How to make UL with own hands from improvised materials?

In the article it will be told how to make UL by own hands from improvised materials. And the preference will be given only to those designs that even a novice amateur who can only read electrical schemata can repeat. But first things first. First of all, it should be noted that there are four types of circuits: on lamps, transistors, microcircuits, and also mixed, which can contain several kinds of elements. For example, a preamplifier can be assembled on transistors, and a terminal one - on lamps.

Which scheme to choose?

It is worth deciding what you are waiting for from the device and in what area are going to apply it. It depends on which ULF circuit will be used. But in any case, of course, the choice of a modern element base is the most effective solution. Pay attention to the fact that the lamp technology has a huge drawback - a massive power supply. Yes, and find now the transformers will be extremely difficult. And if there is no supply of lamps, then if one fails, you lose your amplifier. It is quite easy to manufacture ULF on lamps with their own hands, only the design turns out to be cumbersome.

Transistor designs look more attractive, but they also have a big minus. With the sheer complexity of the circuit, you get very low power. It is likely that you can get a huge printed circuit board, on which the elements will be located close to each other, and the power of the whole device - no more than 10 watts. Therefore, there remains the third option - the use of microcircuits. Simple, reliable, durable (with proper operation).

Printed circuit board

You can mount the installation in a small area, so you will have enough of a piece of foil material with a size of 30x30 mm. But you can also apply the so-called fish - textolite with holes for mounting elements and small areas of metal around them. This will be the most optimal solution. To make a simple UL with our own hands is a matter of a few minutes.

If there is only a foil-shaped textolite, then you have to cut the grooves on it. They will allow you to make a few patches of copper on a small board. On them, and will be mounted all the elements of the amplifier. Pay attention to the fact that the power supply can be made both separately from the main part of the ULF, and with it.

Power Amplifier

As a rule, for domestic amplifiers there is enough power in 9-18 Volts. These are standard voltages, transformers can be found almost everywhere. The power scheme is standard - a transformer, four diodes and a capacitor with a capacity of at least 100 μF to get rid of the variable component of the supply voltage.

But a lot depends on which ULF scheme will be used in your design. If you plan to collect low-power ULFs, then you need to look at the datasheet of the chip you are going to apply. Pay special attention to the line in which the range of supply voltages is indicated. If it is permissible to reduce to 5 V, then it is possible to use any charger from the phone.

How to assemble an amplifier

ULF on microcircuits requires additional cooling. Sometimes even low-power designs produce a lot of heat. Therefore, it is essential to use aluminum radiators for effective cooling.

If you are assembling a powerful UL with your own hands, you should carefully consider the issue of cooling. It is possible that the installation of a cooler will be required additionally.

In general, the assembly of ULFs with their own hands should not be complicated. All elements are connected according to the scheme. And after the control check and continuity, power is applied and the signal source is connected to the input. Of course, the output needs a load - a speaker. With a working chip, the amplifier starts working without any settings. It is worth noting that the amplifier circuit is best used by the one that is shown in the datasheet of the microcircuit. These standard schemes take into account everything, even the smallest nuances of the work of a particular microcircuit. And it will work well only with these nuances in mind. Using circuits from unverified sources, you run the risk of damaging the microcircuit. And sometimes its cost is quite high.