Design And Construction Of A 500W Audio Amplifier

ABSTRACT

This work is titled the design and construction of 500W power amplifier. A  power amplifier is a device for increasing the audio power of a signal by use of an external energy source. It is design to meet up with the amplification demand in homes, offices, industries and especially in music industries. A power amplifier amplifies low-power audio signals (signals composed primarily of frequencies between 20 – 20 000 Hz, the human range of hearing) to a level suitable for driving loudspeakers and is the final stage in a typical audio playback chain, While the input signal to an audio amplifier may measure only a few hundred microwatts, its output may be tens, hundreds, or thousands of watts.

This device is designed to deliver appreciable 500w power to the load. Audio Power amplifiers may be called upon to supply power ranging from a few watts in an audio amplifier to many hundreds or thousands of watts to a load (speaker). In audio amplifiers the load is usually the dynamic impedance presented to the amplifier by a loudspeaker, and the function is to maximize the power delivered to the load over a wide range of frequencies. The power amplifier in a radio transmitter operates over a relatively narrow band of frequencies with the load essentially constant impedance.

This amplifier, when constructed can produce up to 800 watts (w) of audio signal.  It can be sued to amplify the sound of audio sound system like mini radio cassette player, compact disc player, turn table record player, car radio cassette player or any other sound system that requires increased audio.

This amplifier when produced in large or commercial quality, according to purpose will create job opportunity, provide indigenous electronics technology industry, and it will contribute to economic growth of the nation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      INTRODUCTION

1.1      OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

1.3     APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

1.4      PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

1.5      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

1.6      LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT

1.7    PROJECT WORK ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1      HISTORITICAL BACKGROUND OF AN AMPLIFIER

2.2     REVIEW OF CLASSIFICATION OF POWER AMPLIFIERS

2.3      CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO MODE OF OPERATION

2.4       REVIEW OF TRANSISTOR BIASING

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     CONSTRUCTION

3.1      BLOCK DIAGRAM OF AN AUDIO POWER AMPLIFIER

3.2      CIRCUIT DIAGRAM OF A 500W AMPLIFIER

3.3      CIRCUIT OPERATION

3.4     CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION

3.5     POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT

3.6      PARTS LIST OF 500 WATT AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT

3.7      DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS USED

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT ANALYSIS

4.0      CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE AND TESTING

4.1      CASING AND PACKAGING

4.2      ASSEMBLING OF SECTIONS

4.3      TESTING OF SYSTEM OPERATION

4.4      COST ANALYSIS

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1      CONCLUSION

5.2      RECOMMENDATION

5.3      REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

An audio amplifier is an electronic amplifier that amplifies low-power audio signals (signals composed primarily of frequencies between 20 – 20 000 Hz, the human range of hearing) to a level suitable for driving loudspeakers. It is the final electronic stage in a typical audio playback chain.

An audio amplifier is to deliver power to the load, and as we know from above, is the product of the voltage and current applied to the load with the output signal power being greater than the input signal power. In other words, an audio amplifier amplifies the power of the input signal which is why these types of amplifier circuits are used in audio amplifier output stages to drive loudspeakers.

An audio amplifier works on the basic principle of converting the DC power drawn from the power supply into an AC voltage signal delivered to the load. Although the amplification is high the efficiency of the conversion from the DC power supply input to the AC voltage signal output is usually poor.

The preceding stages in such a chain are low power audio amplifiers which perform tasks like pre-amplification (this is particularly associated with record turntable signals), equalization, tone controls, mixing/effects, or audio sources like record players, CD players, and cassette players. Most audio power amplifiers require these low-level inputs to adhere to line levels.

While the input signal to an audio amplifier may measure only a few hundred microwatts, its output may be tens or hundreds of watts for a home system or thousands or tens of thousands of watts for a concert sound reinforcement system.

Not all amplifiers are the same and are therefore classified according to their circuit configurations and methods of operation. In “Electronics”, small signal amplifiers are commonly used devices as they have the ability to amplify a relatively small input signal, for example from a Sensor such as a photo-device, into a much larger output signal to drive a relay, lamp or loudspeaker for example.

There are many forms of electronic circuits classed as amplifiers, from Operational Amplifiers and Small Signal Amplifiers up to Large Signal and Power Amplifiers. The classification of an amplifier depends upon the size of the signal, large or small, its physical configuration and how it processes the input signal, which is the relationship between input signal and current flowing in the load.

1.2                                             OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

The main objective of this work is to design and construct an audio amplifier that will deliver appreciable 500w power to the load. A 500W Audio amplifiers may be called upon to supply power ranging from a few watts in an audio amplifier to 500 watts to a load (speaker).

1.3                                         APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

Important applications include public address systems, theatrical and concert sound reinforcement systems, and domestic systems such as a stereo or home-theatre system. Instrument amplifiers including guitar amplifiers and electric keyboard amplifiers also use audio power amplifiers. In some cases, the power amplifier for an instrument is integrated into a single amplifier “head” which contains a preamplifier, tone controls, and electronic effects. In other cases, musicians may create a setup with separate rack mount preamplifiers, equalizers, and a power amplifier in a separate chassis.

1.4                                              PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT

Amplifier’s main purpose is to take the weak signal and make it strong to drive a speaker. An audio amplifiers usually get necessary amplification energy of input signals from the AC supply. Ideally without distortion an amplifier can deliver signal at the output without distortion.

1.5                                         SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

Today there are many categories of amplifiers used for multifarious purposes. In simple terms an amplifier picks up a weak signal and converts it into a strong one. It is widely used in several devices to boost electrical signals. Radios, televisions and telephones are a few examples to point out in this regard. There are innumerable other applications of amplifiers and it is not easy to enumerate all of them. Some of the common types of amplifiers are used in electronic gadgets and audio systems. These are also used in musical instruments and guitars.

1.6                                           LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT

 Noise. This device tends to add some random noise to the signals passing through them, hence degrading the SNR (signal to noise ratio). This, in turn, limits the accuracy of any measurement.

   Limited output voltage, current, and power levels. This amplifier cannot produce more than 500w.

1.7                                        PROJECT WORK ORGANISATION

The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is organized sequentially as follows:

Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to 500w audio amplifier. In this chapter, the background, significance, objective limitation and problem of 500w audio amplifier were discussed.

Chapter two is on literature review of a 500w audio amplifier. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.

Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.

Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.

Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.