Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: fossilshark on June 17, 2025, 02:40:44 pm

Title: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: fossilshark on June 17, 2025, 02:40:44 pm
Accidentally ordered 1/4w 220K resistors instead of 1/2w that the schematic calls for. For plate resistors on 12ax7s will this be a problem? This amp is just being repaired for a friend in a bit of a time crunch.
Title: Re: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: shooter on June 17, 2025, 04:45:42 pm
(voltage across the plate R ) * ~~~~~ .0015A (about what an AX draws at idle) = power in Watts
Title: Re: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: stratomaster on June 17, 2025, 04:53:49 pm
What's the voltage rating of the resistor?  That's the real question.
Title: Re: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: Merlin on June 17, 2025, 05:40:59 pm
Most 1/4W resistors are only rated for 200V, which is probably not enough. I suspect you're gonna need 1/2W.
Title: Re: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: fossilshark on June 17, 2025, 06:50:00 pm
If Merlin says so then it is. I will order 1/2w replacements. Thanks for the advice!
Title: Re: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: kagliostro on June 18, 2025, 12:04:11 am
Since I suffer from deforming arthritis in my hands and I am also short-sighted, my preference always goes to nice 2W metal film resistors, which, to be honest, have a look that is more reminiscent of the size of old carbon-bond resistors among other things, even if they were not metal film, 2W resistors are "quieter" than the same type of 1/2W


Franco
Title: Re: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: fossilshark on June 18, 2025, 06:47:26 am
I will have to see what I can find that will fit in the PCB. Maybe some of vishays ceramic resistors at 1w would be good.
Title: Re: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: scstill on June 18, 2025, 08:58:03 am
An interesting read...
https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=26399.0
Title: Re: 1/4w resistors vs 1/2w for preamp plates
Post by: AlNewman on June 18, 2025, 06:17:16 pm
Here's a good quote from PRR from the linked thread.

"You can't burn-up even a 1/4W in grid or cathode service.

If a preamp tube goes dead-short, a 100k plate resistor on 300V supply gets 0.9 Watts.

Toasted carbon-comp is bad mojo, always over-size for reliability."