Tube spacing

[dude]

6V6's, too close? Major work to separate them more but I don't want excessive heat or short life span...?

[shooter]

If it's PSE, it's just 1 tube anyway, OR if PP, then only ones on at a time, shipit 

[Willabe]

The hottest part of all most all power tubes is at the plate seams.

Don't align the tube sockets so the plate seams face each other. This will help a little with heat dispersion.   

[dude]

Thanks for plate seam advice, will do.
I think JJ6V6s are fatter tubes that might be a problem, just the fit. These are old stock USA.
Much easier to move the sockets a little farther apart now then when their wired, just looking for advice. Didn't want to move them unless they're really too close. Personally, I was going to move them but wasn't sure if it was necessary.
They're pretty close this is an AO-43 chassis had EL84s, maybe I should make a November Amp..?


But anyway, anyone feel free to give their opinion.


al

[Willabe]

I would move them further apart, anything will help.

And a little further away from the 9 pin tube also, if I could.

[dude]

Thanks Willabe, I'll move them, then I can use 6L6s and EL34s too. That stock AO43 PT can handle the current.   

[Willabe]

They're pretty close this is an AO-43 chassis had EL84s, maybe I should make a November Amp..?

They spaced the power tube sockets for EL84's.

Smaller/thinner/lower output tubes will need less space in between to dissipate the heat.

Tubes with less filament current draw, produce less heat too. 6L6's draw 2x the filament/-heater- current that 6V6's draw, twice the heat.

If it were me, I'd feel much better if using bigger tubes, 6V6/6L6/EL34, with more space in between the sockets.   

[tubenit]

Tube spacing in ARCHIVES:   https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=17406.0

[dude]

Tube spacing in ARCHIVES:   https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=17406.0

Thank you very much for that link, I did search here before I posted but didn't find much info.
Sincerely,
al

[jojokeo]

Dude...where's my car? Sorry I just saw the movie a couple weeks ago clicking around my TV and gave a few laughs after all the years. Ashton was super young back then.

I know that chassis anywhere! Also the other Hammonds too. I love using them for scratch builds. My question is, does it have to look pretty? If not it doesn't have to align in a straight line and sometimes you can add a plate over the old cap holes and mount a socket there or whatever you feel suits your layout. But yes, the holes for the '84's shouldn't be used as others agree, they are too close. A good rule is the "rule of thumb" for 6V6's (unless you have small thumbs?) meaning never closer than that. Then a couple of thumbs for 6L6s & EL34s. And about three thumbs distance on KT66/88s.

In datasheets on a few it talks about aligning of the plates to each other but another consideration (not on your laydown PT) is about the PT laminations not being aligned at the tubes also. Just FYI info...

[dude]

Is this pretty! 


Ya that movie was great, so was the "Big Lebowski" 


"The dude"

[shooter]

If it rocks, then it's just a Gibson layout, nbd 

[byoungblood]

It pained me to have to cut into a chassis, but the AO-29 to Bassman conversion I'm working on, I moved the power tube sockets apart because a pair of 6L6s were almost touching each other with the original socket spacing. I just cut out a hole with my jigsaw, then (crudely) fabbed up a plate for the sockets. Ended up swapping out the sockets while I was at it because the old ones had largely lost their tension to the point that I'd lose bias on the tubes...yikes!

[dude]

It pained me to have to cut into a chassis, but the AO-29 to Bassman conversion I'm working on, I moved the power tube sockets apart because a pair of 6L6s were almost touching each other with the original socket spacing. I just cut out a hole with my jigsaw, then (crudely) fabbed up a plate for the sockets. Ended up swapping out the sockets while I was at it because the old ones had largely lost their tension to the point that I'd lose bias on the tubes...yikes!

You can buy a piece of stainless steel at Ace Hardware for $8, cut out a square, attach and drill the spacing you need, see pic. Like Jojokeo say, if it plays great who cares about pretty.


The dude,
If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[byoungblood]

It pained me to have to cut into a chassis, but the AO-29 to Bassman conversion I'm working on, I moved the power tube sockets apart because a pair of 6L6s were almost touching each other with the original socket spacing. I just cut out a hole with my jigsaw, then (crudely) fabbed up a plate for the sockets. Ended up swapping out the sockets while I was at it because the old ones had largely lost their tension to the point that I'd lose bias on the tubes...yikes!

You can buy a piece of stainless steel at Ace Hardware for $8, cut out a square, attach and drill the spacing you need, see pic. Like Jojokeo say, if it plays great who cares about pretty.


The dude,
If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Exactly, in the cabinet I've built for it, you can't even see it as the tubes are towards the front of the cabinet and are behind the OPT and filter cap. I just made the plate out of some scrap sheet metal I had laying around and cut it free hand with my metal band saw.

[dude]

Harbor Freight, I think that's the name has a two pack of cheap step-drills for less than $15, often on sale for $10. Works for at least 6 or 7 holes on each step,    it's cheaply made  but you can sharpen it.  You should have a nice round socket hole, jig saw the chassis and use stainless steel, not thin sheet metal, only $8 at Ace for a 16" by 8", it's about as thick as a Hammond chassis and will cover a lot of unwanted holes. I used stainless rivets, (ribbets, this is for Sluckey,  ) also at Ace.  This is what I did in the pic's above.


Only reason I asked about spacing was this AO43 I was planning on only using 6V6s, heard others just enlarged the EL84 sockets. Like most know here I ask some self explanatory questions, sorry guys, I'm working on that. . 


Have a great day everyone,
Al            (aka the dude, by the way I got that name from my daughters, they suggested I should go to a Halloween party as The Big LeBowski    , I did).