VR Tubes as Cathode Bias of 2A3 SRPP Loftin-White

[snoopyma]

See attached the circuit diagram of 6SL7 SRPP -> 2A3 S.E. Lotfin-White power amplifier.

Can I change the cathode bias of 2A3 from resistor chain to two 0D3 (each bypassed with 20 nf capacitor) connected in parallel? Can I delete the 100uf cathode bypass capacitor? Is the noise generated by the 0D3 a problem? What will be the pros and cons of the modified design?

Any advice is appreciated.

[lndm]

I am using zener diodes successfully to bias my output stage. Why not VR's?

[arnoldc]

where do you take the grid voltage from now?

[Zen Mod]

Originally posted by snoopyma
See attached the circuit diagram of 6SL7 SRPP -> 2A3 S.E. Lotfin-White power amplifier.

Can I change the cathode bias of 2A3 from resistor chain to two 0D3 (each bypassed with 20 nf capacitor) connected in parallel? Can I delete the 100uf cathode bypass capacitor? Is the noise generated by the 0D3 a problem? What will be the pros and cons of the modified design?

Any advice is appreciated.

- 20nF is too much ;always start in nano range,not dozens of nano;

- yes-you must delete 100uF cap

- you also need series resistor (value ? ) for each gas toob,for ensuring current sharing between toobz

- remember that you need at least 5mA for igniting and proper work of OD3; max current per tube is 40mA ; be sure that you know what's happening in every moment ,starting from powering up,to working conditions.....



after all that, let's hope that noise induced with gas toobz will be small enough ;I think that it will be

[i_should_coco]

Running VR tubes in parallel is not recommended.

Due to differences in individual tubes, they will strike & run at different voltages meaning one tube is likely to get all the current and the second may not light.

[martinab2]

Have tried out this idea but on a much smaller scale see here Results were ok but nothing special although there were no problems with stability.

You would have problems scaling this up to work with a 2a3 since most VR tubes have a limit of about 40ma and don't like being run in parallel. If you can get your hands on a couple of these monsters then you might be in business.

good luck

[arnoldc]

wow! that's a big one!

[Toropkin]

http://igdrassil.narod.ru/audio/pamps/l-w.html

[snoopyma]

Originally posted by Toropkin
http://igdrassil.narod.ru/audio/pamps/l-w.html

Hi Toropkin,

Thank you very much for your reply. I read the circuit that you supplied with great interests. It appears that the circuit is simple and making sense. I have used web translation software to translate it to English, but are still difficult to read. Can you elaborate more as I cannot understand "the composition of "upper" BP, something less than 150mf is not recommended" as mentioned on the website.

Do I have to use two separate high voltage power supplies or a combined power supply with centre tapping?

Thanks.

Best Regards,
T.C. MA