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Message |
Steven Swift
Guest
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 Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:02 am Post subject:
Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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Over the past few weeks, I have seen postings requesting schematics for
variable tube supplies. I finally took a few minutes to scan in a
couple from the GE Essential Characteristics Book from 1969, and
to convert a hand-drawn schematic to .pdf.
I doubt that these schematics are definitive, but I built two of them
and they work on my bench. The GE 1-compactron supply also exists as a
totally solid-state version as a dedicated BC-312 supply (MosFet as
pass element and a MPSA42 as the gain stage).
I put the schematics, along with a brief explanation, up on:
http://novatech-instr.com/Fun/ge_ps.pdf
I am pretty sure the last schematic violates the specs for a 12GB3, but
it seems to be working.
Comments are welcomed.
Steve.
--
Steven D. Swift, novatech@eskimo.com, http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA
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west
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 3:38 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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"Steven Swift" <novatech@eskimo.com> wrote in message
news:dkivjc$83n$1@eskinews.eskimo.com...
| Quote: | Over the past few weeks, I have seen postings requesting schematics for
variable tube supplies. I finally took a few minutes to scan in a
couple from the GE Essential Characteristics Book from 1969, and
to convert a hand-drawn schematic to .pdf.
I doubt that these schematics are definitive, but I built two of them
and they work on my bench. The GE 1-compactron supply also exists as a
totally solid-state version as a dedicated BC-312 supply (MosFet as
pass element and a MPSA42 as the gain stage).
I put the schematics, along with a brief explanation, up on:
http://novatech-instr.com/Fun/ge_ps.pdf
I am pretty sure the last schematic violates the specs for a 12GB3, but
it seems to be working.
Comments are welcomed.
Steve.
--
Steven D. Swift, novatech@eskimo.com, http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA
|
Hello Steve,
Thanks for the interesting PS links. I'm not sure of their HT current
capabilities. I've been wanting to make a good bench HT, Fil, & Bias supply,
for a while now. I have a few ham radio PS that don't quite make it.. The
major drawback is that the Xfrs are only capable of 100ma. At times I could
use a little more that 400ma. Hopefully, someone reading this thread will
come up with a viable suggestion.
Cordially,
west |
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Steven Swift
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 4:28 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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"west" <westley@tampabay.rr.com> writes:
| Quote: | Hello Steve,
Thanks for the interesting PS links. I'm not sure of their HT current
capabilities. I've been wanting to make a good bench HT, Fil, & Bias supply,
for a while now. I have a few ham radio PS that don't quite make it.. The
major drawback is that the Xfrs are only capable of 100ma. At times I could
use a little more that 400ma. Hopefully, someone reading this thread will
come up with a viable suggestion.
Cordially,
west
|
The best high current PS I have seen uses the same topology as the GE
1-compactron one but uses several 6080 (6AS7) in parallel. I have an
old transformer I am saving for that kind of thing that puts out
650Vct at 850mA. I have a TV transformer that is 550 at 250mA, but it is
being saved also. That's alot of iron.
The basic block will work for any load, just get enough current handling.
Good luck.
Steve.
--
Steven D. Swift, novatech@eskimo.com, http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA |
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Steven Swift
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:21 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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"west" <westley@tampabay.rr.com> writes:
| Quote: | Hello Steve,
Thanks for the interesting PS links. I'm not sure of their HT current
capabilities. I've been wanting to make a good bench HT, Fil, & Bias supply,
for a while now. I have a few ham radio PS that don't quite make it.. The
major drawback is that the Xfrs are only capable of 100ma. At times I could
use a little more that 400ma. Hopefully, someone reading this thread will
come up with a viable suggestion.
Cordially,
west
|
If you are willing to use transistors in your variable supply, along
with a fan and a big heatsink, it is quite easy to get 400mA up to
about 350V. For example, Hammond makes the 378CX, which is rated for
465mA of DC. You then use mosfets, which can easily handle the current
if you keep them cool. The B+ part of this schematic,
http://novatech-instr.com/PDF_files/ps_ss.pdf,
for example, is an exact copy of the GE 1-compactron PS, but done with
solid-state parts. Obviously, a lot of scaling needs to be done
(MPSA42 is only good to 300V). This particular one was done for 90v.
If you design it to cover 50-350 at 400mA, then you are going to burn
120watts worst case. That will require a fan, big heatsink and
several paralleled Fets, but it will work just fine.
I wasn't interested in spending that much on parts.
Steve
--
Steven D. Swift, novatech@eskimo.com, http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA |
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Chris Suslowicz
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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In article <dkjbmm$aca$1@eskinews.eskimo.com>,
novatech@eskimo.com (Steven Swift) wrote:
| Quote: | The best high current PS I have seen uses the same topology as the GE
1-compactron one but uses several 6080 (6AS7) in parallel.
|
6080s are good for this. I used to have a regulated supply from an old
Ampex VR-1000 (2" reel-to-reel VTR) that delivered 250V at 6.5A.
| Quote: | I have an
old transformer I am saving for that kind of thing that puts out
650Vct at 850mA. I have a TV transformer that is 550 at 250mA, but it is
being saved also. That's alot of iron.
|
At the end of the day, the transformer is goung to be the biggest (and
certainly the heaviest and most expensive) single component.
Quality does not come cheap.
Chris. |
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Steven Swift
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:43 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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"Bret Ludwig" <bretldwig@yahoo.com> writes:
| Quote: | For a single secondary transformer of considerable size it's often
cheaper to have the local transformer winder to do one as a one-off. I
have had transformers in the 1500 VA class wound for me cheaper than
Peter Dahl listed them as shelf stock. Winding your own is also
possible.
Many surplus sources exist if you scrounge around as well.
|
For many years, I worked at John Fluke Mfg. which had a transformer
prototype model shop. For the 20 years I worked there, I never store
bought a transformer, instead using the prototype shop after hours.
At Novatech, I can wind small devices, but not the big iron stuff.
Steve.
--
Steven D. Swift, novatech@eskimo.com, http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA |
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Bret Ludwig
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:43 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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For a single secondary transformer of considerable size it's often
cheaper to have the local transformer winder to do one as a one-off. I
have had transformers in the 1500 VA class wound for me cheaper than
Peter Dahl listed them as shelf stock. Winding your own is also
possible.
Many surplus sources exist if you scrounge around as well. |
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Adam Stouffer
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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Steven Swift wrote:
| Quote: |
I wasn't interested in spending that much on parts.
Steve
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And watch them go pop if something accidently shorts :)
Adam |
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Steven Dinius_
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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"Adam Stouffer" <adam_stouffer@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5iAbf.5853$941.3990@trndny02...
| Quote: | Steven Swift wrote:
I wasn't interested in spending that much on parts.
Steve
And watch them go pop if something accidently shorts :)
Adam
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It's surreal, ain't it? |
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retroteckh@aol.com
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:53 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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Chris Suslowicz wrote:
| Quote: | In article <dkjbmm$aca$1@eskinews.eskimo.com>,
novatech@eskimo.com (Steven Swift) wrote:
At the end of the day, the transformer is goung to be the biggest (and
certainly the heaviest and most expensive) single component.
Quality does not come cheap.
Chris.
|
I would look at thrift stores like the Goodwill for an old colour TV
(tube type) and
salvage the power transformer out of it. |
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Scott Dorsey
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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retroteckh@aol.com <LaserClam@aol.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
I would look at thrift stores like the Goodwill for an old colour TV
(tube type) and
salvage the power transformer out of it.
|
Sadly, most of those were hot chassis.
However, a very interesting device is the microwave oven transformer.
110V in, 1KV out, varying from half a kilowatt to a kilowatt. The
transformer core is split so you can easily take turns off to lower the
secondary voltage, too.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
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Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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Steven,
Pretty cool power supplies, thanks for posting the .pdf file.
One question though, what is the pentode labeled V1 on the third
schematic on the fourth page. It is marked "6AM" 6AM5? 6AM6?
TIA,
steve |
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Heriberto
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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Hello:
A good tube for thisapplicattion is a 6336B
Look at
http://www.deremate.com.ar/accdb/ViewItem.asp?IDI=9835995
Regards
Heriberto
"Chris Suslowicz" <chris+news@suslowicz.org> escribió en el mensaje
news:BF92F53296685CC3D@192.168.1.23...
| Quote: | In article <dkjbmm$aca$1@eskinews.eskimo.com>,
novatech@eskimo.com (Steven Swift) wrote:
The best high current PS I have seen uses the same topology as the GE
1-compactron one but uses several 6080 (6AS7) in parallel.
6080s are good for this. I used to have a regulated supply from an old
Ampex VR-1000 (2" reel-to-reel VTR) that delivered 250V at 6.5A.
I have an
old transformer I am saving for that kind of thing that puts out
650Vct at 850mA. I have a TV transformer that is 550 at 250mA, but it is
being saved also. That's alot of iron.
At the end of the day, the transformer is goung to be the biggest (and
certainly the heaviest and most expensive) single component.
Quality does not come cheap.
Chris.
|
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| Back to top |
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Steven Swift
Guest
|
| Posted:
Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:42 am Post subject:
Re: Variable Regulated Tube Power Supplies. |
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tunghaichuan@yahoo.com writes:
| Quote: | Steven,
Pretty cool power supplies, thanks for posting the .pdf file.
One question though, what is the pentode labeled V1 on the third
schematic on the fourth page. It is marked "6AM" 6AM5? 6AM6?
TIA,
steve
|
It is base diagram 6AM, which means any number of big horizontal output
tubes like 6BQ6, 6CU6, etc.
I was looking at the schematic for a Fluke 407. They did a smart thing. When
they paralleled tubes for more power, they series the filament, so that if
one burned out, the output went off rather than burning up the next tube.
Steve.
--
Steven D. Swift, novatech@eskimo.com, http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA |
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