SS Power Amp Build: Icepower 700AS2

[Alex Kenivel]

Planning out my wiring scheme as parts are trickling in and I keep wondering about these duplicate wires for the speaker outputs.

I'm only going to be using one set of them per output, as I'm not planning on wiring a connection for bridging the channels, what I assume the redundant wires are for.

Would it be a bad idea to cut the redundant wires back?

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Planning out my wiring scheme as parts are trickling in and I keep wondering about these duplicate wires for the speaker outputs.

I'm only going to be using one set of them per output, as I'm not planning on wiring a connection for bridging the channels, what I assume the redundant wires are for.

Would it be a bad idea to cut the redundant wires back?
View attachment 58700

Without looking anything up, my recollection is that you are supposed to connect white-white and black-black so you've got two wires running each polarity as a pseudo thicker speaker wire.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Without looking anything up, my recollection is that you are supposed to connect white-white and black-black so you've got two wires running each polarity as a pseudo thicker speaker wire.

This is what I see people doing on their builds.

I've seen somewhere where these wires can be used to set up a bridged connection also, but don't feel like digging it up after an evening of tinkering. What I really want are less wires in the box that I have to deal with because space is pretty tight. I'm a little nervous about the bleed that may happen from the cramped quarters.

I still have a little more time to worry about that. I have some aluminum to drill!

I made a template for the fit and hole marking. I punched spots with a mallet and old phillips head screwdriver.

Drilled pilot holes and tapped holes for my first time ever. I know threading these holes isn't really necessary because the standoffs are threaded but I couldn't miss the opportunity to try it out. Of course I forgot to back out my first one and stripped it! The other ones went smooth after that.

With the standoffs attached, everything fits with just enough room for the components and wiring. I hope there's enough space for everything to play nice!

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Tracing out the components onto cardboard and painters tape for templates.

Im now waiting on a new soldering iron and another IEC socket because I destroyed the one I salvaged when attempting to desolder components from it with my backup iron. Not too happy about that, but I made some good progress nonetheless and will have a busy week ahead of me with family and band.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Easy like a Sunday morning...

I'm about to cut the holes for the front and doing a test fit of some parts. The speaker outputs are pretty close to this EMI choke. I wonder if this is going to be an issue..

I have a little more room toward the front so I could just redrill new holes in the bottom and scooch it up a bit if it becomes an issue. Could use some ventilation anyway..

 

[Alex Kenivel]

More drilling

Had some feet kicking around that seem like they will work perfectly.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Started wiring today

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I'm a little stuck, not even sure if this module is even powering on. Definitely no audio. Not sure if it's the power that isn't wired correctly or the audio not being wired correctly tripping some kind of failsafe so it doesn't come on?

The IEC female connector to rocker switch wiring seems to be okay, but I might just remove the switch from the signal and try to power it on without it to see if I get anything.

Wiring balanced connections to a potentiometer with 3 posts could be my issue. I have the Tip and Sleeve from my audio input going to the input and ground lugs respectively, then the middle lug is the output going to Signal+ on the module. Ground lug is also connected to the ground of the amp input. The Signal- input for the module remains unconnected.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I took the rocker switch out of the equation but still had no signs of life, until I shorted Pins 10 and 12 on connector P103 as per something I read, not sure if in the manual or not (i cant seem to find it now!). When shorted I can hear switching happening, so I jumped the two pins together and now the amp works. I'm not sure if I've bypassed any safeguards by doing so.

Its alive!!!

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I took the rocker switch out of the equation but still had no signs of life, until I shorted Pins 10 and 12 as per something I read, not sure if in the manual or not (i cant seem to find it now!). When shorted I can hear switching happening, so I jumped the two pins together and now the amp works. I'm not sure if I've bypassed any safeguards by doing so.

View attachment 59066

Its alive!!!

View attachment 59067

Pfew. I was about to have a sleepless night worrying if I'd sold you a borked board.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Pfew. I was about to have a sleepless night worrying if I'd sold you a borked board.

Aww, I was pretty determined to get this done today as I've been pretty obsessed with it and need to move on to other projects. My participation in the Do Something challenge has been minimal, and I need to pay a little more attention to my band, lol.

I swear my kids at home and my students at work know a lot more about electronics now than they did a month ago and I may have even learned something, too!

I really appreciate you for being in my corner through this project, and if I ever find an old broken Atari or NES or some equally cool shell, I'll build another one


I also want to thank @Chocol8 again for his brain and his willingness to let me pick it!