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Hoffman Amps Forum image Author Topic: Enough current??  (Read 2456 times)

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Offline Vlada

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Enough current??
« on: October 06, 2023, 10:53:50 pm »
Hello there, I am in a proces of modding my friends Marshall (2204 - built with CT transformers)
Wanted to add 2 ecc83 tubes (one for aditional gain stages and one for fx loop)
Since that transformer is rated 150mA for HT, does it have enough current to supply 2 el34s and 5 ecc83 tubes?
I am refering to 50 watt Marshall PT (1202-164)
A lot of modded Marshalls use the same tranformer without any problems, but recently I bumped on this inhttps://www.valvewizard.co.uk/smoothing.html
What do you guys think?

Offline tubenit

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Re: Enough current??
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2023, 04:45:39 am »
Tube Data Cheat sheet attached.  Maybe this will help?

Offline HotBluePlates

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Re: Enough current??
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2023, 10:07:43 pm »
... Wanted to add 2 ecc83 tubes ...
Since that transformer is rated 150mA for HT, does it have enough current to supply 2 el34s and 5 ecc83 tubes? ...

I think you're fine to add the extra preamp tubes.

The current rating of the high voltage winding is mostly chosen to support the power tubes' plate & screen currents at maximum output power.

After you figure out how much the power tubes will pull when the amp is at full-tilt, the current draw of the entire preamp is almost a "rounding error."  In other words, it's a small % of the overall high voltage current rating, as the two extra tubes might only add 3-4mA of current draw at the most.

Offline PRR

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Re: Enough current??
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2023, 11:20:33 pm »
The HT won't be stressed. How about the heater winding?

Offline Vlada

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Re: Enough current??
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2023, 02:17:33 pm »
Thank you all
Heater current is not a concern I think, since 6,3 volts secondary winding is rated 5 Amps
2x EL34 = 3A
5x ecc83 = 1,5A
Cant remember how much light bulb draws  :dontknow:

Offline tubeswell

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Re: Enough current??
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2023, 06:52:47 am »
Cant remember how much light bulb draws  :dontknow:

6.3VAC Type 47 lamps can draw 150mA, 300mA or 500mA- you need to check the actual rating stamped on the lamp bayonet.


A low-current alternative would be a Type 47 6.3V LED bulb
« Last Edit: October 13, 2023, 07:31:55 am by tubeswell »
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