Help with PCB design

Started by theaxeman, August 28, 2004, 05:14:20 AM

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theaxeman

Hi there!!

I recently designed a PCB (my first) for a small practice amp (based on the ROG supreaux with a added power amp) Since it is my first pcb can anyone see any errors on it?

Heres a pic of the schem: http://members.lycos.co.uk/robert_turner31/Ampschem.gif

and heres the PCB layout: http://members.lycos.co.uk/robert_turner31/Amppcb.gif

Any help would be apreciated.

:D

gez

I haven't compared your layout with the schematic, but you're using jumpers (that's what the red lines are, right?) in a lot of places where you could simply run your traces under components.

R4 for example, shift it higher and run that trace under it.  The trace from C10 to junction of R8 and R9 could also go under R11 and then under R10 to get to the same place.  You'll save time soldering if you go through your board and try to find more 'shortcuts'.  You can run traces under caps too (if they're wide enougth), the trace from R5 to Q2 might be able to squeeze under C8.

You could condense things a little and save on space too.  I tend to make all my boards the same size as I use the same layout for virtually all my boxes.  If it's a simple circuit I'll use as much of the board as possible if it means I can get by without using jumpers (I'm lazy when it comes to soldering), but if it's a complicated layout they're a necessary evil in order to cram everything in.  Try to keep some of your traces straighter (less diagonals) and you'll probably be able to crush things in a little.

Layouts often take a lot of revisions and take me anything from a few days to a few weeks.

What you've done is a good first attempt, but it might be worth your while spending a little time refining it.  I know that you just want to get it all soldered and up and running, but patience will reward!  :)
"They always say there's nothing new under the sun.  I think that that's a big copout..."  Wayne Shorter

spongebob

Looks nice, just two things after looking at the schematic:

The 10uF cap (C12) at the input of the chipamp should be reversed I think...

And it is probably a good idea to include the 100nF / 1 Ohm zobel filter that's in the datasheet schematics. Without it you might eventually run into stability problems, but that depends on the actual loudspeaker you are going to use.

Just out of curiosity: How is gain controlled on the TDA2003? I can't find anything about gain in the datasheet, but I guess it's controlled by the feedback resistor, does that mean it's 100 (220 / 2.2) in this case? Considering that the output signal of the FET circuit can be several volts peak-to-peak your output chip would start to clip very soon...

Let us know how it goes, mini amps rock! :D