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Originally Posted by Iniamyen /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I just got my order from beezar and let me say wow. It was packed, organized and labeled really well. I figure it can't hurt to have another recommendation even if it's from a newb
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Thanks for that kind remark.
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As I'm waiting for my other parts from mouser/digikey (damn ups ) I guess the best thing to do is ask more questions to further avoid screwing things up when I start:
-I'm still a little confused about the heatsink assembly. I got the mounting kit from Beezar, the one that says it doesn't need thermal grease. However it seems as though everyone mentions using it. I have some arctic silver back from when I built my computer - would this work? |
The other guys have answered this well. I'm pretty sure using grease will hurt the Bergquist pads, too.
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-I want to make sure I have the correct order down for the biasing step: Make sure DB bias is at minimum voltages, THEN bias PS, THEN bias tubes, THEN bias DB's. Can the DB's be damaged from sitting at their minimums? I assume the answer is no but I want to make sure. |
Yep - sounds like a plan, and No - the DB's can't be damaged if everything is hooked up correctly and they're idling at low bias (<50mV).
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-Grounding: I'm not sure what all is tied to case ground, or if I need to take precautions with the power supply. I notice that the power socket is isolated (so V+ and V- aren't tied to the case), but some of the notes about the RCA jacks used say that the MAX is negatively grounded. Can I tie the virtual ground to the case? Or will this cause problems? I'd rather not blindly assemble and then fry something.p |
Yes, the MAX and every Millett before it are negatively grounded. The difference is the MAX has a high-power/performance linear-regulated power supply
on the board. That means the power input is AC - there is no V+ and V- at the power socket, in other words - it's 24VAC. You don't want that AC touching the case, because the negative DC power further down on the board can come into contact with the case very easily - either on-purpose or by accident. For instance, the recommended Beezar RCA jacks are not insulated/isolated. Their ground (same as the board's negative) touches the case.
Another way to look at it is to look at the board itself: there is no ground plane in the back where there's AC. Technically, the 24VAC runs only from the terminal block to the string of rectifiers on the very back of the board. It's DC after that, but still carries ripple until going through the power caps and the regulator. The filtered, fully-linear-regulated DC power makes its final connection to the ground plane at CR5 (also RR2 and DR1). Quote:
You're welcome!