So after seeing some of the threads on here, and seeing many tubes that would be useful but not finding any sockets, I've designed a PCB based socket for them.
It uses a set of nine Keystone 1434 as the socket pinholes. They are easy to desolder in the event they wear out.
The connections are made to screw terminals.
There is a centre hole to make drilling the chassis easier, too. EDIT: The hole is 3mm. I now know some Novar tubes have the evacuation tip on the bottom. The hole can be drilled out if needed.
To the mods - Move to Vendors if necessary. I post this in parts so people will see it.
Oh, and Happy Wednesday.
Koda
It uses a set of nine Keystone 1434 as the socket pinholes. They are easy to desolder in the event they wear out.
The connections are made to screw terminals.
There is a centre hole to make drilling the chassis easier, too. EDIT: The hole is 3mm. I now know some Novar tubes have the evacuation tip on the bottom. The hole can be drilled out if needed.
To the mods - Move to Vendors if necessary. I post this in parts so people will see it.
Oh, and Happy Wednesday.
Koda
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Another useful PCB would be a circular adapter board for 9 pin Novar and another for 12 pin Compactron. (socket pins or male pins optional) These are useful for making adapters between a new tube and an existing socket in some amplifier. There are 7 and 9 pin Noval adapters and pins on Ebay (pics below), but none for the Novar and Compactron sizes. The ones in the pics have holes for wires around the outside, but one can also easily solder to the ends of the pins protruding thru the PCB by a 1/4 inch. The pins I've gotten off Ebay are just over 5/8 inch long, with a pointed end on one end.
One can make socket extenders or test sockets with these too. A pin straightener is useful for holding pins in alignment while soldering them to the PCB. (the one shown in the last pic below is 1/4 inch thick) A good idea to put a tube into any socket being soldered to an adapter, to align the socket terminals.
One can make socket extenders or test sockets with these too. A pin straightener is useful for holding pins in alignment while soldering them to the PCB. (the one shown in the last pic below is 1/4 inch thick) A good idea to put a tube into any socket being soldered to an adapter, to align the socket terminals.
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So what do you guys do if you want a chassis mounted socket without exposed high voltages?
Keep the cat off the amplifier!
Keep the cat off the amplifier!
Nice!
If the Keystone pins are too expensive, I have used cheap RS-232 type pins (come in rolls). But they can become loose easily, so I put some heat shrink tube over them for my curve tracer leads. Not so good for a hot power tube though.
I did find some Novar PC mount sockets on Ebay or some online tube store, but they are the usual loose Chinese ones, have to fix the terminals.
If the Keystone pins are too expensive, I have used cheap RS-232 type pins (come in rolls). But they can become loose easily, so I put some heat shrink tube over them for my curve tracer leads. Not so good for a hot power tube though.
I did find some Novar PC mount sockets on Ebay or some online tube store, but they are the usual loose Chinese ones, have to fix the terminals.
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I have the sockets you linked a picture of. I was surprised they didn't grip the Novar tube better considering how tight the socket is the first time you put in a 6P45S (I thought I'd crack the glass).
The Keystone pins cost more, but they do work well - they appear to have actual springs instead of just bent leaves. They can handle bent pins, too.
Here's a side view.
The Keystone pins cost more, but they do work well - they appear to have actual springs instead of just bent leaves. They can handle bent pins, too.
Here's a side view.
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