TVA-1 valve amp - help

gale401s · 5th July 2010, 06:18 PM

Hi Guys

Trawling theinternet and came accross you guys who I will add to my Hi Fi favourites along with the Gale 401's

I own a TVA 1 valve amp matched with meridian 101 pre amp, Thorens turntable and have bought some Gale 401's to go with them.

Unfortunately stuff was in storage for a few years whilst overseas and my wife has mixed all the plugs up.

I have one electrical plug where the earth is taped to the lead (ie not earthed) and my memory is telling me it belongs to the TVA but I dont want to risk turning everything on and blowing it all. I should remember this as I've had ithe amp for 30 odd years now......duh

Thanks

Gordon

Matt.B.H. · 5th July 2010, 09:29 PM

I would want to be sure that the valve amp had an earth for safety reasons.

Perhaps you disconnected the earth from the pre amp because of an earth loop problem? This is not really the best way, you can disconnect the shield from the interconnects. You really dont want to be using a piece of kit that is not double insulated without an earth in the mains lead. Using the screen of an interconnect as an earth return path is not clever either.

It looks like the Meridian has a screen in the mains tranny so this needs an earth and was designed to have one.

I would just connect everything up with earths connected for all of it, no chance of blowing anything up.

Cheers Matt.

gale401s · 6th July 2010, 08:29 AM

Thanks Matt

Its been like that from 1979'ish, the meridian is fixed wire.

I will connect it up and go for it.

regards

Gordon

gale401s · 11th July 2010, 04:07 PM

Any one got any ideas as to why the earth would be taped to the lead and not wired in ?

Matt.B.H. · 13th July 2010, 07:30 PM

Hi Gordon,
I would say it was almost definately because of a earth/ground loop problem picking up hum/noise.

I know you dont need telling how dangerous it can be to disconnect the earth to something that is designed to have one.

Have a look here:

Earthing (Grounding) Your Hi-Fi - Tricks and Techniques

This should give you enough info on how to get rid of any earth loop problems safely if there are any with all the earths connected as designed.

Cheers Matt.

5th July 2010, 06:18 PM	#1
gale401s diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: nr Oxford	TVA-1 valve amp - help Hi Guys Trawling theinternet and came accross you guys who I will add to my Hi Fi favourites along with the Gale 401's I own a TVA 1 valve amp matched with meridian 101 pre amp, Thorens turntable and have bought some Gale 401's to go with them. Unfortunately stuff was in storage for a few years whilst overseas and my wife has mixed all the plugs up. I have one electrical plug where the earth is taped to the lead (ie not earthed) and my memory is telling me it belongs to the TVA but I dont want to risk turning everything on and blowing it all. I should remember this as I've had ithe amp for 30 odd years now......duh Thanks Gordon

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5th July 2010, 09:29 PM	#2
Matt.B.H. diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cheltenham	I would want to be sure that the valve amp had an earth for safety reasons. Perhaps you disconnected the earth from the pre amp because of an earth loop problem? This is not really the best way, you can disconnect the shield from the interconnects. You really dont want to be using a piece of kit that is not double insulated without an earth in the mains lead. Using the screen of an interconnect as an earth return path is not clever either. It looks like the Meridian has a screen in the mains tranny so this needs an earth and was designed to have one. I would just connect everything up with earths connected for all of it, no chance of blowing anything up. Cheers Matt.

6th July 2010, 08:29 AM	#3
gale401s diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: nr Oxford	Thanks Matt Its been like that from 1979'ish, the meridian is fixed wire. I will connect it up and go for it. regards Gordon

11th July 2010, 04:07 PM	#4
gale401s diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: nr Oxford	Any one got any ideas as to why the earth would be taped to the lead and not wired in ?

13th July 2010, 07:30 PM	#5
Matt.B.H. diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cheltenham	Hi Gordon, I would say it was almost definately because of a earth/ground loop problem picking up hum/noise. I know you dont need telling how dangerous it can be to disconnect the earth to something that is designed to have one. Have a look here: Earthing (Grounding) Your Hi-Fi - Tricks and Techniques This should give you enough info on how to get rid of any earth loop problems safely if there are any with all the earths connected as designed. Cheers Matt.

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