5U4GB Tube Power Supply Schematic

Jmeade15 · 12th February 2012, 04:11 PM

Hello, I am new to discussion forum - building my first amp. I have just completed the enclosure and started wiring the power circuit. The amp I chose to start with is Alex Gendrano's KT88 SE. DIY Single-Ended KT88 / 6L6 / EL34 / 6CA7 Tube Amplifier
I worked through the calculations and have a fairly good understanding of the amp schematic. However, I have one question on the power supply schematic. I have completed the wiring and tested the output voltage. The voltage is from the 5U4-GB is 412VDC. When I connect the filter section the voltage out is 564VDC. Is this correct? The schematic has 400VDC after the circuit. I get the same voltage result if I use the CT of the transformer or as the schematic shows for the 5U4-GB.

SY · 12th February 2012, 04:43 PM

Is your measurement with the supply unloaded? If so, expect the voltages to be unreasonably high. You can load it down with a power resistor chosen to draw the same current as the amplifier to confirm that all is well.

Jmeade15 · 12th February 2012, 04:51 PM

Yes, the measurement was taken with no load. Makes sense, I was taking the schematic verbatum as it shows 400vDC with no load attached. Thank you for the advice. I have attached a picture of my enclosure. Regards. Jim

euro21 · 12th February 2012, 05:49 PM

Try PSU Designer II. software with stepped load (initial no load, after 5 sec 150mA) to simulate PSU.

SY · 12th February 2012, 05:51 PM

Love those meters! Where did you get them?

HollowState · 12th February 2012, 06:34 PM

I know I've seen very similar little meters on eBay out of Hong Kong.
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices

Miles Prower · 12th February 2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmeade15

Hello, I am new to discussion forum - building my first amp. I have just completed the enclosure and started wiring the power circuit. The amp I chose to start with is Alex Gendrano's KT88 SE.

I worked through the calculations and have a fairly good understanding of the amp schematic. However, I have one question on the power supply schematic. I have completed the wiring and tested the output voltage. The voltage is from the 5U4-GB is 412VDC. When I connect the filter section the voltage out is 564VDC. Is this correct? The schematic has 400VDC after the circuit. I get the same voltage result if I use the CT of the transformer or as the schematic shows for the 5U4-GB.

Unless you o'scope, you can't trust the voltage reading from the raw output of the FWR, as it's not sinusoidal.

As for the rest, it looks reasonable. Unloaded, you can expect a DC voltage equal to the peak of the AC going in. If you're looking to get 400Vdc under load conditions, then 564Vdc unloaded looks about right. The 5U4GB has a forward voltage of ~100Vdc for an Isurge= 800mA (80% of maximum Isurge per plate).

You probably lose most of the remaining 64Vdc across ripple chokes.

Jmeade15 · 4th March 2012, 09:27 PM

Thank you euro21. I have downloaded the PSU designer but find it a bit confusing to use. Anyway, I have completed the wiring and under load the voltage is at 412. All is working but need to find where the awful hum is coming from.

scott17 · 5th March 2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmeade15

Thank you euro21. I have downloaded the PSU designer but find it a bit confusing to use. Anyway, I have completed the wiring and under load the voltage is at 412. All is working but need to find where the awful hum is coming from.

Did you solve your hum problem? Have you seen this article on grounding?

http://www.geofex.com/article_folder...nd/stargnd.htm

Post a few photos of your internal wiring if you are still having problems. This amplifier can be made to be hum free.

Jmeade15 · 5th March 2012, 07:33 PM

Thank you for the link. I did find another artical that helped me locate my ground loop issue, after several hours of hunting. As it turns out, the L and R channel shields were touching and causing a loop. Or, I suppose they were because once seperated the hum went away. There is now only a very slight hum when the pot is at full zero. The hum goes away when slightly above zero, for which it will never be.
This was my first project and am very pleased with the results. I plan on sharing my build in a Gallary post.

12th February 2012, 04:11 PM	#1
Jmeade15 diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chicago	5U4GB Tube Power Supply Schematic Hello, I am new to discussion forum - building my first amp. I have just completed the enclosure and started wiring the power circuit. The amp I chose to start with is Alex Gendrano's KT88 SE. DIY Single-Ended KT88 / 6L6 / EL34 / 6CA7 Tube Amplifier I worked through the calculations and have a fairly good understanding of the amp schematic. However, I have one question on the power supply schematic. I have completed the wiring and tested the output voltage. The voltage is from the 5U4-GB is 412VDC. When I connect the filter section the voltage out is 564VDC. Is this correct? The schematic has 400VDC after the circuit. I get the same voltage result if I use the CT of the transformer or as the schematic shows for the 5U4-GB.

12th February 2012, 04:43 PM	#2
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	Is your measurement with the supply unloaded? If so, expect the voltages to be unreasonably high. You can load it down with a power resistor chosen to draw the same current as the amplifier to confirm that all is well. __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

12th February 2012, 05:51 PM	#5
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	Love those meters! Where did you get them? __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

12th February 2012, 06:34 PM	#6
HollowState diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Taxland, New Jersey	I know I've seen very similar little meters on eBay out of Hong Kong. eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices __________________ "The supercomputer is technologically impossible. It would take all of the water that flows over Niagara Falls to cool the heat generated by the number of vacuum tubes required." ~ Professor of Electrical Engineering, New York University

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4th March 2012, 09:27 PM	#8
Jmeade15 diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chicago	Thank you euro21. I have downloaded the PSU designer but find it a bit confusing to use. Anyway, I have completed the wiring and under load the voltage is at 412. All is working but need to find where the awful hum is coming from.

5th March 2012, 07:33 PM	#10
Jmeade15 diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chicago	Thank you for the link. I did find another artical that helped me locate my ground loop issue, after several hours of hunting. As it turns out, the L and R channel shields were touching and causing a loop. Or, I suppose they were because once seperated the hum went away. There is now only a very slight hum when the pot is at full zero. The hum goes away when slightly above zero, for which it will never be. This was my first project and am very pleased with the results. I plan on sharing my build in a Gallary post.

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