Transformer Coupled Attenuation Kit Project

[mightymike]

I've thought it would be really cool to develop a kit so that anyone could build a top shelf Transformer coupled attenuator. To be honest, this is not my area of expertise. What I do have is access to a shit load of old Computer Power supplies, and aluminum heat sinks for free.. So right there I have the enclosure, the heat sink, and even a fan for free..Not all the heat sinks are Identicle, but the enclosure are pretty uniform. I figure I could paint them ammo box green, or black.
It will work for 4, 8, and 16 ohm... Have a line out, dummy load, and instead of ranges it will have a big dial like on a Variac from zero to full.

If this works the way I envision. It will be the cheapest way to go, ( under $200), high quality parts, and features to rival the best of the best, and fun to build with a little refrence CD Ala Metroamp style with easy to understand instructions.

Right now a friend of 30 plus years is working on this with me. He has the expertise on the design aspects, and is setting aside parts. We already have enough enclosures and fans for 30 units, and heat sinks for 5. ( some were thrown out). When are design is settled on, then we will begin testing and tweeking....

[stef]

[JimiJames]

[somethin'else]

Awesome! Will it be a reactive or resistive type attenuator?

[mightymike]

Both... Reactive because of the transformer coupling, but it will have load resisters as well. The load resisters will probably be the most expensive part, so maybe we'll make a single impedence version available for a cheaper price. My partner is the brains behind this with regards to the math of the transformer coupling, so I'm learning as well. What started us down this path was I wanted to hook a big ohmite resister from the speaker jack to a variac and see if that would work.... Redneck Attenuator

[bmf5150]

I'm interested!!!

[mightymike]

I really don't care so much about making profit on this... I'm more interested in the community of Attenuator builders it would create, and the improvements, mods, and evolution that would take off by providing a cheap and easy way for a lot of people to get their feet wet. So any ideas and suggestions are welcome. We are still at the design phase.

[zaphod777]

[vanhalen5150]

There should be a DIY attenuator thread for sure. Lot of good ideas floating around.

[mightymike]

I'm down for that!!

[jimmyride]

Wow, very pleasant surprize to see someone working on a project like this. I'll be among the first ones to get it. I've been overlooking this section of the forum thinking there'd be nothing interesting. Couldn't be more wrong.

[bigsmitty]

+1

[mightymike]

The more I think about it, I kinda look at this as a group project. I just have a deal on sourcing parts to make it cheap, and access to some great minds. In the end, it's more about doing for attenuators what our Metro forum builders have done for amp building, which is to collectively and colaboratively try everything imaginable. I'm going to make this as cheap as humanly possible. Free enclosures, and heat sinks will help with that. So will buying in bulk. I get goose bumps thinking about how this will evolve, and the new discoverys, be they specific parts or configurations as the various attenuator kit builders tweak and mod to perfection....

[vanhalen5150]

We going to leave this here or start one somewhere else? I'll start putting up a few pics of the direction(one of them anyway) I've been going in. Getting as many ideas going to draw from should give as a pretty bad ass decibel drop (BADD) machine.

[mightymike]

Post it here... I'll rename tthe thread by adding project to the end. I have an old Electrical Engineer friend who's going to help with the design this weekend.