What's the biggest full wave damper diode?

leadbelly · 26th August 2008, 06:18 PM

Working on a big guitar amp finally, big enough to need a GZ34.

I was wondering if there was a damper diode alternative to that? I know about the 6CD3/6CE3/6CG3, but these are only half wave, and 2 would need lots of heater current. I know about the 6BY5, but that's only good for 175mA I guess.

Tom Bavis · 26th August 2008, 06:55 PM

6AX6? Good luck finding any... a pair of dampers would do as well.

Rodango · 26th August 2008, 07:09 PM

My personal favorite is the Soviet Svetlana 5C3S. They are 5U4s on steroids and can be obtained inexpensively on ebay.

Colt45 · 26th August 2008, 07:35 PM

'cept that isn't a damper

--^

there isn't really fullwave dampers as such, because you only need one damper diode in a TV...

mashaffer · 26th August 2008, 10:10 PM

Just for my edification what makes a damper diode different from any other vacuum diode?

mcs · 26th August 2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mashaffer
Just for my edification what makes a damper diode different from any other vacuum diode?

Slow heat-up, low internal impedance (= low voltage drop), and a good heater/cathode isolation so you can use a common heater supply.

Best regards,

Mikkel C. Simonsen

DougL · 26th August 2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Just for my edification what makes a damper diode different from any other vacuum diode?

A damper diode (or efficiency diode in Europe) was used in TV in the horizontal output stage. The circuit was high voltage, high current, low pulse duration service.

Understanding the Horizontal output stage

HTH

Doug

Eli Duttman · 27th August 2008, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by leadbelly
Working on a big guitar amp finally, big enough to need a GZ34.

I was wondering if there was a damper diode alternative to that? I know about the 6CD3/6CE3/6CG3, but these are only half wave, and 2 would need lots of heater current. I know about the 6BY5, but that's only good for 175mA I guess.

Dude,

The 6BY5 is good for 175 mA. continuous DC per plate. Carefully peruse the 6BY5 data sheet.

BTW, Chinese made 5AR4s from reputable dealers, like Jim McShane, are both reliable and reasonably priced.

vanofmonks · 27th August 2008, 12:24 AM

What about the 6by5?

Chris

athos56 · 27th August 2008, 04:03 AM

I'm using a pair of 6D22S's in my new project

26th August 2008, 06:18 PM	#1
leadbelly diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta	What's the biggest full wave damper diode? Working on a big guitar amp finally, big enough to need a GZ34. I was wondering if there was a damper diode alternative to that? I know about the 6CD3/6CE3/6CG3, but these are only half wave, and 2 would need lots of heater current. I know about the 6BY5, but that's only good for 175mA I guess. __________________ Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. Enzo Ferrari

26th August 2008, 10:10 PM	#5
mashaffer diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Indiana	Just for my edification what makes a damper diode different from any other vacuum diode? __________________ mike - www.keepingsundayspecial.org

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26th August 2008, 06:55 PM	#2
Tom Bavis diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Macedon NY	6AX6? Good luck finding any... a pair of dampers would do as well.

26th August 2008, 07:09 PM	#3
Rodango diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Salem, OR	My personal favorite is the Soviet Svetlana 5C3S. They are 5U4s on steroids and can be obtained inexpensively on ebay.

26th August 2008, 07:35 PM	#4
Colt45 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Canada	'cept that isn't a damper --^ there isn't really fullwave dampers as such, because you only need one damper diode in a TV...

27th August 2008, 12:24 AM	#9
vanofmonks diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006	What about the 6by5? Chris

27th August 2008, 04:03 AM	#10
athos56 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yakima, Washington	I'm using a pair of 6D22S's in my new project

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