Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: clyde on March 20, 2024, 08:35:43 am

Title: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: clyde on March 20, 2024, 08:35:43 am
Is there any way to mitigate the "pop" when switching a second one in or out? 
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: sluckey on March 20, 2024, 08:42:34 am
Is there any way to mitigate the "pop" when switching a second one in or out?
Try putting a big resistor across the switch contacts. Maybe 100K or higher.
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: clyde on March 20, 2024, 09:04:20 am
No, unfortunately it doesn't seem to do anything, went 10k and lower even.
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: shooter on March 20, 2024, 09:11:35 am
the further you go down the signal-path, the louder the pop.
are you switching the cathode side or the ground side?


you could do some creative math so you never "break" the path, just parallel a 2nd resistor to = your "new" resistor.
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: sluckey on March 20, 2024, 09:24:41 am
No, unfortunately it doesn't seem to do anything, went 10k and lower even.
I said maybe 100K or higher. Shooter has a better idea.

There are a few different ways to wire this. Show us exactly how you have your switch connected. Simple schematic.
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: clyde on March 20, 2024, 09:39:10 am
I am switching the ground side, so resistor is attached to the cathode.  I used my decade box, started with 10M across the switch contacts,going lower until it didn't make any sense anymore.  The second resistor is switched in for a warm gain increase, 2nd stage 6J5.  I could try switching the cathode side.  In any event, it's not harmful but an annoyance. 
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: sluckey on March 20, 2024, 10:15:30 am
Which switching method are you using (A or B)? Or are you using something else?
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: clyde on March 20, 2024, 10:24:04 am
"A"  I never thought of using "B", the 2nd resistor half the value of the first, or thereabouts.  It might solve the problem. 
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: sluckey on March 20, 2024, 10:27:29 am
Is there a bypass cap involved?
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: SnickSound on March 20, 2024, 10:52:10 am
Is there any way to mitigate the "pop" when switching a second one in or out?

Doing this changes the bias point, I don't know of any way of getting rid of the pop beside pulling a Mesa and muting the amp while switching is happening
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: Esquirefreak on March 20, 2024, 11:45:56 am
I recently tried switching a preamp triode Rk in parallel with another and could not get rid of the pop. Didn't seem to make any difference with snubber resistors. I suppose that's the nature of switching DC.

/Max
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: clyde on March 20, 2024, 01:40:56 pm
No bypass cap.
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: shooter on March 20, 2024, 03:15:31 pm
what's the end-game you're looking for by on the fly re-bias?
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: kagliostro on March 21, 2024, 03:03:33 pm
From this proposal of Mr. Merlin, see option C

(https://i.imgur.com/YJCxC9Y.jpeg)

Something to which you can give a try

(https://i.imgur.com/7PN5Csh.jpeg)

Franco
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: clyde on March 21, 2024, 07:44:32 pm
what's the end-game you're looking for by on the fly re-bias?


It's a warm gain on the 2nd stage as stated above, not really "on the fly" but noticeable when switched with the amp on.  This is a restomod of a trashed Harmony H194 which has only volume and tone and I'm just trying to get a little more of an expanded tone palette.  The volume has a pull-on cathode cap on the first stage as well.   
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: kagliostro on March 22, 2024, 01:05:34 pm
Quote
... It's a warm gain on the 2nd stage as stated above ...

May be something like this ?

(https://i.imgur.com/DSZ62GH.jpeg)

Franco

Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: clyde on March 22, 2024, 03:35:25 pm
Tres cool, unfortunately I don't have room for a pot, but thank you very much!
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: kagliostro on March 22, 2024, 03:46:18 pm
You are not obliged to use a pot on the faceplate

you can simply use a trimmer to find the right values and then resistor and SPDT switch

Franco
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: SnickSound on March 22, 2024, 04:05:00 pm
You are not obliged to use a pot on the faceplate

you can simply use a trimmer to find the right values and then resistor and SPDT switch

Franco

That brings us back to the original problem though, hard switching the cathode resistor changes the bias point and will always result in a pop.

The LDR is a nice idea, complicated, but nice.

I would probably just try to get what I want a different way
Title: Re: Dual Cathode Resistors
Post by: kagliostro on March 23, 2024, 03:59:51 am
Also the pot that feeds the LED can be changed using resistors and a switch


Franco