Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 04:18:50 pm

Title: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 04:18:50 pm
B+ off of 5Y3 without other tubes installed is 470 - that seems OK

but
B+ with tubes installed drops to 240? Should be ~360
6V6 pin 8 cathode 48V??? Should be ~20

What might cause this weird voltage stuff?
Have swapped out all the tubes and readings are consistently puzzling.

Also, when power switched on after a couple of seconds there is a pop or click noise. Doesn't continue or repeat, just one time every time powering up.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: PRR on March 16, 2018, 04:24:37 pm
6V6 G1 voltage??
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: sluckey on March 16, 2018, 04:27:49 pm
What is the voltage on pin 5 of each 6V6? Should be zero.

Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 04:41:46 pm
What is the voltage on pin 5 of each 6V6? Should be zero.

When measuring pin 5 on each 6V6 starts at ~1.6 and drops tp .5V and stays there.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: sluckey on March 16, 2018, 04:59:44 pm
Disconnect both coupling caps between the PI plates and 6V6 grids and recheck the voltage on pin 5 of each 6V6.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 05:03:17 pm
6V6 G1 voltage??

where/how do I measure G1 and what is it?
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: sluckey on March 16, 2018, 05:05:14 pm
G1 = pin 5
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 05:10:05 pm
Disconnect both coupling caps between the PI plates and 6V6 grids and recheck the voltage on pin 5 of each 6V6.

With coupling caps disconnected from PI still reads .5V but does not start higher and drop down just immediately .5.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: sluckey on March 16, 2018, 05:28:40 pm
With those two caps still disconnected do the B+ voltage readings go up? And does the pin 8 voltage go down to a more reasonable value?
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 05:33:06 pm
With those two caps still disconnected do the B+ voltage readings go up? And does the pin 8 voltage go down to a more reasonable value?

B+ still low ~254 but pin 8 now at 24 which is more in line.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: sluckey on March 16, 2018, 05:40:14 pm
Reconnect only one of those caps and then recheck pin 8 voltage. If voltage goes up, replace that leaky cap and recheck pin 8 voltage. If still approx. 20 volts, install the other cap. If voltage goes up, replace that leaky cap and recheck pin 8 voltage. If still approx. 20 volts, throw away the leaky cap(s).

With power off, measure resistance between chassis and pin 5 of each 6V6. What have you?
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: PRR on March 16, 2018, 05:47:53 pm
Old build, new build?

i.e. did it work right once or are you first-time smoke-testing?
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 06:12:12 pm
Reconnect only one of those caps and then recheck pin 8 voltage. If voltage goes up, replace that leaky cap and recheck pin 8 voltage. If still approx. 20 volts, install the other cap. If voltage goes up, replace that leaky cap and recheck pin 8 voltage. If still approx. 20 volts, throw away the leaky cap(s).

With power off, measure resistance between chassis and pin 5 of each 6V6. What have you?

Thank you for your patience and persistence.
Unfortunately, just took a step backwards. Tried the leaky cap replcement process without success and now with both caps disconnected am back up to 48V @ pin 8?????
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 06:13:15 pm
Old build, new build?

i.e. did it work right once or are you first-time smoke-testing?

New build, first time to fire it up.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: sluckey on March 16, 2018, 06:13:45 pm
OK, so it ain't the caps. What about the resistance check?
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 06:43:34 pm
OK, so it ain't the caps. What about the resistance check?

Infinity - Open Loop
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: sluckey on March 16, 2018, 06:52:21 pm
Quote
Infinity - Open Loop
You are most likely missing a ground connection to the junction of those two 220K grid resistors. Fix it and things will get a lot better.

If this is a Hoffman board the most likely problem is a missing under board jumper from the junction of those two 220K resistors to the negative terminal of a 16µF filter cap. If using another layout just look.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: leevc5 on March 16, 2018, 07:07:27 pm
Quote
Infinity - Open Loop
You are most likely missing a ground connection to the junction of those two 220K grid resistors. Fix it and things will get a lot better.

If this is a Hoffman board the most likely problem is a missing under board jumper from the junction of those two 220K resistors to the negative terminal of a 16µF filter cap. If using another layout just look.

That Dr. Sluckey sir was the problem! 
You got me thru many a 5F1 weirdities and have got me thru my first 5E3 build to success. If there was a Nobel prize for Tweed Amp Troubling Shooting you should certainly win the award.
Thank you one again.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: tubenit on March 17, 2018, 04:49:39 am
Quote
If there was a Nobel prize for Tweed Amp Troubling Shooting you should certainly win the award.

+1              Sluckey definitely holds the record for correctly trouble shooting my amp builds!

with respect, Tubenit
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: Ed_Chambley on March 17, 2018, 05:06:49 am
Quote
If there was a Nobel prize for Tweed Amp Troubling Shooting you should certainly win the award.

+1              Sluckey definitely holds the record for correctly trouble shooting my amp builds!

with respect, Tubenit
He also holds the record correctly shooting amp builder problems.
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: sluckey on March 17, 2018, 07:43:51 am
He also holds the record correctly shooting amp builder problems.
I try to treat all equally. Give'm what they ask for.  :icon_biggrin:
Title: Re: 5E3 voltages not right any suggestions?
Post by: Willabe on March 24, 2018, 12:45:28 pm
I try to treat all equally. Give'm what they ask for.  :icon_biggrin:

 :laugh: