Lamp in HV Centre Tap - why?

[gingertube]

I am working on 2 1950's amp restorations at the moment.
One a SE 6V6 and one a PP 807 Output.
Both use Tube rectifiers and both have a standby switch between the HV centretap and 0V AND a 6.3V 300mA lamp in series with the switch to 0V.

These lamps are not front panel indications but are "buried" inside.

I have been unable to formulate any reason why the lamps are included except perhaps that they provide a fuse function and an indication of when the High Voltage is ON.

Is there any other reason why this might have been done?

Thanks,
Ian

[aardvarkash10]

inrush current resistance?

[gingertube]

aardvarkash10,
I don't think so - I considered that, but as lamps have much lower cold resistance (at switch on) than hot I concluded that it would not limit the in-rush current all that much.
Cheers,
Ian

[aardvarkash10]

yep, I tought that too, but it was the only semi-logical answer I could see...

[gingertube]

Thinking about it some more I think you are probably right - it was probably the best "cheap" solution to inrush current limiting available in those days before negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) Thermistors were invented. It would help a bit with rectifier tube life.
Cheers,
Ian

I like your tag line - I do a fair bit of time and budget estimation for designs in the day job and I always tell folk that the first half of the project takes 90% of the time and the other half takes the other 90% of the time.

[radiotron]

Yes, a simple inrush limiter seems like a reasonable explanation, though resistors in series with rectifier plates would be a better alternative, spec sheet for the rectifier (min series resistance incl resistance of HT winding) is kinder to rectifier.
Aardvarkash, agree with sentiment in your sig, I keep trying to explain to friends that there is no such thing as a "finished" amp, it is always a moving target!
Built a new amp during holiday on a scruffy used chassis, strictly proof-of-concept, sounds decent, but I am not ready to post it for comment until I am over the initial "I made it so it must be OK" moment - sorry if I am threadjacking

[aardvarkash10]

lol - got THREE of those poc things on the lounge floor as we speak...

Has anyone fond how to get solder burns out of carpet?

[radiotron]

Haha, not this week, hope you have wool carpet, when splattered it just smells bad, pick the splats out with tweezers, synthetic not so good...(it melts) I try to keep soldering activities in spare room with a mat to catch the splats, mostly works, most days...

[Enzo]

How about a... well, "outrush" limiter? (I made it up) If draw gets excessive on the supply, the lamp's current heats it, increasing its resistance. That tends to help soft limit B+ current.

If the lamps are not readily visible from the outside, that pretty much eliminates the lamp as indicator. The 1950s gear wasn't usually designed with diagnostic internal circuits, so we'd assume the lamp served the circuit in some other way than that.

[hidnplayr]

Originally Posted by Enzo

If draw gets excessive on the supply, the lamp's current heats it, increasing its resistance. That tends to help soft limit B+ current.

You mean it works as a crude voltage stabilisator ?