Help! Considering building a tube amp - Page 2

KMossman · 1st February 2013, 09:35 PM

Can I get strawberry sauce on mine?

Bando · 1st February 2013, 11:14 PM

Ok guys, yes a battery can still be dangerous.

I just thought that with tubes being exposed, being very hot and having high voltage wasn't that great of an idea with small children around.

I have touched a car battery with both hands on the terminals and nothing has happened. From what I remember from school you cant even feel electricity until 40 or so volts.

I get it, no matter what is used you have to be careful. I just wanted something that sounds fanastic that can live in a room and not be brittle or overtly dangerous. Since my toddler loves throwing things and I am sure that kids will be kids even when there older I want something that can stand some abuse.

If I cannot have decent sound and an amp that is more rugged than I won't build an amp.

cotdt · 1st February 2013, 11:44 PM

Don't be discouraged. Any amplifier design can be built safely, be it SS or tubes. The tubes don't have to be exposed. It can be put on a PCB and everything will be inside the chassis. Tubes don't really get that hot. In the old days, people used candles and kerosene lamps and had 10 kids, and they somehow managed. So don't be discouraged.

Bando · 2nd February 2013, 12:38 AM

I did not now tubes could be enclosed, I thought they had to be exposed to breathe.

I am gathering it is execution on the part of the builder rather than circuit design or voltages that plays the biggest part in safety.

cotdt · 2nd February 2013, 02:21 AM

Right, there are a lot of famous tube amps with the tubes enclosed. If you include guitar amps, then most tube amps actually you can't even see any tubes.

johnr66 · 2nd February 2013, 04:12 PM

Actually low voltage DC can injure you, not by shock, but by electrolysis damage to your cells. You have to be in contact for a while, but keep that in mind when working around it.

My only issue with tubes is that the cost of quality parts can get downright costly. Look at the output transformers. You need two for stereo. If you're starting out, IC amps are simple and cheap. Just be sure to get authentic parts.

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1st February 2013, 09:35 PM	#11
KMossman diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: now in Suzhou, China	Can I get strawberry sauce on mine?

1st February 2013, 11:14 PM	#12
Bando diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Stoney Creek, ON	Ok guys, yes a battery can still be dangerous. I just thought that with tubes being exposed, being very hot and having high voltage wasn't that great of an idea with small children around. I have touched a car battery with both hands on the terminals and nothing has happened. From what I remember from school you cant even feel electricity until 40 or so volts. I get it, no matter what is used you have to be careful. I just wanted something that sounds fanastic that can live in a room and not be brittle or overtly dangerous. Since my toddler loves throwing things and I am sure that kids will be kids even when there older I want something that can stand some abuse. If I cannot have decent sound and an amp that is more rugged than I won't build an amp.

1st February 2013, 11:44 PM	#13
cotdt diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2005	Don't be discouraged. Any amplifier design can be built safely, be it SS or tubes. The tubes don't have to be exposed. It can be put on a PCB and everything will be inside the chassis. Tubes don't really get that hot. In the old days, people used candles and kerosene lamps and had 10 kids, and they somehow managed. So don't be discouraged.

2nd February 2013, 12:38 AM	#14
Bando diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Stoney Creek, ON	I did not now tubes could be enclosed, I thought they had to be exposed to breathe. I am gathering it is execution on the part of the builder rather than circuit design or voltages that plays the biggest part in safety.

2nd February 2013, 02:21 AM	#15
cotdt diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2005	Right, there are a lot of famous tube amps with the tubes enclosed. If you include guitar amps, then most tube amps actually you can't even see any tubes.

2nd February 2013, 04:12 PM	#16
johnr66 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2009	Actually low voltage DC can injure you, not by shock, but by electrolysis damage to your cells. You have to be in contact for a while, but keep that in mind when working around it. My only issue with tubes is that the cost of quality parts can get downright costly. Look at the output transformers. You need two for stereo. If you're starting out, IC amps are simple and cheap. Just be sure to get authentic parts.