Rectifier swap out?

losacco · 24th May 2009, 02:50 PM

Well I have the wrong power transformer for my line stage, wrong rectifier voltage. Instead of spending $70 more on another trans., I would rather use a GZ34. My question is, is this a simple swap for the 6CA4 or is it more complicated than that?

Thanks

vinylkid58 · 24th May 2009, 04:18 PM

You will need a 5V heater supply and an octal socket for the GZ34:

6CA4 has a small 9 pin base and uses 6.3V to heat.

So no, it's not a simple swap.

http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/f...035/5/5AR4.pdf

http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/f...127/6/6CA4.pdf

Jeff

audio845 · 24th May 2009, 04:49 PM

You would probably get about the same voltage with the 5AR4 anyway. If you have the five volts for the filament and room for an octal socket you could try the 5R4, probably drop 20 to 30 volts in a line stage depending on current draw. Other possibilities would be a 5Y3 or 5V4. Good luck.

Charlie

Ty_Bower · 24th May 2009, 04:54 PM

If by "wrong" power transformer you mean you got a 5 volt, 2 amp winding (instead of the 6.3 volt, 1 amp winding required for an EZ81 rectifier) then switching to the GZ34 rectifier should be a relatively simple task. You'll need an octal socket for the GZ34. Also be aware the equivalent series resistance of the GZ34 is noticeably lower than the EZ81, so you will end up with less voltage drop across it (equals higher B+ voltages). I might be tempted to just stick higher valued power resistors in the R stages of the supply filter to compensate.

24th May 2009, 02:50 PM	#1
losacco diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2008	Rectifier swap out? Well I have the wrong power transformer for my line stage, wrong rectifier voltage. Instead of spending $70 more on another trans., I would rather use a GZ34. My question is, is this a simple swap for the 6CA4 or is it more complicated than that? Thanks

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24th May 2009, 04:18 PM	#2
vinylkid58 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Victoria, B.C.	You will need a 5V heater supply and an octal socket for the GZ34: 6CA4 has a small 9 pin base and uses 6.3V to heat. So no, it's not a simple swap. http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/f...035/5/5AR4.pdf http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/f...127/6/6CA4.pdf Jeff

24th May 2009, 04:49 PM	#3
audio845 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	You would probably get about the same voltage with the 5AR4 anyway. If you have the five volts for the filament and room for an octal socket you could try the 5R4, probably drop 20 to 30 volts in a line stage depending on current draw. Other possibilities would be a 5Y3 or 5V4. Good luck. Charlie

24th May 2009, 04:54 PM	#4
Ty_Bower diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Newark, DE	If by "wrong" power transformer you mean you got a 5 volt, 2 amp winding (instead of the 6.3 volt, 1 amp winding required for an EZ81 rectifier) then switching to the GZ34 rectifier should be a relatively simple task. You'll need an octal socket for the GZ34. Also be aware the equivalent series resistance of the GZ34 is noticeably lower than the EZ81, so you will end up with less voltage drop across it (equals higher B+ voltages). I might be tempted to just stick higher valued power resistors in the R stages of the supply filter to compensate.

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