inna, you can bias amp’s output stage for 20% less current, and use 120<=>110V step down transformer. These two steps will increase tubes life time significantly, est. 30%+.
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Ralph, thank you. It appears that I do everything right. There is no standby switch. Voltage is regulated by the regenerator, I hope it is. Ventilation is excellent from all sides. The amp seemingly drives the speakers with ease, no stress that I can perceive. The tubes are clean, no fingerprints. I might try to lower the bias a little and see what I hear. |
If you’re talking about the US, you are mistaken @atmasphere. Nominal voltage in the US is 120VAC ±5 percent, so anything between 114VAC and 126VAC is normal. That is established by ANSI C84.1 standard. Note that the spec is measured at the service entrance - it’s common to have some voltage drop at the AC receptacle. That’s something dedicated lines can help limit.
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What is "normal" is not necessarily ideal for tube electronics, particularly vintage gear that was built for lower voltages that were prevalent when they were made. As I mentioned above, my local dealer who only sells tube amplification often has customers measure their outlet voltage and then orders the right transformer for them to use on the outlets supplying their amp and other tube gear. He prefers to run the gear at much lower voltages than is common. This is usually the cure for premature tube failure. He also has his customers bias amps on the conservative side. This is consistent with Atmasphere's recommendation. My normal voltage has been, for the longest time very steady at 117 volts at the outlet, but has recently crept up to 119-120. My amp is cathode biased so I cannot do adjustment, but typically, cathode biasing means conservative levels. If my voltage rises more than this, I too will consider a transformer. |
@cleeds I stand corrected. However if the line Voltage is consistently 126V you'll find that tube life is curtailed with many tube amps and all if they are vintage. I recently worked on an Eico tube amp that was 'eating tubes'. The amp was built when '110V' was the norm. The output tubes were conducting way too hard. They were cathode biased so I was able to change the cathode resistors and calm things down. |
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