My first amp - a direct coupled 2A3

[Wardsweb]

Those are two 2.5v and one 6.3 volt transformers for the tube filaments.

 

[Morse]

Great Job Wardsweb!!

It's as nice looking underneath with that terrif layout and killer workmanship as it is from the top - and that's saying something!!

My compliments - that is one sweet little amp you've got.

All the best,
Morse

PS It looks like you're using a 716P Orange Drop in there, but I don't recognise the blue/green caps. What brand are they if you don't mind my asking? Also, what are you using for insulation - it looks nothing like the run of the mill shrink tubing I use. PTFE perhaps?

 

[James D.]

Well, kind of. I've been in electronics for over 20 years and spent ten years working for a research & development firm. I did a lot of stuff for the Military and NASA. I've worked everything from hand wire wrapping prototypes to hot air surface mount rework. My passion lies in audio where my two lives come together.

Done some of that myself but still can't work to proper prototype standards😱

Really nice loom work. It very nice to see it done properly instead of using small tie-wraps.

Your amps are beautiful inside and out - real works of art.

ciao

James

 

[Joel]

Those are two 2.5v and one 6.3 volt transformers for the tube filaments.

Why two seperate 2.5v filament trannies?

 

[Wardsweb]

Joel - I wanted small and that equated to low amps, so I just used two and it worked out very well. Also wanted to avoid having anything common between the filaments and hum pots.

 

[Joel]

Yup. With hum pots I can see it. Otherwise it's all the same just to tie them together.

 

[Wardsweb]

...PS It looks like you're using a 716P Orange Drop in there, but I don't recognise the blue/green caps. What brand are they if you don't mind my asking? Also, what are you using for insulation - it looks nothing like the run of the mill shrink tubing I use. PTFE perhaps?

Not sure that I understood until I realized you were talking about the Bottlehead Foreplay preamp I built. Although it doesn't look anything like the "kit build" it is true to the schematic and uses the core kit parts. The output caps came in the kit and have just been referred to as "green meanines". I have since replaced them with Gudeman oil and paper caps. The insulation is not heat shrink. It is fiberglass cloth.

 

[Morse]

Thanks for the info Wardsweb;

Fibreglass cloth? Did you use some kind of hot knife to seal the cut edges? My work with that stuff always looks crude somehow.

Again, that's some fantastic looking build quality you've got going on your wiring technique. I hope you don't mind if there's some emulation of it in my next projects.... 😉

All the best,
Morse

 

[Wardsweb]

I cut it with a pair of very good diagonal cutting pliers. The cloth is impregnated with a wax/polymer that keeps it intact when cut.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

[Wardsweb]

thought I would let you see a before picture. I do the layout as I go, so it takes a while for me to see it in my head.

 

[arnoldc]

i use the same wiring technique 😉 no wires, use the leads. 😉

 

[Wardsweb]

basic wiring done, now to add the caps and resistors.

 

[Sparhawk]

The insulation is not heat shrink. It is fiberglass cloth.

Where do you get this from? I've seen some at Parts Connexion, but it doesn't come in very small diameters.

 

[Wardsweb]

My wife gets it from her work. I'll have her get the name of the manufacturer and part number, then post the info here.

 

[fdegrove]

Hi,

Where do you get this from? I've seen some at Parts Connexion, but it doesn't come in very small diameters.

You can get some from AES.

S-M100 & S-M436

Cheers,😉

 

[67339]

Hello everybody,
This has been a topic with some nice ideas and photos. It is my job making holes using cnc punching and nibbling machines, so i don't have to use these things that are actually circuitboards which seems to add something to the sound BUT they will surely make life easy for a lot of diy-people. Because sometimes you really see awfull creatures that will not pass any safetytest. In some pictures i do see some S.. capacitors. I have been using them in my cross-over, then replaced by Mit, then Teflon ( Csi ), then General Electric ( foil in oil? ) and now Philips n.o.s. paper in oil surplus the cheapest but the best. I think you must not use tie-raps with low grade foil or metalisezed caps because someday you will get a short ( i can see the " print'' made by the tie-rap on one of the pictures). This kind of constructing makes it possible to upgrade components. I will give you the advice to try it. I have nothing for sale, but i am sure you can find something more musical. Ed

 

[fdegrove]

HOW TO WRECK A FILMCAP...

Hi,

I think you must not use tie-raps with low grade foil or metalisezed caps because someday you will get a short ( i can see the " print'' made by the tie-rap on one of the pictures). This kind of constructing makes it possible to upgrade components. I will give you the advice to try it. I have nothing for sale, but i am sure you can find something more musical. Ed

Ed, good to see you posting again.

You're absolutely correct...those tiewraps should be used very, very carefully if at all.

I don't see any use for them anyway...

Cheers,😉

 

[Wardsweb]

Actually I never use plastic tie wraps. What you see in the pictures is waxed cotton cord. Same as used for lacing cables and harnesses. Its just a way to hold the caps in place. They are not cinched down. This takes the strain off the mechanical joints and connections.

 

[67339]

Hello, I do remember these Solen capacitors as being extremely fragile on the outside. Mabe the first production runs were a bit better then those made nowadays. But i think they are to cheap to be good. But this building technique will allow you to replace them in the near future. Succes, Ed

 

[Õàëÿâùèê]

[OFF]
Hi
Sorry for offtopic.

Sparhawk. Sorry, but I cannot send email to you.
Please, I need to your help, in your old thread, if you can it.

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10142

Thank you

[/OFF]