by nineno » Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:42 pm
Well in preperation for the forth-coming IE Clone release I went down to the local electronic surplus store to see what interesting things I could find that might be of use to me.
Overall, the shopping trip was not particularly fruitful, but I did get two 3Amp EMI filters made by Potter in Wesson Mississippi and a few nice little toggle switches.
The EMI filters were $1.75 each. I've seen them in Mouser catalogs and almost bought a mains plug receptical with one built into it when i was building my ST-35 several months back. Then I decided not to merely because i didn't really know what an EMI filter was or what precisely it did.
SO i ask you fine gents: What is an EMI filter? I sortof supposed it was like a band-pass filter that just lets 60Hz pass...is that even close?
Regardless of its actual function, would it be wise to have one between the mains and the powertransformer of an amplifier, in this case an Ike?
Finally, if an EMI filter would be a good thing to put in an amplifier, is a 3 amp rating enough, or does a single Ike pull more than three amps (assuming a relatively stock build with solid state rectification, etc)?
Other than those questions, I've begun laying out my chassis based on some of the preliminary information posted to the site. I think my baseplate will be 9"x14" made from 10 or 12Ga. aluminum. I'll probably make another wooden chassis that the aluminum plate will sit flush down inside like my St-35. I think i might get each base plate anodized; one red and one blue for each channel, or make the bases out of some exotic woods like bloodwood and blue ash which are obviously red and blue respectively.
I've also figured out a neat little bootstrapping switch/relay configuration to power the amp up. I would like to have three little momentary toggles on the from panel, each with a single LED above it. The first toggle shuts everyhting off, and the red LED above it would be on. In essance, the LED would be the only thing on. Click the second swich and the amp warms, just like the ST-35 warm circuit....here the red LED would be off, and an amber LED would come on. Finally, the third momentary toggle would turn the HV on to the plates. Then if you wanted you clould click the second toggle again to go back to warming (if you're going to be away from the amp for a few minutes or something, or between CDs/LPs). To shut it off all the way just click the first toggle again.
It's a little overkill....or maybe a lot of overkill, but i think it would look neat. :wink:
Just theories right now.
Thanks again for your help/input.
drew*