Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Legacy Kit Products => Topic started by: AudioDave on November 03, 2014, 03:21:57 AM

Title: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: AudioDave on November 03, 2014, 03:21:57 AM
I am seriously thinking of rebuiding my Parabees in order to get them in a bigger chassis  (was thinking of using my spare Paramount chassis plates)   As part of the rebuild I would like to install the Paramount soft start boards.   Would this be very difficult to do?
Thanks!
Dave
Title: Re: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: Paul Joppa on November 03, 2014, 06:06:23 AM
It should be fairly easy, especially if you follow the Paramount layout. The biggest difficulty would be fitting the plate choke which is a bit larger.

I'd take the opportunity to upgrade the power supply, if it were mine - the voltage rating on the high voltage diodes and the filter caps is marginal. I've posted before a DC filament scheme which you might want, if hum is an annoyance.
Title: Re: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: xcortes on November 03, 2014, 06:44:27 AM
I have the Parabee plate choke (exo-03)  in Paramounts and Paramour 2s. There's pics around. I place it centered to the PT and slightly rotated so that it fits.
Title: Re: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: AudioDave on November 03, 2014, 10:46:09 AM
Thanks for the replies!   Looking forward to the rebuild!
Dave
Title: Re: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: AudioDave on November 03, 2014, 12:01:41 PM
Paul,  when you say "upgrade the power supply"  what exactly are you referring to,  upgrade the components in the existing Parabee designed ps,  upgrade the power transfomer?
Thanks!
Title: Re: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: Grainger49 on November 03, 2014, 12:39:37 PM
The transformer is fine, he means the caps are old, probably too low a voltage for today.  The diodes are probably too low a voltage (PIV) too.
Title: Re: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: Paul Joppa on November 03, 2014, 12:47:24 PM
Grainger is exactly right.

If it were me, I'd use the Cree 1200-volt silicon carbide Schottky diodes, but something as simple as two UF4007s in series for each diode will give you the margin.

If you keep the power supply filter choke, then you can get away with smaller capacitances, such as 47uF/600v film caps. In the current Paramount we use two 350v caps in series for each cap.
Title: Re: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: AudioDave on November 03, 2014, 12:49:48 PM
Excellent!  Thank you very much!
Dave
Title: Re: Paramount Soft Start in Parabees
Post by: AudioDave on November 03, 2014, 02:55:49 PM
Since I am expanding into a bigger chassis I was thinking of adding a separate power transformer for the DC filaments.  Any suggestions?