• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Heater cathode elevation

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Hi deicide67,
I would listen to Miles and AJT if I were you. Safety should never be a cavalier topic, and that what some recent posts feel like.

Save the heater power and use diodes. If you must stick a tube in that hole, don't connect it. I would use the hole for an extra capacitor, but that's just me. I have seen heater-cathode insulation fail. It can and does happen. Why leave yourself open to a failure mode that isn't necessary? You also have alternative means of dropping voltage. One even gives you lower supply ripple.

-Chris
 
I'm fine with SS. The main issue is space where series caps take up twice the space as a single. Maybe with the series resistance between the secondaries and the rectifiers, I can get away with a 500V cap. If not, I may just cut a new plate and add a transformer for the filament on the glass rectifier.

I was trying to achieve a smaller form factor preamp.

Oh, and Miles, I still have your notes on the 6CB5. I'm going to try for a PPP with four into 1.5K for 100W or so this spring. Thanks!
 
Hi deicide67,
Well, the issue is that you just ended up with a spare hole to use in case you need to add a capacitor. A series resistor will drop the supply quite a lot, and slow the charging cycle some. Since it is a preamp, you don't need ton's of filtering and the current draw is reasonably constant. Therefore, you don't have to worry about a relay across an inrush current limiting resistor. I should be so lucky when rebuilding a preamp!

It sounds like an interesting project. Please let us know how it comes together and what you do with the power supply on this one.

-Chris
 
Don't do it! The filament winding associated with a directly heated rectifier is at B+ potential. :redhot:

SS rectify that B+ rail. Directly heated rectifiers turn on almost as fast as SS diodes do. Install a CL-130 inrush current limiter between the SS diodes and the PSU filter and you'll do fine.

Hi Eli,

I used a 6AX4 and it does the trick, but to yours and everyone else's point, it makes it hotter than it should be. You mentioned using a CL130 series with the rectifier between the bridge and the first filter cap. I have never used one like this. Can a CL tolerate that much voltage? How long does a CL130 take to warm up and "Drop out"?

Thanks!
 
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