aikido heater voltage

evanc · 26th January 2011, 03:40 PM

I recently built the aikido 9 pin all in one kit.
Aikido 9-Pin All in One Kit
I used 6CG7 tubes. The transformer heater output is 6.3vac. I have one thing that I need some help on. With the tubes out I get 6.3vdc at the heaters as I should. But with the tubes installed the heater voltage drops to 5.5v. The heaters are referenced to 1/4B+. B+ is just over 300v and the heater reference is at 73v. I have been listening like this and the preamp seems to work fine. I just wasn't sure if I needed to address something.
Thanks, Evan

mastodon · 26th January 2011, 03:46 PM

As long as the transformer doesn't run too hot (you're obviously running it at a higher load than it is intended for), you should be ok. Heater voltage is a bit on the low side, but as long as overall performance is as desired, there should be nothing to worry about.

PWR RYD · 26th January 2011, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mastodon

As long as the transformer doesn't run too hot (you're obviously running it at a higher load than it is intended for), you should be ok. Heater voltage is a bit on the low side, but as long as overall performance is as desired, there should be nothing to worry about.

Hoping I'm not hijacking this thread, but what if the opposite was true. What if the filament winding was underloaded and the heater voltage was more like 7 Vrms? I know a simple resistor in series can be used to drop the 0.7 V, but is it necessary? Would the higher voltage shorten the tubes life? Thanks.

jgf · 26th January 2011, 08:12 PM

It'll work ok with +/- 5% heater voltage, but once you get too far beyond that it won't be optimal. Also, it looks like that's a regulated heater supply on that board, It's likely its dropping out of regulation at low voltage. You might have better luck configuring as a voltage doubler for 12.6 volts, if the board has that option.

evanc · 26th January 2011, 08:16 PM

7 volts is about as high as my voltage is low. The secondary windings in my transformer are each rated at 4amps. I have the 2 windings paralleled...I don't believe I'm overloading the transformer......

leadbelly · 26th January 2011, 08:22 PM

Whoa whoa. All you have is an Aikido preamp and it is dragging 8 amps worth of 6.3V down to 5.5V? Somethings not right. What is the primary rating? How sure are you that the secondaries are 6.3V and identical? I would double check that for sure. Could be that 1 winding is actually 5V or that the windings are indeed 6.3V but different VA rating.

evanc · 26th January 2011, 08:24 PM

jgf,
Yes the board allows for a voltage doubler. It seemed counterintuitive to me to bring the voltage to 12.6 and then regulate it down to 6.3....but maybe this is what I need to do.

evanc · 26th January 2011, 08:26 PM

I am using this transformer.
http://www.antekinc.com/pdf/AN-2T230.pdf
I ran the heaters on one winding and two. Same result...

jgf · 26th January 2011, 08:31 PM

evanc: Not exactly what I meant... some Aikido boards have jumpers to put 6.3v heaters in series for use with 12.6v supply. What are the specs of the transformer you are using? By the way, I had a similar issue with my build when using 6.3v heaters, the reason 12.6 is easier is there is a smaller fraction of 12.6 lost to diode drop than 6.3, IIRC.

jgf · 26th January 2011, 08:39 PM

Oh I see, 2 windings. It would be worth a try to put them in series for 12.6v. Leadbelly may be right though, maybe something's wrong there. Double check the heater regulator circuit, especially the voltage setting resistor on the reg.

26th January 2011, 03:40 PM	#1
evanc diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New Jersey. About 1 hour from NYC and 1 min. from the beach	aikido heater voltage I recently built the aikido 9 pin all in one kit. Aikido 9-Pin All in One Kit I used 6CG7 tubes. The transformer heater output is 6.3vac. I have one thing that I need some help on. With the tubes out I get 6.3vdc at the heaters as I should. But with the tubes installed the heater voltage drops to 5.5v. The heaters are referenced to 1/4B+. B+ is just over 300v and the heater reference is at 73v. I have been listening like this and the preamp seems to work fine. I just wasn't sure if I needed to address something. Thanks, Evan

26th January 2011, 08:22 PM	#6
leadbelly diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Calgary, Alberta	Whoa whoa. All you have is an Aikido preamp and it is dragging 8 amps worth of 6.3V down to 5.5V? Somethings not right. What is the primary rating? How sure are you that the secondaries are 6.3V and identical? I would double check that for sure. Could be that 1 winding is actually 5V or that the windings are indeed 6.3V but different VA rating. __________________ Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. Enzo Ferrari

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26th January 2011, 03:46 PM	#2
mastodon diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2011	As long as the transformer doesn't run too hot (you're obviously running it at a higher load than it is intended for), you should be ok. Heater voltage is a bit on the low side, but as long as overall performance is as desired, there should be nothing to worry about.

26th January 2011, 08:12 PM	#4
jgf diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: PA	It'll work ok with +/- 5% heater voltage, but once you get too far beyond that it won't be optimal. Also, it looks like that's a regulated heater supply on that board, It's likely its dropping out of regulation at low voltage. You might have better luck configuring as a voltage doubler for 12.6 volts, if the board has that option.

26th January 2011, 08:16 PM	#5
evanc diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New Jersey. About 1 hour from NYC and 1 min. from the beach	7 volts is about as high as my voltage is low. The secondary windings in my transformer are each rated at 4amps. I have the 2 windings paralleled...I don't believe I'm overloading the transformer......

26th January 2011, 08:24 PM	#7
evanc diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New Jersey. About 1 hour from NYC and 1 min. from the beach	jgf, Yes the board allows for a voltage doubler. It seemed counterintuitive to me to bring the voltage to 12.6 and then regulate it down to 6.3....but maybe this is what I need to do.

26th January 2011, 08:26 PM	#8
evanc diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New Jersey. About 1 hour from NYC and 1 min. from the beach	I am using this transformer. http://www.antekinc.com/pdf/AN-2T230.pdf I ran the heaters on one winding and two. Same result...

26th January 2011, 08:31 PM	#9
jgf diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: PA	evanc: Not exactly what I meant... some Aikido boards have jumpers to put 6.3v heaters in series for use with 12.6v supply. What are the specs of the transformer you are using? By the way, I had a similar issue with my build when using 6.3v heaters, the reason 12.6 is easier is there is a smaller fraction of 12.6 lost to diode drop than 6.3, IIRC.

26th January 2011, 08:39 PM	#10
jgf diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: PA	Oh I see, 2 windings. It would be worth a try to put them in series for 12.6v. Leadbelly may be right though, maybe something's wrong there. Double check the heater regulator circuit, especially the voltage setting resistor on the reg.

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