Balancing the PP cathode bias

[Tyimo]

Hi!
In a PP amp ( for example EL84) with unmatched tubes is it worth to use a trimmpot between the 2 tube's cathode resistor? Like in the attached picture.
Would a 0.5W multiturn trimpot be enough??

Greets:
Tyimo

 

[Svein_B]

I will say NO. Keep it simple.

With separate cathode resistors, the two tubes will be individually biased and should usually be equal within the limits of unbalance tolerated by the OPT.

The cathode resistors must be bypassed though.

Svein

 

[Tyimo]

Thanks Svein!
I just seen somewhere something like this.
I don't know how much could be the differences between unmatched EL84s.

The cathode resistors must be bypassed though.

Yes, I know.😉


Greets:
Tyimo

 

[artosalo]

Would a 0.5W multiturn trimpot be enough??

According to data sheet of EL84, the total cathode current of your circuit could be some 70 to 80 mA.
Then you can calculate the power dissipation of the 100 trimpot by well known formula P = IxI x R.

So with 80 mA the power over 100 ohms trimpot is 0,64 W. Obviously you need to have a more powerfull trimpot or smaller, for example 47 ohms would do well.
Then the power dissipation is only 0,3 W.

The push-pull circuit is not very sensitive to small unbalance between the anode currents. However, it will improve your amplifier if you can balance the currents. But then you should also adjust the driving voltages for both tubes. Since it is obvious that if the quiescent currents are not equal, then the "sensitivity" is not equal too.

But you need to have a distortion meter to achieve this "pink of perfection".

 

[DF96]

Adding the trimpot in series reduces reliability, as 'slider off track' is a common failure mode. If you want to trim (but in my opnion it is not really necessary) put a larger value trimpot in parallel with the cathode resistors. Trimpot failure then reduces to the output being as balanced as it would be with no trimpot, rather than complete failure.

 

[Tyimo]

Thanks for everybody!!

Now I understand already!🙂

Maybe it would be easier to matching the tubes in the real circuit. Measuring the plate current draw under operating conditions, like
measuring the voltage across the cathode resistor.etc.

Greets:
Tyimo