• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Capacitors in the cathode of preamp tubes

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Are you serious?

As serious as the mathematics says:
Let’s do Eh (heater voltage) of an amplitude Ep (peak voltage) and frequency f, then ω = 2 * Π * f

Eh = Ep sin(ωt)

is the instant voltage between heater pins, and ground.

Let’s do a Chk = cathode-filament capacity, then a current Ihk between heater and cathode may flow of a value:

Ihk = Chk * dVEh/dt (read as Current = Cap times derivate voltage respect the time), so

Ihk = Chk * d[Ep sin(ωt)]/dt =

= Chk * ω * Ep cos(ωt)

That is, it is advanced 90° respect the voltage, as in any capacitive-resistive AC circuit. As this current flows between cathode and ground, and the grid is at ground potential for this current, though the unbypassed cathode bias resistor will appear a voltage

Vkg = Ihk * Rk = Rk * Chk * ω * Ep cos(ωt).

This voltage will be amplified by the tube, as it is injected in the cathode signal path, and is amplified as the tube is grounded grid, then at the plate a voltage of magnitude:

Vhum = Vkg * (µ+1) = (µ+1)* Rk * Chk * ω * Ep cos(ωt),

will exist, and finally, the voltage at the speaker terminals supposing n = turns ratio of the output transformer,

Vsp = n * Vhum = n *(µ+1) * Rk * Chk * ω * Ep cos(ωt)

Which is the voltage hum at the moving coil because of the capacitive coupling between cathode and heater. And another component in phase can be found of a value:

Vsp´= n *(µ+1) * Rk / (Rhk + Rk) * Ep sin(ωt)

Being Rhk the cathode-filament resistance (internal of the tube, and all external resistances added: socket, wiring, etc).

Can you be more serious than me?
 
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