Welcome To the Hoffman Amplifiers Forum

September 07, 2025, 12:20:30 pm
guest image
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
-User Name
-Password



Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Is possible I've seen a schematic with a lamp used in NFB circuit ?  (Read 3014 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline kagliostro

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 7739
Seems to me that some time ago I've seen a schematic on which a lamp (filament or neon ?) was used on the NFB circuit
may be the schematic was from one of the Radiotron Handbook's, but I don't remember well
Someone remember such a circuit ?
Thanks
K

The world is a nice place if there is health and there are friends

Offline tubeswell

  • Level 4
  • *****
  • Posts: 4202
  • He who dies with the most tubes... wins
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Is possible I've seen a schematic with a lamp used in NFB circuit ?
« Reply #1 on: April 23, 2014, 05:55:22 pm »
I don't see why not,

Just off the top of my head, I do not believe that a standard neon light would work, (minimum voltage requirements).

I could see LED's usd in NFB loop, possibly with a selector to choose colors and to tune the loop


What a cool idea!
A bus stops at a bus station. A train stops at a train station. On my desk, I have a work station.

Offline printer2

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 235
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Is possible I've seen a schematic with a lamp used in NFB circuit ?
« Reply #2 on: April 23, 2014, 07:26:54 pm »
There was incandescent bulbs used across the output as a sort of powersoak (or maybe I was dreaming about it).

Offline HotBluePlates

  • Global Moderator
  • Level 5
  • ******
  • Posts: 13127
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Is possible I've seen a schematic with a lamp used in NFB circuit ?
« Reply #3 on: April 23, 2014, 07:35:21 pm »
Seems to me that some time ago I've seen a schematic on which a lamp (filament or neon ?) was used on the NFB circuit ...

It was the basis of Hewlett-Packard's first product (an audio oscillator), which launched them into the test equipment market.

The oscillator used a lamp in the cathode, which was also a negative feedback return. If the oscillator signal tended to get bigger, the lamp turned on harder and was a larger resistance (it had a positive temperature coefficient; more current = more heat = higher resistance). Being in the cathode circuit, it created a larger bias voltage under these conditions, which tended to turn the oscillator off. If the oscillator signal dropped, the lamp became a smaller resistance, creating less bias voltage, which turned the oscillator more-on.

The lamp-stabilized negative feedback circuit created a nearly-constant output level with changes of frequency and over time, which made the H-P oscillator valuable among its competitors.

See the schematic below.


Offline darryl

  • Level 2
  • **
  • Posts: 246
    • ValveTone Amplification
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Is possible I've seen a schematic with a lamp used in NFB circuit ?
« Reply #4 on: April 23, 2014, 07:56:00 pm »
Seems to me that some time ago I've seen a schematic on which a lamp (filament or neon ?) was used on the NFB circuit
may be the schematic was from one of the Radiotron Handbook's, but I don't remember well

Radiotron Designer's Handbook Version 4. Chapter 16. Volume Expansion, Compression and Limiting.

Offline kagliostro

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 7739
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Is possible I've seen a schematic with a lamp used in NFB circuit ?
« Reply #5 on: April 23, 2014, 11:40:41 pm »
@ Drgonzonm

I agree with Tubeswell, interesting idea, thanks, can you explain it a bit further ?

---

@ Printer2

As far as I can remember there was a discussion about a filament lamp in series with a cap, this elements were placed in parallel with the output of the amp, PRR gave some explanation about

---

@ HotBluePlates

That schematic was one I've find searching on the Radiotron 4 before asking here, thanks for the explanation, very interesting

---

@ Darryl

Many Thanks you got it ! That is exactly what I remembered, my search was without result because Radiotron has more than 1500 pages

K
The world is a nice place if there is health and there are friends

Offline PRR

  • Level 5
  • *******
  • Posts: 17082
  • Maine USA
Hoffman Amps Forum image
Re: Is possible I've seen a schematic with a lamp used in NFB circuit ?
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2014, 12:48:50 am »
> Hewlett-Packard ... oscillator used a lamp...

FWIW, Meacham of BTL lamp-stabilized a crystal oscillator at about the same time.
« Last Edit: April 24, 2014, 12:51:17 am by PRR »

 


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