2. amps-preamps
  3. 175372-13968

Is rectifier tube arcing a problem?

I did some research and couldn’t find a definite answer.  I have an amp that I tried 6 different pairs of 5U4G and 5U4GB. 3 pairs has arcing (RCA 5U4G, TungSol, Svetlana 5C3S) and 3 pairs don’t (RCA 5U4G with hanging filament, EH 5U4GB, Sylvania 5931).  I took the amp to a technician and he checked everything, he can’t find anything wrong.  The problem is, I like the sound of the TungSol and Svetlana which both have arcing.  The technician said it is ok to keep using them, but honestly I am not too comfortable.  But I like their sound.  Is it really ok to keep using the arcing tubes?  Will it damage the amp?

 

 

gte357s
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 

atmasphere - Thanks for taking the time to educate, me anyway. I have always appreciated and respect the knowledge you and imhififan have brought to the AG forum.👍

jaytor's avatar
jaytor
766 posts
 

That’s my amp on the Steve Hoffman forum. I haven’t had any issues with arcing but as you can see in my thread, I used a soft start before the mains transformer, and also have a lot less capacitance hanging on the output since I used a Maida regulator for the driver tube. 
 

Hope you come up with a good solution. 

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,667 posts
 

Fiesta:

"Your multiple comments here were of no value."

Really?

I first commented on the start/inrush as well as pointed out a source (though I did not know how to forward/link it) to a schematic of the power supply.

And, yes...

I do have a problem with your comment. 

DeKay

 

 

 

 

Post removed 
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 

Sorry dekay, I will refrain from participating in a tread you are part of and would appreciate you do the same for me.

More to discover