Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: sbeckett on September 15, 2023, 06:25:48 pm

Title: Resistors Making An Amp Quiet...
Post by: sbeckett on September 15, 2023, 06:25:48 pm
Why do these 100 Ohm Resistors eliminate single coil guitar up against a fluorescent light noise from my amp? Idle noise is practically non existent with the amp and guitar volume turned all the way up. The amp appears to operate normally otherwise. When I remove the resistors the amp has about the same amount of idle noise as a Blues Junior.

(https://i.postimg.cc/dsWPhDCV/100-Ohm-Resistors.png)

Title: Re: Resistors Making An Amp Quiet...
Post by: PRR on September 15, 2023, 10:28:05 pm
If there is NO connection heater-circuit to amplifier common, lots of line hash is radiated from heater wires to amplifier nodes.

Grounding one side of the heater is a big improvement. And saves a buck if you use the chassis for heater return. That's how radios were wired.

"Balancing" both heater lines is even better, and worth the extra pennies in high-gain amplifiers.

There's no normal case where you DON'T want a ground reference on heater circuit. It may be elevated, but totally floating invites worse trouble than just hum.
Title: Re: Resistors Making An Amp Quiet...
Post by: sbeckett on September 16, 2023, 04:50:23 am
Thank you!
Title: Re: Resistors Making An Amp Quiet...
Post by: pdf64 on September 16, 2023, 07:37:55 am
Also DC elevation of the heater circuit as shown can help to prevent heater current sneaking through the heater to cathode insulation of the valves.
Title: Re: Resistors Making An Amp Quiet...
Post by: scstill on September 16, 2023, 01:46:47 pm
http://www.valvewizard.co.uk/heater.html