Questions tagged [vacuum-tube]
Any device that incorporates an evacuated chamber in which free-floating electrons are manipulated.
198
questions
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72 views
Tube amplifier with buzz
I built a tube (UK: valve) amplifier but it has one problem. When I turn it on, it starts buzzing at 150 Hz but only if I connect the audio output transformer.
If I directly connect the speaker to the ...
14
votes
5answers
3k views
How did people make oscillators before they had the triode?
I found on Wikipedia that:
“In 1901, Reginald Fessenden demonstrated a direct-conversion heterodyne receiver or beat receiver as a method of making continuous wave radiotelegraphy signals audible. ...
14
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1answer
1k views
Geometric symbols alongside input filter capacitors on 1960's amplifier schematic
Capacitors C1, C2 and C3 are accompanied on this schematic by a semicircle, square and triangle symbol respectively. I'd expect the meaning of unusual symbols to be explained on the same drawing; they ...
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37 views
Tube Amp Dummy Load With Headphone Jack - Distorted
I decided to make a dummy load / headphone converter for a tube amp. I did not expect it to be perfect, but the low end (~<500Hz) is very distorted.
Amp Specs:
8 Ohm Output, 15W Max. So the circuit ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
Beta decay as electron source in vacuum tubes?
I've been thinking about this for a few days now, would this even be possible? There is another question like this being asked but via the photoelectric effect utilizing lasers. What if we used a ...
0
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1answer
63 views
Why does the wattage on the back of a tube amplifier not match the rating?
When I look at the back plate of a 15 watt Fender blues junior amp (which is a tube amplifier, meaning it uses vacuum tubes) it says 150W.
However, the amp is sold as a "15 watt" amp.
Why is ...
1
vote
3answers
63 views
Why is a secondary transformer winding for VT filament heater connected to rectified output? [duplicate]
Ok I know this is a pretty narrow question. I'm learning about vaccum tubes, and I think I have the basics down, but this particular setup is confusing me. See the attached picture.
In the given ...
2
votes
1answer
174 views
How does this pentode power amplifier (old technology, 1960s) work?
This is a diagram of a pentode power amplifier:
This amplifier is used to control an electro-pneumatic actuator. Let me describe it a little bit:
the input voltage (the control signal) is V3 (-30V &...
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0answers
75 views
Doubt about high voltage measurement from amp chassis to earth ground
I built a tube amp (Fender 5f1 replica) and it works perfectly with a 3 prong power cord plugged into a properly earth grounded outlet. Any voltage on chassis and practically no "hum".
I did ...
0
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3answers
115 views
Output transformer in guitar amp produces sounds, while none comes through to the speaker [closed]
I built a Fender 5f1 Champ imitation.
I've taken care to start it up gradually (first with no tubes, then just the 5Y3, then the 12AX7, then the 6V6 with the speaker connected and finally connected a ...
0
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0answers
46 views
I have a carvin v3m 50watt tube amp head, red plating/bias help
The amp has 4 el84 tubes and 4 12ax7 pre amp tubes, the amp lost about half of its volume and the power tubes are red plating, is there any thing other than the tubes that I should be looking out for ...
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2answers
83 views
Best diode for very high frequency (Vacuum?)
If we look at what's commercially available, the diodes with the highest maximum frequencies I can find are in the low GHz range, of the Schottky type.
I can also find research papers detailing ...
20
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5answers
3k views
Why is this meter giving different readings depending on its orientation?
My newly-restored (re-capped) 1950s vacuum tube voltmeter is now operational...but there's one further issue. The meter gives correct readings when lying on its back, but when oriented vertically- as ...
0
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0answers
98 views
600V DC Switch method question
I am making a linear PSU capable of O/P 600v @ 300mA. This is for vacuum tube experiments. I need to connect/disconnect the load from the PSU using a switch. I will not turn OFF the PSU itself. I ...
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0answers
70 views
Designing a hybrid RF ampilifier with tube and transistors
I have an 807 vacuum tube and I want to design a RF power amplifier with it.
Since I have only one tube so I want to use transistors for the rest of the power amplifier circuit.
The 807 tube will be ...
0
votes
1answer
143 views
Strange ringing/oscillation in guitar tube amp
So I finally finished building my guitar amp.
It sounds great, except for one thing that occurs when gain is too high.
What happens is that when I turn one of the preamp volume pots high enough ...
0
votes
1answer
182 views
Restoration/mod of mid-1960s PP 2xEl844 4x6AT6 guitar amp, voltage, hum problems. Similar to Fender 5F10 schematic
Is this the right place to find solutions to the above problems?
I'm trying to make this amp usable, but after some rebuilding and reconfiguring, I still have a hum problem and what seems to be odd ...
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0answers
53 views
Drive an older VFD tube via an Arduino et. al
I have a beautiful old itron DP95A4 tube that I would like to use as a small display to visualize some data.
I suppose I'd need a driver and some sort of multiplexer, preferably used with an Arduino ...
1
vote
2answers
175 views
Vacuum tube DC amplifier circuit
I am currently working on a project to amplify a very small signal (about 10 millivolts) using a vacuum tube. I understand vacuum tubes were used as amplifiers and transistors back in the day, but I ...
2
votes
0answers
44 views
Vacuum tube emission (anode current, transconductance) percentage that is considered GOOD
Russian vacuum tube datasheets almost always specifies anode current like Ia = 100 mA +/-20mA at some conditions. The same with transconductance. But western tube datasheets specifies only one ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
Tube amplifier preamplifier
I received this little two tube preamp
http://www.gikfun.com/electronic-diy-kits-c-7/6j1-tube-preamplifier-board-20-stereo-multiple-diy-kit-p-730.html
It comes with 9 470uF caps. The symbol on the ...
3
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1answer
206 views
Can you cover tubes?
All of the tube amp designs i see have the tubes exposed to air. Is this a design feature for heat dissipation or is it simply because some find it pretty?
2
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1answer
326 views
Powering 6E1P vacuum tube VU meter
This will probably be a rather lengthy and detailed question(s). I wanted to break things up, but since everything is kind of related, I've decided to keep it as one post. I do apologize if that's not ...
-2
votes
1answer
137 views
Replacing X-ray or any radiation generating vacuum tubes with solid-state alternatives? [duplicate]
What are the reasons X-ray vacuum tubes could not be replaced by solid state alternatives?
I'm thinking if it is possible to make a compact solid-state X-ray or higher energy photons generator just ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
Which ground plane shape is more appropriate in my application?
I've been working on re-making the two PCBs in the HP 211A square-wave generator from 1955, as the traces on the one I own are starting to peel off.
Focusing on one board, the multivibrator, for the ...
3
votes
5answers
1k views
Can a lower voltage overheat a magnetron?
Background
I am working on a microwave oven that starts to emit an odor after 2 minutes of full heating despite otherwise working correctly. The smell is the same as that "sweet", ...
0
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2answers
154 views
Why does triode voltage drop change as a function of grid voltage?
Imagine a thermionic diode connected in series with a resistor \$R\$. The circuit is hooked up to a voltage source \$V\$. The diode conducts a certain current \$I\$ and \$\Delta V_\text{diode}\ + \...
1
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1answer
229 views
What Causes Voltage Drop In A Vacuum Tube Diode
This question is about the voltage drop across a vacuum tube diode.
Consider a circuit that consists of a battery, a vacuum tube diode, and a resistor all wired in series.
My understanding is that, at ...
2
votes
3answers
232 views
Why most particle accelerators used vacuum diodes instead of transistors?
HERMES III (High Energy Radiaton Megavolt Electron Source) at the Sandia at Sandia National Laboratories is the world's most powerful gamma ray generator. HERMES-III produces a highly energetic beam ...
6
votes
3answers
276 views
Amplifiers without vacuum tubes or transistors?
Are there amplifiers that can work without vacuum tubes or transistors? Is it possible to create a working amp with high power without vacuum tubes or transistors?
0
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1answer
72 views
Photo-multiplier Tube Pin Configuration
Pin configuration of a photo-multiplier tube (PMT) is presented in its manual as can be seen in the attached image. All dynodes have been related to specified pins (numbered circles in the image) ...
2
votes
2answers
53 views
Biasing network for phototubes and photomultipliers
I have some doubts about typical biasing network for vacuum phototubes and photomultipliers.
Precisely, let's start by a simple photocathode.
I have seen some biasing network like this one:
In this ...
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0answers
151 views
Guitar Amp Power Supply Issues
I have a B-52 AT100 guitar amp on my bench (naturally, it wouldn't let me attach the .pdf I have of the schematic, so I had to attach it as two .jpegs. The schematic can easily be found online though, ...
14
votes
1answer
310 views
Why is there a winding on a capacitor?
I just came across this tube RIAA preamp on which there is a coil on the input capacitor, can someone please explain what's the reason of such thing? The schematic and the actual circuit bellow.
The ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Insane power dissipation on EL34 tubes in push-pull power stage
Here's my circuit:
(now without voltages)
It uses two EL34s biased to -30V (fixed bias).
Here's the loadline (made with this calculator):
When no signal is applied voltage on EL34 anodes is 360V, as ...
0
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0answers
33 views
How to detect if vacuum tube is overdriven?
I want to somehow indicate(with LED diode for example) to user when vacuum tube is overdriven (When grid voltage is greater or equal than cathode voltage).
My first idea was to connect a LED diode ...
1
vote
3answers
263 views
Plate current use of 12Ax7 vacuum tube at low voltage
Does anyone know the current used by at 12Ax7 (or similar) vacuum tube when in normal (triode) operation using a plate voltage no more than 10VDC? I'm not considering the heater current (~300mA at 6....
0
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1answer
237 views
Headroom of cathodyne phase inverter (in vacuum tube amplifier)
I know that gain of cathodyne is almost 1, so if it's going to produce 12V peak output, it has to take 12V peak input.
However, if the bias is set to something like (-)1-1.5V, then peak voltage of ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
In a parallel plate capacitor, how does placing a metal in between the plates reduce the capacitance?
This source claims that putting a metal plate in between the capacitor plates greatly reduces the capacitance. How is this possible?
Two equal capacitances in series decreases the capacitance by ...
2
votes
3answers
315 views
Lighting up old vacuum tubes and making them turn on/off
I know there were older posts about lighting up old vacuum tubes but I would also like to turn them on and off. I am a complete newbie with no real electronic experience here so please bear with me.
...
5
votes
3answers
500 views
Low power tube headphone amplifier design
I have never worked or even listened to tubes/valves before, so its about time I did.
I wanted a simple design to work with being my first tube project, and have found this from diyaudioprojects.com:
...
2
votes
0answers
110 views
Fuzzy digits when driving with TPIC6B595
I designed a schematic and PCB of a simple Nixie clock and I hope that someone will be able to explain what's happening.
The problem is that when I'm driving the cathodes with TPIC6B595 shift ...
0
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0answers
316 views
How close can an output transformer be to a preamp tube?
Imagine a layout for a tube amplifier. The power transformer is on one side, and the output transformer, input jack, and preamp tubes are on the other side. (Take a look at the Soldano SLO for example)...
3
votes
4answers
3k views
Measuring voltage across 1 ohm resistor
This might be a very stupid question, but I can't seem to figure this out and I'm going nuts thinking about it.
Assuming you are trying to adjust the fixed bias of a tetrode push pull pair in a tube ...
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1answer
363 views
Is there a chart that translates old tube symbol to the new tube symbol [closed]
Im looking for a chart that helps you translates the old tube symbol into the updated format.
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6answers
561 views
Magnetron Working Principle
I was reading this simple description of magnetron working principle.
Can you explain me why when electrons go near the cavities, they start to resonate at microwave frequency? I do not see the link ...
3
votes
2answers
248 views
Fixing an old radio [closed]
I am trying to fix an old radio that my girlfriend just bought. It's from around 1964. I'm just a normal electrician and I am not used to fixing things like this.
Radio model: Huldra 7-45 Skapmodell
...
0
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1answer
100 views
Calculating Capacitance / Rolloff Frequency for Across the Line RFI Supression
I’m in the process of restoring my first All American Five (AA5) tube radio – in this case, a GE Model 115 from the late 1940s. As I’m getting ready to order replacement capacitors for it, one of ...
0
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1answer
288 views
Heating vacuum tube filament via capacitor
As I understand vacuum tubes (like triode / pentode) usually are designed to be heated with certain current through the filament.
And usually it is about low-voltage and comparatively high-current. E....
6
votes
2answers
729 views
Troubleshooting Hum in a Tube Guitar Amp
I have a Fender Deluxe Reverb Reissue guitar amplifier that hums whenever I turn on the reverb. It sounds like loud 60 cycle hum. The reverb effect is still applied, but is accompanied by the hum.
...
