So after trying a RH84 on a breadboard for a while, I figured it chassis worthy.
If your like me you can't pass a piece of bent metal and wonder if you could build a tube amp on it. At first, I thought of going the more traditional route with a cake pan or a proper chassis. Then I was thinking of those round amps that Lance Cochran built that I posted in the thread, http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/201035-colorful-inspiration.html
Now I wasn't really big on them at first, but I gotta admit the are pretty novel.
So I decided to built the RH84 into a ceiling light fixture. I'm in the process of wiring it now. I'm sure I will be breaking a few layout rules in the name of fun. I hope it works out.
I call it UFO, since "Flying Saucer" and " Flying Sorcerer" were already taken. Sue me.
If your like me you can't pass a piece of bent metal and wonder if you could build a tube amp on it. At first, I thought of going the more traditional route with a cake pan or a proper chassis. Then I was thinking of those round amps that Lance Cochran built that I posted in the thread, http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/201035-colorful-inspiration.html
Now I wasn't really big on them at first, but I gotta admit the are pretty novel.
So I decided to built the RH84 into a ceiling light fixture. I'm in the process of wiring it now. I'm sure I will be breaking a few layout rules in the name of fun. I hope it works out.
I call it UFO, since "Flying Saucer" and " Flying Sorcerer" were already taken. Sue me.
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Thanks guys!
No I don't have any glass for it, would be very cool though. The glass that came with it was a frosted swirl type thing, not sure if it had the clearance., it's long gone anyways.
I will keep my eye out for a dome, even if it's just for a dust cover.
No I don't have any glass for it, would be very cool though. The glass that came with it was a frosted swirl type thing, not sure if it had the clearance., it's long gone anyways.
I will keep my eye out for a dome, even if it's just for a dust cover.
Your right, I'll keep my out for one.
I might even find a kitchen bowl that would work.....hmmm.
Even if I don't find one right away, I will still be happy.
I might even find a kitchen bowl that would work.....hmmm.
Even if I don't find one right away, I will still be happy.
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That is a fantastic idea GloBug. 🙂
I you put the dome on, there is a 3/8" hole on top to let the heat go out and it protect the tubes ... Also, it will make a nice effect at night ... Those ceiling lamps cost less than 20$ at "Canadian Tire" and come in two sizes, I got many of them home.
I was wondering yesterday what I can use for a tubes amplifier frame, some people use cookies or tea metal box, tobacco can, maybe car wheels caps ...
I see on your link some use old cake or bread cooking pans too ... Wow !
I'm very impressed ! 😎
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I've been on the lookout for a fruit bowl that looks like this....
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/165700-my-last-el84-pp-tube-amplifier.html..........🙂
Cool! 😎 I always love to see what others are doing with their amps as far as the "packaging" is concerned...
Actually, Lance Cochrane built those amps in the link. I got the "Magic Line" cake pan idea from him. I did build the one in my avatar though.
Gallery eh? I did not know there was one. Thanks for the compliments.
The photo gallery is in the stickies at the top of the tubes/valves section. There are a lot of great styling ideas in there.
I'll have to keep my eyeballs open now for cheap light fixture bases at garage sales.
I'll have to keep my eyeballs open now for cheap light fixture bases at garage sales.
I like it! If there's hum from the output transformers (coils are aligned w/power transformer), you may have to rotate them to vertical... actually you could check before wiring it - splice in a power cord and hook a speaker to terminals...
Yes i am worried about hum, I did not have the room to spin them 90 degrees.
I decided to mount them down like this to get the wires inside the chassis for safety Also the primary wires are very thin and would not take much to break.
Leaving them in their vertical cases have been would be easier. Ask me how I know that the laminations are not interwoven!
The transformer cases are in the garbage now, if it does not work out I guess I will have to build it in something else. I should know later on today, got my fingers crossed.
Actually I guess it makes sense to do your check now before I finish wiring it.
I decided to mount them down like this to get the wires inside the chassis for safety Also the primary wires are very thin and would not take much to break.
Leaving them in their vertical cases have been would be easier. Ask me how I know that the laminations are not interwoven!
The transformer cases are in the garbage now, if it does not work out I guess I will have to build it in something else. I should know later on today, got my fingers crossed.
Actually I guess it makes sense to do your check now before I finish wiring it.
Hey those are sweet, very cool!
The outside diameter is ~11 1/4". The inside "tray" area is ~7 3/4".
The outside diameter is ~11 1/4". The inside "tray" area is ~7 3/4".
OK, so I powered up the unloaded PT with a couple of alnico 6x9s attached to the speaker jacks on the amp. I get zero point zero noise, according to my ear.
I also tried a pair of over the ear headphones, I don't get any sound through those either. (These are however modified for slight volume attenuation for use with my metal detector.)
I even double checked to see if it was powered up with a DMM. I also could feel the PT running with my fingers.
So it appears I got off lucky, unless I'm doing something wrong in my test.
Is this attributed to the PT having bell end coverings? I know that it should magnetically shield it, but then I wonder how some of those guitar pickups work with the metal soap bar coverings. (most have holes, some do not though.)
I also tried a pair of over the ear headphones, I don't get any sound through those either. (These are however modified for slight volume attenuation for use with my metal detector.)
I even double checked to see if it was powered up with a DMM. I also could feel the PT running with my fingers.
So it appears I got off lucky, unless I'm doing something wrong in my test.
Is this attributed to the PT having bell end coverings? I know that it should magnetically shield it, but then I wonder how some of those guitar pickups work with the metal soap bar coverings. (most have holes, some do not though.)
SE transformers need gaps to prevent saturation due to the dc component of the plate current and hence the sections are not interleaved as they would be in a PP transformer.
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