Erratic tube activity

BudP · 5th March 2008, 07:55 AM

Hi all,

I have an AudioPrism four EL 34 amplifier. We built the OPT's for a lot of these amps and I consider it one of the best sounding and most reliable designs available. Not because I supplied the transformers either!

Today, one channel went down. The 12AT7 driver tube heaters were lit for that side, but not the EL 34 heaters. So, I switched EL 34's side to side. The other side tubes worked fine in the new places and the original tubes, now on the other side, worked fine too. For a few minutes.

No distortion, no ultra bright glowing, no unusual noises, but that tube set that had quit before, quit again. Same strange circumstances.

Any suggestions about what is failing? I would hate to spend the money on new tubes, since these sound great while playing, but I haven't the skill or experience to figure out what has gone south here.

Suggestions?

Bud

OzMikeH · 5th March 2008, 11:06 AM

I'm probably stating the obvious here...
I'm far from an expert.

Your problem might be undersized pins or corrosion products on the pins and or sockets. I've also had some very bizarre things happen where dissimilar metals connect, especially when you add a heap of hot/cold cycles and some humidity. It costs nothing to give them a good clean with some solvent then a light abrasion.

woodturner-fran · 5th March 2008, 11:38 AM

You need to have a look inside. See if you still have B+ on the affected side and then check if you have heaters on the affected supply. That will at least rule out one or the other. Report back after this.

Fran

Ps. if you are not comfortable with the high voltages and the dangers inherent, get a pro to have a look at it instead. **Discalimer over**

pedroskova · 5th March 2008, 11:55 AM

WAG...

Thermal expansion is shorting out a heater of one of the tubes, and the heaters on each side are wired in series. Swap one tube from each side...if it stays, the bad tube is the one you didn't swap. If the behavior moves back to the other side, the swapped tube is the culprit.

BudP · 6th March 2008, 09:09 PM

Thanks guy's

Pedroskova had it in one.

Bud

5th March 2008, 07:55 AM	#1
BudP diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: upper left crust, united snakes	Eratic tube activity Hi all, I have an AudioPrism four EL 34 amplifier. We built the OPT's for a lot of these amps and I consider it one of the best sounding and most reliable designs available. Not because I supplied the transformers either! Today, one channel went down. The 12AT7 driver tube heaters were lit for that side, but not the EL 34 heaters. So, I switched EL 34's side to side. The other side tubes worked fine in the new places and the original tubes, now on the other side, worked fine too. For a few minutes. No distortion, no ultra bright glowing, no unusual noises, but that tube set that had quit before, quit again. Same strange circumstances. Any suggestions about what is failing? I would hate to spend the money on new tubes, since these sound great while playing, but I haven't the skill or experience to figure out what has gone south here. Suggestions? Bud

5th March 2008, 11:06 AM	#2
OzMikeH diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007	I'm probably stating the obvious here... I'm far from an expert. Your problem might be undersized pins or corrosion products on the pins and or sockets. I've also had some very bizarre things happen where dissimilar metals connect, especially when you add a heap of hot/cold cycles and some humidity. It costs nothing to give them a good clean with some solvent then a light abrasion. __________________ Help some guys with funny hair bang two rocks together really hard. http://athome.web.cern.ch/athome/LHCathome/whatis.html

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5th March 2008, 11:38 AM	#3
woodturner-fran diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ireland	You need to have a look inside. See if you still have B+ on the affected side and then check if you have heaters on the affected supply. That will at least rule out one or the other. Report back after this. Fran Ps. if you are not comfortable with the high voltages and the dangers inherent, get a pro to have a look at it instead. Discalimer over

5th March 2008, 11:55 AM	#4
pedroskova RIP Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: C'ville VA, USA	WAG... Thermal expansion is shorting out a heater of one of the tubes, and the heaters on each side are wired in series. Swap one tube from each side...if it stays, the bad tube is the one you didn't swap. If the behavior moves back to the other side, the swapped tube is the culprit.

6th March 2008, 09:09 PM	#5
BudP diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: upper left crust, united snakes	Thanks guy's Pedroskova had it in one. Bud

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