Grounding case of 6J5

dsavitsk · 9th May 2006, 08:06 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions on whether it is necessary (for safety reasons) to ground the case (which is metal) of a 6j5, and, if so, how to do it?

-d

EC8010 · 10th May 2006, 12:29 AM

Not necessary, but it may reduce hum and it will (very slightly) reduce Cag. Pin 1 to chassis.

SY · 10th May 2006, 01:13 AM

How to do it involves a special socket with a skirt around the tube base and springy fingers inside. You can improvise one with tin shears and some spring steel shim stock.

Miles Prower · 10th May 2006, 04:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dsavitsk
Does anyone have any suggestions on whether it is necessary (for safety reasons) to ground the case (which is metal) of a 6j5, and, if so, how to do it?

-d

It'll work much better. As for how, make certain that the metal envelope is the most negative part of that tube. This will usually be the case if it's connected conventionally: plate to positive DC rail + cathode bias. Even if using fixed bias, it will still be at the same potential as the cathode, and that's good enough. If the case isn't more negative than the cathode, it will behave as another anode, and that'll likely lead to problems.

Sy: WTH're you talking about? With those metal Octals, pin #1 is connected to the metal case.

SY · 10th May 2006, 11:32 AM

Miles, sorry, I've not used a 6J5. I should have looked at the data sheet. Most of the tubes with external shield that I've used were RF types or Nuvisters that required external connection to case.

EC8010 · 10th May 2006, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miles Prower
If the case isn't more negative than the cathode, it will behave as another anode, and that'll likely lead to problems.

That's a very good point. Scrub my recommendation of tying the can to the chassis; tie it to an AC ground with a lower DC potential than the cathode. Often, that will be the chassis, but not always.

Joel · 10th May 2006, 12:40 PM

Quote:

If the case isn't more negative than the cathode, it will behave as another anode, and that'll likely lead to problems.

If the metal envelope is at the same potential as the cathode, it cannot act like another plate. In all situations, you can connect pin 1 to the cathode. From my experience, this is preferred - I've used the 6C5, 6J5, 6J7, 6SJ7, 6F5, and 6Q7 in many projects. When Rk is bypassed, it's ok to ground it.

Joel

dsavitsk · 10th May 2006, 04:10 PM

Thanks for the suggestions.

Quote:

Originally posted by SY
I should have looked at the data sheet.

I should have too as i now notice pin 1 connected to the case.

Quote:

Originally posted by Joel
If the metal envelope is at the same potential as the cathode, it cannot act like another plate. In all situations, you can connect pin 1 to the cathode. From my experience, this is preferred - I've used the 6C5, 6J5, 6J7, 6SJ7, 6F5, and 6Q7 in many projects. When Rk is bypassed, it's ok to ground it.

I was going to use these in an ultrapath design, so I'll try pin 1 to ground and to the cathode to see if there is a difference.

10th May 2006, 12:29 AM	#2
EC8010 diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Near London. UK	Not necessary, but it may reduce hum and it will (very slightly) reduce Cag. Pin 1 to chassis. __________________ The loudspeaker: The only commercial Hi-Fi item where a disproportionate part of the budget isn't spent on the box. And the one where it would make a difference...

10th May 2006, 01:13 AM	#3
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Austin, TX Blog Entries: 1	How to do it involves a special socket with a skirt around the tube base and springy fingers inside. You can improvise one with tin shears and some spring steel shim stock. __________________ “Listening to records is like ****ing a picture of Brigitte Bardot.” - Sergiu Celibidache

10th May 2006, 11:32 AM	#5
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Austin, TX Blog Entries: 1	Miles, sorry, I've not used a 6J5. I should have looked at the data sheet. Most of the tubes with external shield that I've used were RF types or Nuvisters that required external connection to case. __________________ “Listening to records is like ****ing a picture of Brigitte Bardot.” - Sergiu Celibidache

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9th May 2006, 08:06 PM	#1
dsavitsk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago	grounding case of 6j5 Does anyone have any suggestions on whether it is necessary (for safety reasons) to ground the case (which is metal) of a 6j5, and, if so, how to do it? -d

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