Octal socket current rating

[mvstillwater]

I'm not sure if this should be in power supplies, but I put it here since it's really about tube sockets. Please move if I'm in the wrong sub forum.

I am planning on having a separate power supply for my 3E29 tube amp, with an umbilical cord using an octal plug/socket. How much current can one safely pass through the octal socket/plug combo? I am particularly thinking of the 6.3V heater supply that would need to run 9A.

Any other suggestions (better socket/plug combos) would be welcome. I will be needing all 8 pins for the various supplies

Thanks

Richard

 

[Tubelab_com]

I wouldn't try to suck more than 4 or 5 amps through an octal socket. I melted a couple of NOS sockets years ago.

The old standby for big tube amp power supplies was the Cinch Jones plugs and sockets. Each pin is rated for 15 amps at 250 V RMS. I used a 15 pin version for the umbilical cord in my 845 SE amp where the B+ is 1100 volts DC. I put that voltage on a corner pin and left the adjacent pins unused. I used the amp for several years in the Florida humidity without issue, but it hasn't seen power in years.

These things were common, but are getting harder to find. Digikey has some of the smaller sizes in stock, and Mouser still has quite a few. I found mine surplus, and they still show up in surplus catalogs.

https://www.mouser.com/datasheet/2/643/ds-CCS-IND-jones-plugs-2400-series-1359514.pdf

 

[mvstillwater]

Thanks for the suggestion. A quick check shows that these are rated at 10A so that should work well.