Anyone know much about the Dr Z Brakelite?

HamishR

Well-known member
Friend of mine just asked me about it - doesn't look like there's much inside! It looks like if we could get hold of the parts it wouldn't be really hard to make. It looks like the key parts are giant wire-wound resistors? If anyone knows what they are and where to get them I would love to know too!
 
It's basically a selectable dummy load with 50W resistors. The top one in this picture says 3.5Ω, but the one on the bottom is a "multi-tap" resistor, so depending on which lugs you measure between it will have a different resistance. If anyone had access to one they could measure it would be trivial to copy.

dr-amp-attenuator-brake-lite_360_2101d2a309730b6d65ce7a27d42ae950.jpg
 
Here’s an article about a diy version, just used regular power resistors and rotary switch between to get different levels. His schem is hard to read. Seems like you need to think about the power requirements and total impedance seen by amp for each setting.


It seems to be the same concept as the 1/4 and 10% power mod on rob robinette’s 5e3 mods page.
 
DIY 100W Attenuator
Hope this helps:

airbrake_attenuator_layout_-jpg.571484
 
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It's basically a selectable dummy load with 50W resistors. The top one in this picture says 3.5Ω, but the one on the bottom is a "multi-tap" resistor, so depending on which lugs you measure between it will have a different resistance. If anyone had access to one they could measure it would be trivial to copy.

View attachment 24921
Here's the top one:


I believe this is the Bottom one :

DR Z User Manual
 
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Here’s an article about a diy version, just used regular power resistors and rotary switch between to get different levels. His schem is hard to read. Seems like you need to think about the power requirements and total impedance seen by amp for each setting.
I'm trying to redraw his schematic in a way that's actually readable, and I've regretfully had an aneurism and died.

I'll redraw a second draft and post it in a second.
 
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