[rds]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomb /img/forum/go_quote.gif You're more up on what one of these are supposed to look like right now than anybody else!

Yes, the landscape of the MiniMAX has become very familiar, like the neighborhood where I grew up ...

 

[sandbasser]

The recent direction of this thread brings up a question - at least to me... Is there any point in socketing the BJTs??? It could make rolling easier and eliminate any possible worries about solder if installed backwards.

Personally, I'm big on putting things in backward. Right now I'm waiting for a 5K pot from Mouser - I soldered one in backwards and then I broke one off one of the legs when trying to remove it

 

[tomb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandbasser /img/forum/go_quote.gif The recent direction of this thread brings up a question - at least to me... Is there any point in socketing the BJTs??? It could make rolling easier and eliminate any possible worries about solder if installed backwards.

Yes, there are TO-220 sockets available - even TO-92 ones. However, you have to snip the leads fairly short to make them work. Also, it's more of a roll-in and snap down motion to plug them in from what I understand. With the close proximity nature of the MiniMAX, there may not be enough room to do that right next to some of the heat sinks. That said, I believe BoilerMakerFan is going to use some output sockets on some of his builds. Perhaps he can add some insight to this.
Quote:

Personally, I'm big on putting things in backward.

Quote of the year right there!!

We need to save that one for posterity.

Quote:

Right now I'm waiting for a 5K pot from Mouser right now - I soldered one it backwards and then I broke one off one of the legs

Yes, as you and the rest of us have often found out, precision cermit trimmers are not made to be removed and re-installed reliably. Install them correctly the first time, and you never, ever have an issue. Otherwise ... Keep in mind, however, there's no great problem in installing them backwards - simply get used to turning the adjustment screw the other way. If you were using the MiniMAX custom case, however, that requires more care, because the trimmer screws must line up with the pre-machined holes.

 

[oneplustwo]

Just a quick update... got the parts resoldered and everything works just fine now. Listening to it right now through my Grados and gamma 1 and kind of regret that I sold my first one and that this one is going out the door tomorrow! Finishing my balanced B22 (someday) will probably help me move on though. Thanks again for the help folks!

 

[tomb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneplustwo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Just a quick update... got the parts resoldered and everything works just fine now. Listening to it right now through my Grados and gamma 1 and kind of regret that I sold my first one and that this one is going out the door tomorrow! Finishing my balanced B22 (someday) will probably help me move on though. Thanks again for the help folks!

Nice going! Give us some pics!

 

[oneplustwo]

It looks like any other minimax with the black enclosure. One question... one of the tubes seems to glow brighter than the other. Not a huge difference but noticeable to me. Is that normal?

 

[tomb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneplustwo /img/forum/go_quote.gif It looks like any other minimax with the black enclosure. One question... one of the tubes seems to glow brighter than the other. Not a huge difference but noticeable to me. Is that normal?

Yes, there can be quite a variation in the brightness of the cathode. It doesn't mean that it translates into differences of the tubes at all - there's no correlation.

 

[linuxworks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandbasser /img/forum/go_quote.gif The recent direction of this thread brings up a question - at least to me... Is there any point in socketing the BJTs??? It could make rolling easier and eliminate any possible worries about solder if installed backwards.

on the high current driver transistors, that would not be a good design choice. sockets aren't the best for things like that. do they even make to220 pin sockets? never saw anything like that.

I remember the old days (to3) sockets. but not seen to220 sockets.

(whatever happened to to3 transistors? how come to220 took over?)

 

[sandbasser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif ... do they even make to220 pin sockets?

I found some... at Mouser: 10-18-2031 Molex IC & Component Sockets

Sorry no picture on Mouser... I'll try to take one.

 

[tomb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandbasser /img/forum/go_quote.gif I found some... at Mouser: 10-18-2031 Molex IC & Component Sockets Sorry no picture on Mouser... I'll try to take one.

Yep - they exist. Thanks for looking them up.

 

[JamesL]

This projects been delayed for quite a long time, but I finally got my board last week.

Do the regulator/transistors need insulators? i put the heatsinks in to get a feel for the case height, and it seems that the chance of the heatsinks shorting against the top of the case is almost non-existent.


edit:
edited out the first question; I found my answer on diyforums

 

[tomb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL /img/forum/go_quote.gif This projects been delayed for quite a long time, but I finally got my board last week. Do the regulator/transistors need insulators? i put the heatsinks in to get a feel for the case height, and it seems that the chance of the heatsinks shorting against the top of the case is almost non-existent. edit: edited out the first question; I found my answer on diyforums

Technically, no. However, the MiniMAX is something you may be sticking DMM probes into quite often. Those can make contact even if the case doesn't. Also, not every heat sink has perfect anodizing. So, using insulators are pennies to be safe.

 

[Daveze]

This may be obvious but you don't need insulators where the transistors are fully enclosed. I'm supposed to be quite smart but I didn't pick that the first time

 

[118716]

I've had my MiniMAX for about two weeks now, Soloz2 did a fantastic job of building it for me, I promised that I'd post a pic

It really does sound sublime with my HD600 and I couldn't be happier

 

[linuxworks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandbasser /img/forum/go_quote.gif I found some... at Mouser: 10-18-2031 Molex IC & Component Sockets

couldn't you have posted this BEFORE I placed my mouser order, this week?

lol!

next one, for sure. looks interesting. I wonder if there is capacitance or resistance issues to care about with those?

if they can carry good current (to220's are final drivers, quite often) then I'll start using them. me hates unsoldering power tab transistors. me hates it mucho.