Overloaded TPA3116?

P

pandaalex

New Member
Hello hello,

Wondered if someone could help me with an answer to this problem:

Recently got a Breeze Audio (TPA 3116) 50W+50W+100W, 2.1 cheap chip amp off eBay.

I'm using it to run a pair of B&W 601 S2's. They are rated at 100W so figured they should be ok (not ideal I know) with this little amp.

I'm powering the amp with a 17-21V laptop brick (4.7A).

Here's the problem. It works fine and sounds good up to mid-volume (12 o'clock). At this point its loudish but but listenable, certainly not as loud as I'd like to be able to play some songs.

Turn it up slightly and the amp cuts out and needs switching off and back on again.

The eBay seller says he thinks the load is too heavy for this amp.

Is it overloaded? Or is the power supply not right? Faulty Amp?

I'm definitely a noob when it comes to audio and would be very grateful for any help/answers with this.

Many thanks, Alex
 
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Just asking too much of the amp.

I have the same situation with my 3116 amp if I push it too hard, especially on the Thiel 3.6s. It's not hot when it happens, it just cuts in and out.

Your speakers are rated 8 ohms, and of moderate sensitivity. The chip amps are rated at 4 ohms and typically 1% or 10% THD. So, in terms of clean power you're actually more like 15-20 watts. Certainly can make for nice listening but with smallish, moderately sensitive speakers it's not going to blow your hair back.
 
digital amps are better than 90% efficient - right ?
something like that

anyway

to get 200w out of the amp to your speakers you need a supply that has more than 220 watt or so capacity

20 volts at 11 or 12 amps or so

rms right ?

maybe your supply is shutting down from overload
 
There's a loooong thread here on these boards as a group. The major takeaways from this and my own dinking around with them are:

- The power supply is everything.
- Solid DC power is required.
- Repurposed laptop brick power supplies are not necessarily reliable and sufficient for the application.
- Astron 12 volt, 7.0 amp power supplies are known-good.
- Recapping the boards with better capacitors tends to improve performance and reliability.
- Advertised power output specs are not reliable and inflated.

Cheers,

David
 
12 volts at 7 amps ?

84 watts would work on a 70watt or so digital amp

too small for a 200w amp

50 50 100
 
I use a 250W HP workstation power supply. 19.5V @ nearly 13 amps and have the same thing occur if I push it hard. At ~20V power supply and 4 ohms load, that's a bit over 40wpc per the 3116 datasheet (my situation).

The Astron PS is fine for sound, but not good for power output making only ~8wpc at 8 ohms because of the lowish 12-13V. The OP does not have Klipschorns, he has 88dB/W/m speakers. 8w won't go too far.

The OPs PS, while not huge, should be sufficient to provide the power the 3116 amp is capable of delivering at that operating point. At roughly 19V power supply with 8 ohms load impedance, the data sheet says roughly 20wpc @ 1% THD. So, 20wpc times 2 is about 40W, and data sheet indicates 90% efficiency or more at that operating point. So, load demand is about 45W max. 19V x 4.7A is about 90W which means the PS is roughly 2x the expected load demand.
 
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Thank you for your replies!

It seems the breeze audio won't be a good match for my b&w's by the looks of it.

I guess il use it to run some 6 ohm 60w 2 way Sony speakers I have lying around. Should be more suitable..

SO, any suggestions for a cheap (under £100) chip amp that can handle the b&w's. Preferably with good Bluetooth and pre-out connections for an active sub..?

Thanks again! Very helpful : )

Alex
 
I had a similar issue with an Astron power supply.

Upon measuring the output, I found the voltage was too low.

I replaced the Astron with a brand new 8 amp Pyramid power supply and the problem went away.
 
All Astron power supplies - the linear types with pass transistors - are regulated. There's an adjusting pot to set the output voltage on those circuit boards. That's all that's typically needed to get them running again. Worse case, if it has been run for multiple years (not uncommon when they're used at the base of communications towers), is to ensure the grounding screws are retightened. As me how I know this.

Cheers,

David

CKDC said:
I had a similar issue with an Astron power supply.

Upon measuring the output, I found the voltage was too low.

I replaced the Astron with a brand new 8 amp Pyramid power supply and the problem went away.
Click to expand...
 
pandaalex said:
Might try a new PS before I write it off then. What's an ideal PS for this amp?

Thanks, A
Click to expand...
A good computer brick.

I suggest one of the HP workstation laptop power supplies if you can find one.

This I what I use: http://m.ebay.com/itm/New-Genuine-HP-EliteBook-8740W-8760W-8770W-4730S-230W-AC-Adapter-641514-001-/181152361588?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150519202348%26meid%3D9aed6da4bdf74138a410b2449de35ce7%26pid%3D100408%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D17%26sd%3D200930719255&_trksid=p2056116.c100408.m2460

Previously I mentioned 250W but I guess its actually 230W.

As mentioned earlier, the problem is that 12V power supplies make for only ~8 watts per channel (@ 8 ohms) or so. Fine if you have Khorns, etc., but doesn't go very far with regular speakers, especially when it sounds like you crank it up a bit.
 
dshoaf said:
All Astron power supplies - the linear types with pass transistors - are regulated. There's an adjusting pot to set the output voltage on those circuit boards. That's all that's typically needed to get them running again. Worse case, if it has been run for multiple years (not uncommon when they're used at the base of communications towers), is to ensure the grounding screws are retightened. As me how I know this.

Cheers,

David
Click to expand...


I tried that internal adjustment with no luck.

In general, there seemed to be issues with the Astron that I could not deal with. Age issues could have been part of the problem. That is why I went with a new Pyramid. Power supply.
 
whoaru99 said:
A good computer brick.

I suggest one of the HP workstation laptop power supplies if you can find one.

This I what I use: http://m.ebay.com/itm/New-Genuine-HP-EliteBook-8740W-8760W-8770W-4730S-230W-AC-Adapter-641514-001-/181152361588?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150519202348%26meid%3D9aed6da4bdf74138a410b2449de35ce7%26pid%3D100408%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D17%26sd%3D200930719255&_trksid=p2056116.c100408.m2460

Previously I mentioned 250W but I guess its actually 230W.

As mentioned earlier, the problem is that 12V power supplies make for only ~8 watts per channel (@ 8 ohms) or so. Fine if you have Khorns, etc., but doesn't go very far with regular speakers, especially when it sounds like you crank it up a bit.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks!

I've just ordered this ps from a uk seller. Thought I'd give the Breeze a second chance as it sounds great and has all the functions I need. Only lacking in power really..

The strange thing is that my active sub is the first one to start clipping (before the b&w's).. I thought the sub wouldn't draw anything from the amp as it has its own amp...? Shame really as the crossover works really well (at lower volumes obvs).

I was looking at the sure tda7498 amp as it seems to be the only other chip amp with the same connections etc and more power, but after watching a bad review on YouTube (crossover takes ALL the bass from satelites when sub is plugged in. He was guessing the crossover was set at around 150hz..) I've decided to give the breeze a chance to redeem itself : )

Thanks!
 
I hope I wasn't misleading with my reply. Earlier I suggested I think it's just asking too much from the amp, not a power suppy issue per se. I still stand by that assessment.

Only providing the info on the PS because if you're going to try a different supply I think it's a good choice.
 
whoaru99 said:
I hope I wasn't misleading with my reply. Earlier I suggested I think it's just asking too much from the amp, not a power suppy issue per se. I still stand by that assessment.

Only providing the info on the PS because if you're going to try a different supply I think it's a good choice.
Click to expand...

Not at all. I'm definitely trying to push the limits of this amp! Like I said, I was looking around for a more powerful chip amp altogether, but not much out there with Bluetooth, sub out and say 100w+100w.

The ps is definitely very important for this device as I have tried two other ps I had lying around and the problem was the same, but much worse.

I would be happy if was able to turn it up to say 3 o'clock without cut out so a more powerful ps is worth a try.

Thank you, A
 
I'm definitely a noob when it comes to audio

Yes. Then maybe you shouldn't spend your money first and then find out whether it works for you later on.
 
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