Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: olgoat on May 12, 2012, 01:38:47 pm

Title: 5e3 build. Pin voltage question
Post by: olgoat on May 12, 2012, 01:38:47 pm
I just completed my first 5e3 build. Ceriatone circuit, lots of parts from Doug and elsewhere. It is working and a friend who has played tweeds before said it sounded good so I got that much right.   

I want to get the tube pin voltages both with and without the 5Y3 in the circuit.  So I have a real newbie question. 


Thanks for any thoughts on the matter.
Title: Re: 5e3 build. Pin voltage question
Post by: TubeGeek on May 12, 2012, 01:56:00 pm
There will be both AC and DC voltages here.

You will have 5 VAC or VDC (depends on what you prefer to use) on the 5y3's pins 2 and 8, this is the heater voltage. You also have VDC on these pins.  It is the B+ voltage for your amp.

You will also have VAC on pins 4 and 6, which are the plates.  They connect directly to the power transformer high voltage taps.

It's a rectifier tube so VAC goes in and VDC comes out.
Title: Re: 5e3 build. Pin voltage question
Post by: olgoat on May 12, 2012, 02:29:49 pm
Tubegeek.  A bit confused on the statement "5 VAC or VDC (depends on what you prefer to use)"    Do you mean setting the meter for either AC or DC will have the same results for pins 2 and 8?   Thanks
Title: Re: 5e3 build. Pin voltage question
Post by: TubeGeek on May 12, 2012, 02:35:52 pm
Pins 2 and 8 are the filament or heaters.  They can be operated with either 5 VAC or VDC.  The way it is now you have 5 VAC going to pins 2 and 8 from the power transformer.  The two yellow wires.  If you preferred for whatever reason to use 5 VDC instead, the rectifier tube will still function this way but will require further rectification before the 5y3 if you were to do it this way.