Welcome To the Hoffman Amplifiers Forum

September 08, 2025, 02:37:24 pm
guest image
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
-User Name
-Password



Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: DC heaters and voltage regulator for relay switching  (Read 1536 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Curranm

  • Level 1
  • *
  • Posts: 50
  • I love Tube amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
DC heaters and voltage regulator for relay switching
« on: June 02, 2020, 01:28:47 pm »
OK I got a DC heater supply working in a new amp build, this is a 2 channel amp and I want to use the relay board and relay from the kit page here to change channels. can I use the regulator right odd the 6.5vDC tap to do this. it is already filtered and stable. IF I can as is. where do I ground the regulator since the regulator board that I buy here is a "floating ground" set up. I am definitely in the weeds and murky water here, I am making a lot of assumptions about how this works because I have never done it before. BUT I have the switch, relay board and foots witch jack wired like I do for my other 2 channel amps that are using BOTH the regulator board and the relay PCB from the parts shop here.

Offline pdf64

  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 2965
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: DC heaters and voltage regulator for relay switching
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2020, 02:07:11 pm »
Be aware that a power tube short (eg screen grid to heater) could blow the 100 ohm balancing resistors and pull the whole heater circuit up to HT voltage.
Hence it would be a good idea to plan for, and put in mitigation to accommodate that, so as to limit collateral damage to an acceptable level.
Referencing the relay supply to 0V may work out counter to that goal?
https://www.justgiving.com/page/5-in-5-for-charlie This is my step son and his family. He is running 5 marathons in 5 days to support the research into STXBP1, the genetic condition my grandson Charlie has. Please consider supporting him! BBC News feature  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm26llp

Offline Curranm

  • Level 1
  • *
  • Posts: 50
  • I love Tube amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: DC heaters and voltage regulator for relay switching
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2020, 02:10:54 pm »
damn it here is the correct schematic!! I had removed the 100R's because the AC heaters are getting ground reference from the rectifier ground! and reviewing the relay pages it looks like I can just ground the regulator to the chassis as long as I use an isolated or cliff jack foot switch jack, correct?
« Last Edit: June 02, 2020, 02:36:55 pm by Curranm »

Offline pdf64

  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 2965
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: DC heaters and voltage regulator for relay switching
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2020, 02:40:42 pm »
A tube short of the type described previously will fill the amp chassis with conductive electrolyte due to those caps exploding, necessitating a big clean up job and rebuild / rethink of the heater and relay supply  :cry:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/5-in-5-for-charlie This is my step son and his family. He is running 5 marathons in 5 days to support the research into STXBP1, the genetic condition my grandson Charlie has. Please consider supporting him! BBC News feature  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm26llp

 


Choose a link from the
Hoffman Amplifiers parts catalog
Mobile Device
Catalog Link
Yard Sale
Discontinued
Misc. Hardware
What's New Board Building
 Parts
Amp trim
Handles
Lamps
Diodes
Hoffman Turret
 Boards
Channel
Switching
Resistors Fender Eyelet
 Boards
Screws/Nuts
Washers
Jacks/Plugs
Connectors
Misc Eyelet
Boards
Tools
Capacitors Custom Boards
Tubes
Valves
Pots
Knobs
Fuses/Cords Chassis
Tube
Sockets
Switches Wire
Cable


Handy Links
Tube Amp Library
Tube Amp
Schematics library
Design a custom Eyelet or
Turret Board
DIY Layout Creator
File analyzer program
DIY Layout Creator
File library
Transformer Wiring
Diagrams
Hoffmanamps
Facebook page
Hoffman Amplifiers
Discount Program


password