For the record, my UK supplier offers a choice of three brands of NOS ECL86 valve for £40 a pop.
That's not extortionately expensive in valve terms. Watford Valves :: Valves - ecl86
That's not extortionately expensive in valve terms. Watford Valves :: Valves - ecl86
it is extraordinary expensive 🙂 If youre happy to pay that price its your deal.
At least I am not trying to say "if you want tubes pay up you cheap bastard"
For that price and a few more shillings I can get myself a matched pair of EL34s brand new! This cruel world we live in.
At least I am not trying to say "if you want tubes pay up you cheap bastard"
For that price and a few more shillings I can get myself a matched pair of EL34s brand new! This cruel world we live in.
Paralleling all triod elements might increase cap. Connecting the unused
to the "live" cathode" might be the least painful deal ( as we have no ground )
Stacking, as suggested, will make the devive too high for contemporary amps.
Maybe even the suggested board is to high. I suggest some market examination
before production !
I don't sell many ecl86, i have less then 10 on stock. But without knowing
if they fit i won't buy.
What amps are we talking about ? I know hetahkit AA-32
Here is 10xEL80 (6M5) for 82.74$:
10 x 6M5 EL80 Valves Tubes Power Pentode Audio Amplifier New NOS | eBay
10 x 6M5 EL80 Valves Tubes Power Pentode Audio Amplifier New NOS | eBay
An idel option would be for JJ starting production of ECL86. They could have
use in new production as head amp or driver tubes for 300B and as
replacement for old stuff.
But the market might be way to small for this.
use in new production as head amp or driver tubes for 300B and as
replacement for old stuff.
But the market might be way to small for this.
come on guys...stop telling me to pay up and shut up. Anything above 15 dollars is unacceptable. I wont put a 30 euro tube into a 20 euro tube radio. Did I just lot my mind? This is a radio tube..consumable... Its like paying 50 euros for ice cream. Youll enjoy it until you expend it.
Ill probably get pissed enough to build a solid state replacement for ECL86 tubes...
Ill probably get pissed enough to build a solid state replacement for ECL86 tubes...
Yeah I totally agree on that. It would be the ideal thing. Life is never that easy tho and so there are mad people like me trying to replace a once technical feat in shrinkifying and modernizing into the stuff we had previously. Because the proper solution is not available anymore.
I am a mad man but not a masochist. Not yet at least. But once ill turn fully mad I might do it for real.
When considering the cost, remember to factor in the price of an ECC83 and EL84 duo in which both valves are blessed with the same quality of construction and performance as an NOS ECL86.
As a user of ECL86 valves, I am interested in the discussion. I was only stating the availability of the 'real deal' for future reference. 😎
As a user of ECL86 valves, I am interested in the discussion. I was only stating the availability of the 'real deal' for future reference. 😎
It is more than obvious that youre gonna have a very tall tube at that point. Using my method the height will be just one socket and the PCB thickness taller than the original. I could solder the tubes in directly but I dont think it would be smart.
for me even the double decker is viable since two of the radios I own are big fat boxes that can fit that tall of a tower...What I would be worried about is the tube stack falling out of the old loosey goosey socket and cause all sorts of damage. That would be my true concern. However at that point you can remove the original socket and solder the stack in directly and if you can also drill out the holes for the standoffs and fasten the bottom board to it and now you have a fairly rigid setup.
But yeah these homebrew solutions not built for market and its definitely not a 100% guarantee it will fit...I would have a speciffied hight but yeah its not a 100% certain plug and play.
So my solution:
Conserves height
It can only work with one set of tubes (ECC83/EL84 or whatever with the same pinout)
The double decker:
Use any tube you want (noval B9A) and connect it however you want
Covserves footprint but absolute monster in height.. Pick your own poison then ill send these off to manufacture and fix ma own stuff up since I dont see anyone else needing this at all. Smart people go buy the 50 dollar vacuum tube and even smarter people just throw the radio/amplifier out.
Stating the obvious is more than usefull 🙂
Also you get double bang for the buck on that ECC83 since youre using 1/2 of the tube at a time. One triode goes weak then you switch the heaters over to ther one and bam a brand new tube. However It unlikely that you will change that tube out in your lifespan a lot of times...The ECL86s that are bad in my radios (Incredibely high grid 1 leak on the pentode) the triodes look fine smell fine even sound fine. It will be most likely the EL84 that is going to "**** the bed" before anything else.
It was certainly not my intention to diminish the worth or value of your project.
As I say, I am most interested in your attempt to simulate an ECL86.
I've been extremely lucky with my original Mullard ECL86s. 50 years of age - the valves, not me unfortunately!- and still sounding sweet to my ears!
As I say, I am most interested in your attempt to simulate an ECL86.
I've been extremely lucky with my original Mullard ECL86s. 50 years of age - the valves, not me unfortunately!- and still sounding sweet to my ears!
Conrad has some interesting stuff ... PCL86 for €6
PCL 86 = 14 GW 8 Vacuum tube Triode pentode 230 V 1.2 mA, 39 mA Number of pins: 9 Base: Noval Content 1 pc(s) | Conrad.com
PCL 86 = 14 GW 8 Vacuum tube Triode pentode 230 V 1.2 mA, 39 mA Number of pins: 9 Base: Noval Content 1 pc(s) | Conrad.com