Welcome To the Hoffman Amplifiers Forum

September 07, 2025, 07:43:59 am
guest image
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
-User Name
-Password



Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Boogie 50 Caliber repair  (Read 5352 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline six el six

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 165
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« on: August 26, 2011, 10:41:22 am »
This amp is passing a little signal. One 6l6 is glowing VERY brightly. It had problems before I replaced the filters. Plate voltage on the power tubes is 50vdc or so below what it should be according to schemo. All diodes check ok w/analog and digital meters. I'm posting the schemo and my voltages. If anybody has the time to look this over I very, very much appreciate it. Thanks.

http://www.el34world.com/charts/valve/ValveData.php?e=view&f=11624

Offline phsyconoodler

  • SMG
  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 4679
  • honey badger don't give a ****
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2011, 11:01:54 am »
Bias supply or screen resistor comes to mind here.If one tube is sucking a lot of current the plate voltage will be drawn down like that.
  Get the bias supply up to par and check those screen resistors.
Your voltages show positive voltages on pin 5 of the 6L6's.Your issue lies there.
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 11:08:08 am by phsyconoodler »
Honey badger don't give a ****

stratele52

  • Guest
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2011, 03:08:38 pm »
SIX el SIX your tube is red platin = danger to destroy it in few minutes.
You have a bias problem OR your tube is short

remove the 2 6L6  and mesure bias negative voltage on each 6L6 socket pin 5 you must read something like - 30 DC volts ( minus 30 Volts DC ).

Power ON the amp without those tubes to  test

Offline Shrapnel

  • Level 3
  • ***
  • Posts: 548
  • Intelligence is good. Wisdom is better.
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2011, 01:42:04 am »
remove the 2 6L6  and mesure bias negative voltage on each 6L6 socket pin 5 you must read something like - 30 DC volts ( minus 30 Volts DC ).

Power ON the amp without those tubes to  test

According to the schematic, it looks like that bias voltage should be -47VDC, not -30VDC, If it is at -30VDC, it might be too little to keep the tubes from red-plating.

Check pin 5 to ground for this voltage with the 6L6 tubes removed.
-Later!

"All the great speakers were bad speakers at first" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

stratele52

  • Guest
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2011, 05:01:05 am »
My answer ( -30 volts bias ) is only useful to find why your 6L6 red platin not to do a proper Bias. The important is to know if some bias voltage is there or not.
If not there , tube probably short.

By the way the schematic -47 volts is ONLY  good for reference AND if you use the same brand name  AND batch of tubes when amp was desingn.
Today the tubes could be not the same for use -47 volts

Offline EL34

  • Administrator
  • Level 5
  • **********
  • Posts: 10407
  • wooot!
    • Hoffman Amplifiers
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2011, 05:07:12 pm »
Looked at your voltage chart
http://www.el34world.com/charts/valve/ValveData.php?e=view&f=11624

pin 5 on the power tubes is totally out of whack????

stratele52

  • Guest
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2011, 04:39:48 am »
You have no bias voltage on pin 5 ?????

Your tube are in real danger to be destroy. Check your bias circuit. Do that without the 6L6 tubes in the amp.

Offline EL34

  • Administrator
  • Level 5
  • **********
  • Posts: 10407
  • wooot!
    • Hoffman Amplifiers
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2011, 06:27:31 am »
BTW, I added a few new features recently to the valve recording program.

You can now go back and edit your voltage s
You can also request that files be deleted if they are not needed.

The edit button is under the notes field
http://www.el34world.com/charts/valve/ValveData.php?e=view&f=11624

Offline six el six

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 165
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #8 on: August 28, 2011, 01:17:11 pm »
UPDATE:

The main offender was a bad coupling cap going from one of the plates on the phase inverter tube to one of the power tubes. It was completely shot i.e. tested bad with a digital cap meter and an old school eye tube checker. I think I could have caught this by checking for DC voltage on both sides of the coupling caps. I also resoldered the 220uF/63V electrolytic in the bias supply just in case I didn't get a good solder joint the first time. Then I  double checked all the leads I'd disconnected/connected on the circuit board AND I double checked all the solder joints on components I tested out of circuit (the diodes).

I used Illinois caps for the filters. They sound fine. All voltages now read just a little over what the schematic reads + wall AC voltage difference.

It's funny. I loved these Boogies when I was young back in the 80's. Things change.

Thanks for the help from everyone.

« Last Edit: August 28, 2011, 01:27:17 pm by SIX el SIX »

Offline sluckey

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 5075
    • Sluckey Amps
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2011, 01:26:16 pm »
That could account for no bias voltage on one 6L6 but what about the other? What voltage do you measure on pin 5 of EACH 6L6? If it ain't -40vdc to -50vdc, you probably ain't done yet.
A schematic, layout, and hi-rez pics are very useful for troubleshooting your amp. Don't wait to be asked. JUST DO IT!

stratele52

  • Guest
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #10 on: August 28, 2011, 01:36:36 pm »
SIX el SIX,your capacitor in phase inverter plate was short ( you write shot ) ? If it was short circuit it could send some B+ voltage to bias circuit and stop the minus 40 volts.

That probably why your tube gloww red

Offline six el six

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 165
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2011, 03:24:56 pm »
I just posted the new voltages. Bias voltage is at -44 on both power tubes now. Thanks again.

stratele52

  • Guest
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2011, 03:32:39 pm »
Good , so the amp will work now ?

Offline six el six

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 165
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Boogie 50 Caliber repair
« Reply #13 on: August 29, 2011, 03:33:59 am »
It works. I thought Boogies were great back in the eighties when tonal anemia was de rigueur.

 


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