Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: plexi50 on July 21, 2012, 06:23:17 pm

Title: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 21, 2012, 06:23:17 pm
I have another power transformer with a 12V heater voltage. How do i wire the 6V6 tubes in series? From there i think i got the preamp tube wiring right where pin 4 & 5 will each have a lead from the 6V6 heater wiring
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: jeff on July 21, 2012, 07:48:36 pm
Does the 12V heater have a grounded center tap? If so each side is 6V to ground.
I pretty sure you can ground pin 7 of each 6V6 and use one heater wire to pin 2 of one 6v6 and the other to pin 2 of the other 6V6.

I pretty sure you can do that even if it doesn't have a center tap. You'd be using the tubes to create an artificial center tap instead of having to use two 100 ohm resistors.

Can anyone comfirm this or put more elequently what I'm tring to say?


BAD IDEA
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: TIMBO on July 21, 2012, 07:52:55 pm
Hi plexi, I used 12v heaters for this one works great. :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: jeff on July 21, 2012, 08:11:30 pm
TIMBO are you using the 47ohm restsiors to create an artificial CT and lifting it using the voltage divider? I think you can omit the 47ohm resistors and use the tube's filiments as a CT(the connection between 4 of one tube and 5 of the other). If there's 12V AC across two 6V tubes in series, from the point of refrence of the series connection of the two tubes, one swings +6V when the other swings -6V and vice verca.

BAD IDEA
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 21, 2012, 09:28:13 pm
No CT. Using 2 100 ohm 2 watt resistors to ground as artificial CT. Not sure how to wire the 6V6 heaters
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: HotBluePlates on July 21, 2012, 09:30:25 pm
Same as what Timbo shows:

Connect pin 7 of one 6V6 to pin 2 of the other. Now, there remains an unused pin 2 and pin 7 of these 6V6's. Connect your 12.6v winding across this series string.

If you don't have a center-tap, then connect a series string of 100Ω resistors across the heater winding as an artificial center-tap, as you would with any amp.
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 21, 2012, 11:04:08 pm
I was replying to HBP and forgot the Quote: reply, the phase of the output voltage is retarded."

So am i with series wiring. I still dont quiet get it.

Is this connection of a wire going from pin 7 of one 6V6 to pin 2 of the other 6V6 at this point completed?

Are heater leads connected as follows:
One to pin7 & one to pin2 of the remaining pins of the 6V6 tubes with 100 ohm to ground at those points?

Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: TIMBO on July 22, 2012, 01:04:16 am
Sorry Jeff, I'm not sure of your question,the only thing i can say is that i tend to fine stuff and try to adapt it to my use and if it is how i have drawn it that is how it is, WHY it is like that, hopefully Daryl will chime in as i pinched it from one of his builds and its worked for me. :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: darryl on July 22, 2012, 07:11:53 am
...hopefully Daryl will chime in as i pinched it from one of his builds...

Who rattled my cage ???   :icon_biggrin:

(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr333/valvetone/2012%20Projects/heaters.jpg)

Circuit 1 above is the arrangement HotBluePlates described earlier in this thread.

Circuit 2 is what jeff described.

Either method will work, although I prefer to use circuit 1. With circuit 2, an output valve flashover from pin 3 to pin 2 might allow the full plate voltage to pass through all the valve heaters on its way to earth.  (http://serve.mysmiley.net/scared/scared0011.gif)

This amplifier (http://www.guitargear.net.au/discussion/index.php?topic=32847.0) uses a separate 12 volt heater transformer, and has 6V6's with their heaters in series, as per circuit 1.

(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr333/valvetone/2012%20Projects/alt%20jim/6v6mod.jpg)
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: jeff on July 22, 2012, 08:54:10 am
OK. Thanks for explaining why that's a bad idea.
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 22, 2012, 09:52:35 am
Ok that diagram matches with what i thought you all were saying. I wired the 6V6 up last night at 2:00 am. It's morning and i just finshed wiring all the preamp tubes/pin4 & pin5.  Amp is nice and quiet. Thanks a million all you fellow amp maniacs! :icon_biggrin: :think1:
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: sluckey on July 22, 2012, 10:11:08 am
In my best Foghorn Leghorn voice, "I say boy, write it down this time."   :wink:


Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 22, 2012, 10:17:35 am
In my best Foghorn Leghorn voice, "I say boy, write it down this time."   :wink:

I say,I sa,I say son put dem diagrams in a folder. Yeah i have been thinking about the EL84 series wiring post of a few months past. I am getting forgetful a lot latley. Amphimers.  :think1:



Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: Willabe on July 22, 2012, 10:56:25 am
Amphimers.          :l2:
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 22, 2012, 05:05:16 pm
I have a better idea! Im just going to print out the diagram and glue it in front of me so i can never forget how series wiring is done
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: darryl on July 22, 2012, 08:00:28 pm
I have a better idea! Im just going to print out the diagram and glue it in front of me so i can never forget how series wiring is done

An even better idea!  Tattoo this image on your forehead, and you'll be reminded every time you look in a mirror.   :thumbsup:

(http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr333/valvetone/2012%20Projects/flip.jpg)

 :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: PRR on July 22, 2012, 08:58:18 pm
> an output valve flashover from pin 3 to pin 2 might allow the full plate voltage to pass through all the valve heaters on its way to earth.

IMHO, probably harmless. Heater impedances are much lower, normal current much higher, than plate currents. The high-volt winding will probably melt before the 6V6 heater pops.  :sad2:

IAC, if you have shorts across power-tube pins, "something" is probably gonna blow, and the possible combinations are too many to predict/prevent. Wire cleanly, use good tubes, and keep your soldering iron handy just-in-case.

Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 22, 2012, 09:23:51 pm
Rarely get a hold of transformers with 12V heater voltages. Tattooed 11"x8" printout now on wall
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: DummyLoad on July 23, 2012, 11:06:54 pm
love the avatar plexi...

--DL


Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 24, 2012, 07:14:27 pm
love the avatar plexi...

--DL




Thanks DummyLoad. It's all Steves fault. I say,I sa,I say Steves fault  :laugh:
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: sluckey on July 24, 2012, 07:19:06 pm
Quote
Tattooed 11"x8" printout now on wall
We want proof! Where's the pic?
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: billcreller on July 24, 2012, 07:31:31 pm
Some time ago, I used 12V6s & other octal 12 volt tubes to do one.  Had a bunch of the 12V6s but had to buy the 12 volt octal pre-amp & PI tubes, the 12SJ7, & the 12SL7.  It worked OK.  Just another Valco type I gave away.
 Don't remember where I got the PT with that heater voltage..... :dontknow:
Title: Re: 6V6 Series Heater Wiring
Post by: plexi50 on July 24, 2012, 08:28:59 pm
I get old gear around town and strip some of it out for parts.  Every now and then a 12V heater will pop up. Unexpected of course until after i test the transformers. If they have a 5 volt tap for a recto then i have to use them.
I have been saved by a diagram and Fog Horn Leg Horn!
Heres the proof!