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Your comment is solid in terms of how deep any field goes... and is also a good motivation for me to not bother with DIY power supplies :) (Don't worry I anywa

Your comment is solid in terms of how deep any field goes... and is also a good motivation for me to not bother with DIY power supplies :) (Don't worry I anyway wasn't planning to mess with mains voltages, only 12-24V)

exmadscientist 2y ago
Power supplies are really interesting in that regard, because they're both (1) one of the best ways to learn as a beginner or intermediate beginner and (2) one of the worst value/$ ways to learn. There are so many decent power supplies out there to buy that I think building your own is not really the right choice, unless you see yourself doing more offline power or even high-power (audio?) amplifiers in the future.
- user_7832 2y ago
  > high-power (audio?) amplifiers Coincidentally I am interested in that field in the future. Though I'm fairly sure that there are good quality existing designs on github/diyaudio.com, so I likely don't need to design one myself. Would you have any other suggestions for this topic/field?
  - pjc50 2y ago
    > Would you have any other suggestions for this topic/field? Acquire a scope as soon as possible. Doesn't have to be good, expensive, or even digital, but without one you literally cannot see what you are doing. You can emulate this with PC interfaces, but it's so much more convenient as a separate bench instrument. Decide how much of a traditionalist you are. Class D has overwhelmingly won in terms of sound quality, convenience and efficiency, but if you want to build a valve amp and warm your hands around the glow, that's a very pleasant hobby.
    - user_7832 2y ago
      Thanks a lot! I definitely plan to get an oscilloscope when I start building. In terms of classes I'm still not sure, but I'll likely go for a multi-channel/amp setup with DSP, perhaps some frequencies Class A & some D. I'll probably first experiment and listen to see what I like when I get started.
creer 2y ago
Depends on the objective. In some cases, slapping together a few components is fine and straightforward. In particular if you pay attention to how other people are using them - perhaps pay attention to the provided standard schematic and layout in the spec or application note - and if you are well within the expected use for these components. Notice magazine articles. Use several sources. Something might still go wrong, but then you might also buy the wrong widget from the wrong seller... If you are deliberately striving to push the limits one way or the other, then yeah, you will run into the exact reasons nobody else did it.

exmadscientist 2y ago

Power supplies are really interesting in that regard, because they're both (1) one of the best ways to learn as a beginner or intermediate beginner and (2) one of the worst value/$ ways to learn. There are so many decent power supplies out there to buy that I think building your own is not really the right choice, unless you see yourself doing more offline power or even high-power (audio?) amplifiers in the future.

user_7832 2y ago
> high-power (audio?) amplifiers Coincidentally I am interested in that field in the future. Though I'm fairly sure that there are good quality existing designs on github/diyaudio.com, so I likely don't need to design one myself. Would you have any other suggestions for this topic/field?
- pjc50 2y ago
  > Would you have any other suggestions for this topic/field? Acquire a scope as soon as possible. Doesn't have to be good, expensive, or even digital, but without one you literally cannot see what you are doing. You can emulate this with PC interfaces, but it's so much more convenient as a separate bench instrument. Decide how much of a traditionalist you are. Class D has overwhelmingly won in terms of sound quality, convenience and efficiency, but if you want to build a valve amp and warm your hands around the glow, that's a very pleasant hobby.
  - user_7832 2y ago
    Thanks a lot! I definitely plan to get an oscilloscope when I start building. In terms of classes I'm still not sure, but I'll likely go for a multi-channel/amp setup with DSP, perhaps some frequencies Class A & some D. I'll probably first experiment and listen to see what I like when I get started.

creer 2y ago

Depends on the objective. In some cases, slapping together a few components is fine and straightforward. In particular if you pay attention to how other people are using them - perhaps pay attention to the provided standard schematic and layout in the spec or application note - and if you are well within the expected use for these components. Notice magazine articles. Use several sources. Something might still go wrong, but then you might also buy the wrong widget from the wrong seller... If you are deliberately striving to push the limits one way or the other, then yeah, you will run into the exact reasons nobody else did it.