the same height). I trimmed both sides of each lead on the 6AQ5 sockets as shown in the picture below but I
didn't trim the leads for the 12BH7's. The second picture below shows the clearance looking from the front of the enclosure (click for larger image).
I also soldered the heater wires. One of the 6AQ5 sockets is not soldered in yet so you can see there's a few wires not connected there yet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 27 2010
1. Still waiting for a lot of parts to come in. No problem though, still a lot to do.
2. A few changes have come up. I want to make a point to point out any changes or troubles that come about. It's not all as easy at it can look sometimes. The toroid power transformer from Antek was huge, 100VA huge, and I didn't want to deal with it and have to have the smaller toroid in there as well. It would be an unnecessary pain. It occurred to me that Volker may have some custom Toroids still, and he does! so I ordered one. The price is very fair for a custom wind that's perfect for the application. Also, I ordered another enclosure. I found the Par-Metal 10-19113 was a little short at 11" depth, making things tight. I purchased the next larger model, part# 10-19143. It's 14" deep. I was very happy with the quality of the par-metal part, and the service I've been getting from the Par-Metal/Antek guys has been good. Now I'll have to do another project with the original case
3. Here's what the Edcor transformers look like. Yeah I know, boring, but size, shape, layout may help someone out who's planning a D-LA2A in the future. (click for larger image)
4. I'm working on the first-pass front panel. Here's what the rough 1:1 layout looks like right now. I'm going to implement an active wet/dry mix control so that's what the middle knob is for.
Those big knobs are from Eagle plastics, I bought them at Mouser, part# 45KN014-GRX.
The smaller knob and pilot light is from www.tubedepot.com part#'s P-SAK, P-PL-JEWEL, & P-PL-FENDER-STYLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 1 2010
1. VU Meter LED retrofit
At the time I bought the meters from www.hairballaudio.com they were only available with 12V lamp. Since the D-LA2A has an auxiliary 5V supply for the meter back-lighting and mechanical relays it makes more sense to go with something powered by 5V. Using LED's seemed the best bet since you can get any color variation and you'll never have to worry about replacing lamps. I emailed Mike @ Hairball to inquire about how the manufacturer retrofits LED's into the meters. The ones they sell have two LED's wired in series as shown below:
Since the D-LA2A supplies 5V to the meter back-light (fairly low voltage) you may want wire the LED's in parallel so they can reach desired brightness. Since most LED's have ~2V forward voltage, two in series would be ~4V and the brightness would not be enough even with no series resistor. Basically, either wire two typical LED's in parallel and calculate the appropriate series resistor, or use specific
5V LED's with low reverse breakdown voltage with an appropriate series resistor and they will work. I used two 5mm clear amber LED's for each lamp housing and it worked very well, the brightness is uniform over the whole meter. For best uniform coverage of the VU meter it's best to use clear LED's (not diffuse) and to angle them at 90 degrees towards the back of the VU Meter as you can see in the pics:
2. Elma 24-position switches
[edited]
I installed the resistors to the Elma switches. Two of them are set for 100k log and two for 33k log (to be used in series with 68K resistor for less gain).
If you haven't used switches like this before where you add your own resistors etc.. it can be confusing.
a) Look at it as a potentiometer, a voltage divider, since this is what it is anyway, a stepped attenuator. Check out this Elma schematic from the Goldpoint Level controls website http://www.goldpt.com/schm_ser.html
b) Realize that the end-stop is before position 0, and the first resistor R1 should go at position 0.
c) The marking on the Elma part shows
0 to
22. These marking fall between switch positions and can be thought of as resistor numbers. There will be (23) resistors total when completely fitted.
d) Use silent:arts log-pot-to-switch excel document to calculate the resistor values.. http://www.silentarts.de/DIY/PM660/LogPotToSwitch.xls
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 12 2010
Just a quick update, no pictures.
1. I've got everything hooked up and have done some quick tests. everything is working.
2. I will be adding some details and pictures soon.
3. currently I am using a temporary front panel and the Edcor transformers.
4. I am sending out to have a custom panel made. It will be a good 3-4 weeks before it comes back.
5. I got a hold of a UTC HA-100x, A-24, and A-25. All were in a cinema preamp & effects switcher I found while scouring Ebay. I picked up the whole thing for relatively cheap, I'll most likely sell the A-25 and compare the original HA-100/A-24 versus the Edcors. When the time comes I'll take a bunch of audio samples and measurements on my Audio Precision system to compare them.
6. I'm almost complete with a very detailed US BOM. I'll upload it and to link to it very soon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 14 2010
I posted the US BOM further down in this thread but here it is again...
D-LA2A US BOM (XLS)
D-LA2A US BOM (PDF)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 26 2010
Just a quick update. no new news yet, still a lot of updates, finished details to update soon.