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Valve (tube) amplifier schematic help

Solidus

Jun 19, 2011
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I'm in the process of trying to build this, and I'm about to start obtaining components, but had a few questions regarding some of the specifics of the schematic.

Does the polarized capacitor marked C3 @ 1uF have to be polarized, or could it be replaced with a non-polarized one of the same capacitance?

If it has to be and I can't find a polarized cap, would a non-polarized cap and a inline diode function equivalently?

Also, in regards to the tube (I will be running a 12AT7 tube in the device) is 450mA too much current? If so, how would I go about reducing the current? Since I will be running the tube heater filament directly off a transformer designed to output at 12V / 450mA, does the output need to be rectified?

More details and information about the application as it becomes necessary.
 

(*steve*)

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Sure, a non-polarised cap will work in that position.

Don't put a diode in series, that would be Baaaad, Mkay.

It looks to me that since the heater is 12.6V centre tapped that you can use a 12 volt supply for the heater. It will draw whatever it draws (that's the 450mA, right?). Check the datasheet.



It looks to me like 12VAC would be fine.
 

Solidus

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Sure, a non-polarised cap will work in that position.

Don't put a diode in series, that would be Baaaad, Mkay.

It looks to me that since the heater is 12.6V centre tapped that you can use a 12 volt supply for the heater. It will draw whatever it draws (that's the 450mA, right?). Check the datasheet.



It looks to me like 12VAC would be fine.

How would it be bad? (I'm just wondering, I don't have much experience with this stuff)

Also, the datasheet says it runs nominally at 12.6V /150mA or 6.3V / 300 mA centre tap.

Are these things fairly "hardy" - that is, can they accept over-specifications? Obviously, it most likely leads to reduced lifespan, but as it's not something that would be continuously on, as long as it doesn't blow like a light bulb it should be fine.

If 450mA is too much over, how would I go about reducing that current level?
 

Solidus

Jun 19, 2011
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Also, I know this may be one of the most electronics-newbie-ish things you've ever heard, but can you help me with the issue of grounding?

I'm used to the rudimentary circuit notion that I picked up in elementary physics that one wire goes in, one comes out to complete the loop, so this notion of one wire leading into a circuit and other wires mysteriously going to "ground" is confusing the hell out of me to be honest haha.

I have some idea, that for most things it functions as the negative wire just like on a battery or what not, but when I get into circuits like this it really messes with me.

So is the correct interpretation that all of the electrons have a common return path and are in the same "pool" of circuit, if you will? That is, I take every wire that is marked ground and twist them all together to complete circuit?
 

duke37

Jan 9, 2011
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You can provide 12.6V 0.15A or 6.3V 0.3A (AC or DC) as you say. The recommended tolerance if I remember correctly is +/- 7%. If you set the voltage correctly, the current will be right.

The anode current will be very low in your circuit and so a low heater voltage may give enough emission without damage.
 

(*steve*)

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How would it be bad? (I'm just wondering, I don't have much experience with this stuff)

Your preamp would sound so bad that you would come hunting me with a pitchfork.

Believe me. You can just place a non-polarised capacitor there.

Polarised capacitors are only "special" in the way that someone with a disability is "special". i.e. if you don't have that kind of "special" it's generally considered a good thing.

The fact that you *can* use a polarised capacitor there doesn't mean you must.

Also, the datasheet says it runs nominally at 12.6V /150mA or 6.3V / 300 mA centre tap.

Are these things fairly "hardy" - that is, can they accept over-specifications? Obviously, it most likely leads to reduced lifespan, but as it's not something that would be continuously on, as long as it doesn't blow like a light bulb it should be fine.

If 450mA is too much over, how would I go about reducing that current level?

Voltage is what you can have too much of. The current is determined by the load. 450 mA is what it can supply, not what it must.

In fact, having a supply rated for a higher current than you need is a good thing because it won't be running flat out.

It's like a car that can do 200km/h, that doesn't mean it will do that all the time, just that it can.
 

CDRIVE

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Believe me. You can just place a non-polarised capacitor there.

Polarised capacitors are only "special" in the way that someone with a disability is "special". i.e. if you don't have that kind of "special" it's generally considered a good thing.

This is possibly the most politically incorrect statement ever put to print. It's also one of the funniest and most honest things ever put to print! Hell, no one can deny it drives the point home! ;) Steve, if this question is ever asked again don't be surprised if you find your writings being plagiarized. :D

Now, on to Solidus's posts. After reading them, and considering that you will be playing with plate voltages. ... May I suggest that you wear rubber soled boots and keep one hand in your pocket?

Chris

EDIT: Disregard the last statements. I don't see a lot a gain with 9V but with 9V plate supply I think you'll be safe.
 
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Solidus

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Oh okay. So it's like a water hose - voltage is pressure, amperage is flow - having a lot of water moving doesn't hurt, only if it's at a high pressure. Do I have the right idea?

And my project is to integrate the tube distortion module (this) in front of an amplifier with some speakers along with a bypass to make a guitar amplifier. Hope that provides some context.
 

Solidus

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This is possibly the most politically incorrect statement ever put to print. It's also one of the funniest and most honest things ever put to print! Hell, no one can deny it drives the point home! ;) Steve, if this question is ever asked again don't be surprised if you find your writings being plagiarized. :D

Now, on to Solidus's posts. After reading them, and considering that you will be playing with plate voltages. ... May I suggest that you wear rubber soled boots and keep one hand in your pocket?

Chris

I intend to power this thing on the first time with a 10-foot stick if that's what you intend :p
 

CDRIVE

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Oh okay. So it's like a water hose - voltage is pressure, amperage is flow - having a lot of water moving doesn't hurt, only if it's at a high pressure. Do I have the right idea?

Not exactly. A 12V car battery can deliver enough current to turn a 1/2 inch drive socket wrench white hot and weld it to the chassis.
 

CDRIVE

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I couldn't resist spicing your circuit. Probably the deep affection and memories that tubes bring to mind. My spice model didn't allow for a 9V filament, so the results are with a 12V filament voltage.

Anyway with a 2KHz 100mV signal input it output 6VPP. This measurement was made directly to the plate of V1B with the output network omitted.
I imagine that the output will be less than half that with the output network (VR2, VR3,C3,C4) connected.
Keep in mind that it's a HiZ output, so your load must be too.

Chris
 

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Solidus

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You 100% lost me with that except for the graph showing the correlation...explain for the noob? :)
 

(*steve*)

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High-Z output means that you can't use it to drive a speaker. :) (actually it means it can't supply very much current, and therefore power -- perhaps only a couple of milliwatts)

The output of this needs to go into another amplifier. And that amplifier needs to have a high input impedance (so it doesn't try to draw current from the output of your preamp) and also be able to handle the large signal from this.
 

CDRIVE

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You 100% lost me with that except for the graph showing the correlation...explain for the noob? :)

Spice is a simulation software. It enables the user to animate or simulate a schematic as though it was a physical circuit.
The simulation results were impressive with an unloaded voltage gain of 60. The 12AU7 still rocks! The design will do what you want it to do. ;)

What device will this will drive?
 
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Solidus

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Here is my plan. I was intending to make a DIY guitar amplifier with a tube distortion effect / overdrive module. From what I've read on the subject, while it's primarily used as an effect pedal in that sense, the 12AU7 can be swapped with the 12AT7 for a more subtle effect, and conversely vice-versa.

Seeing as I had a few tubes and stuff of that nature laying around and my roommate in a month's time will be teaching me to play guitar, I figured why not try my hand at this.

Chain this tube pre-amp in-line in front of a solid-state 50W speaker amp kit that I'm going to buy and assemble. That will directly drive a coupled pair of Bose 2.75" drivers that I robbed (not in the literal sense) from a mini-iPod stereo. That way, it gets around the impedance issue. A bypass (SPDT toggle) will allow the tube overdrive module to be bypassed in favor of the dry, non-effected signal, and another bypass will allow the effected signal to be out-routed to a more powerful amplifier or combo if that is the wish. Ins and outs are all 1/4" specification TRS jacks.
 

CDRIVE

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This amp will provide the biggest bang when the input Z to the power amp is >=100K. That doesn't mean that it won't drive a 10K input though. It will but not without distortion. A low input Z like 600 Ohms would be totally out of the question though.
 
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KrisBlueNZ

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I think (not certain) that the "valve distortion" ("tube distortion" for Americans) sound is only really achieved when you drive a valve output stage into clipping. Normally these output stages have one or more pairs of power pentodes (or beam tetrodes) driving both sides of a centre-tapped output transformer, aka push-pull. The distinctive sound is due to a combination of the characteristics of the output valves when overdriven, and the output transformer. I suspect you won't get any of that "special" sound by overdriving a small-signal triode running at a few dozen microamps with an anode voltage of 9V! Anyone else have an opinion on this?
 

Solidus

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Well, I wasn't necessarily planning on trying to overdrive the circuit as much as warm it to modify the sound.

Kris, you are correct - the valve distortion factor is mainly because the original idea was you were pushing the amplifier past its limits - and there are things at work with valves that don't quite transfer over to the solid-state realm such that the clipping, overdriven sound is not harsh and biting.

Take it for what little knowledge I have applicable, I'm an amateur electronic music producer and hard clipping on a mixer comes across very harsh to the point that it's noticeable. That's the reason the top of the VU meters is always red.

There's something about valves that softens the hard-edge clips of the sound when the input signal is too gainy. Mainly, this circuit is designed to distort the sound though and give it a darker feel. Different valves in the 12A-7 series do this to different extents, and 12AT7 is more subtle than 12AU7. From what I've read, running 12AX7 valves in this circuit isn't a good idea for whatever reason though.
 

Solidus

Jun 19, 2011
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This amp will provide the biggest bang when the input Z to the power amp is >=100K. That doesn't mean that it won't drive a 10K input though. It will but not without distortion. A low input Z like 600 Ohms would be totally out of the question though.

Chris,

Is that a factor which can be controlled using the Gain pot on the circuit? If not, how would I limit it to optimize the amplifier?

Also, out of curiosity, what part of South Florida are you from, if you don't mind? I used to live down there in my childhood.
 
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