Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: dunner84 on December 20, 2016, 05:43:24 pm

Title: Temporary rectifier swap
Post by: dunner84 on December 20, 2016, 05:43:24 pm

Hello,

I am finishing up a modified ab763 type amp, and I am wondering about the rectifier. I don't have a 5ar4 on hand yet, and won't have one until early in the new year; however, I have a good stock of 5y3s lying around, and I was wondering if I could through one in for initial startup/testing purposes. I know the voltage drop is significantly more, and there is a current difference, but will it work? The amp is running 2 x 6l6 and 4x12a_7 tubes.

Title: Re: Temporary rectifier swap
Post by: sluckey on December 20, 2016, 05:49:35 pm

It'll work if you bias cold and don't push the 6L6s. I would prefer to just use 4 1N4007s. Easy to build a plugin if you have a dead octal tube laying around.

Title: Re: Temporary rectifier swap
Post by: dunner84 on December 20, 2016, 10:13:22 pm

Thanks, that's actually a fantastic idea. I have lots of diodes, and I just happen to have a dead 6l6. It also wouldn't hurt to have an SS rectifier lying around.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Temporary rectifier swap
Post by: eleventeen on December 21, 2016, 01:42:50 pm

THAT (building the diode plug-in deal in the [dead] 6L6 tube base) won't work because 95% of 6L6 tubes have no pin 6 and you will need a pin 6 to be there. You need a dead 6SN7/6SL7 or some other type with "all" the pins.


Throw your 5Y3 in there and launch it. 

Title: Re: Temporary rectifier swap
Post by: dunner84 on December 22, 2016, 01:47:44 pm

Thanks again for the info, good catch on the pin 6. I almost broke the glass on the 6l6. I do have a few other dead octals lying around, but I can't find my 1n4007 stash.. I did find some 1n5408, which look like heavier duty general purpose diodes so I'll give them a wurl. Ill be reporting on the results soon.
Thanks again