Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: schoolie on March 16, 2012, 04:52:34 pm
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How much current can a switchcraft #11 jack handle? I've seen 1A in the specs. Can I get away with two #11 jacks, for a 5f6a 40W amp? If my speaker load is 2 Ohms, would that mean ~4.5A current output for one jack and 2.3A for two jacks? Also, how much can an RCA jack handle? Any guidance would be very helpful.
Thanks!
Rob
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Both the Switchcraft and the RCA jacks will handle your 5F6A. I built a 5F6A a few years ago using 2 RCA jacks for the 4-10" speaker hookups and 2 of the Switchcraft #11 on the amp for speaker outputs. Switchcraft and other 1/4" jacks should be able to handle up to 200 to 300 watt amps with no problem. You will be getting no where near 2 amps on the speaker outputs.
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Many thanks, dpm!
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Whatever the specs say, 1/4" jacks can be perfectly reliable for 100++ Watts into speakers.
Note particularly: when you put a 15A plug on your room-heater, it may pull 13A night and day. Power loads can be constant. But audio is never FULL power ALL the time. Even headbasher music can't average half rated power, and usually not more than 5 or 10 minutes between song-breaks, alternate solos, etc.
Get your big speaker and BIG transistor amp. Wire with 1/4". Play as loud as you can until your arm gets tired or the cops come. Whip the plug out and feel it. Probably isn't the least bit warm.
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:laugh: Thanks, PRR. So, it sounds like I could use even one output jack with my 5f6a. I never realized this, but building these narrow panel tweed amps is like building a ship in a bottle. Just getting everything to fit has been the biggest battle...so far :icon_biggrin: