Relay noise/hum

General discussion area for tube amps.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Post Reply
goldenGeek
Posts: 170
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 12:40 pm

Relay noise/hum

Post by goldenGeek »

I am currently re-building an amp that I have run into some issues with. I think there's a post around when I tried to sort out some issues with a Mesa DC-2 that I finally gave up on. The person owning it wanted me to rip out everything and build something new and a bit different in the chassis (and combo). My first attempt was very messy and it had some hum issues (including a failing power transformer, there's a thread on that as well somewhere in here) so I decided to try to build the pre amp on PCB and the rest as usually, always looking for new challenges :lol: My PCB skills are probably not quite the best but I have given it a fair try. It's almost working like a charm. The customer wants footswitchable channels so I've incorporated two dpdt relays for that purpose. (there's one Fender-ish channel and the other is more Marshall-ish). One relay is switching the tone stack, the other is switching the input gain (which half of V1 is used). The relay switching the gain keeps inserting some unpleasant noise/hum (sounds like 100Hz). I have tried to replace the relay, no change. I have tried to move the relay on a separate board over at the free spot at the red board (see picture) (I used shielded wires to/from the relay). No change. If I remove the AC on the input of that relay the hum disappears. Any clues or better solutions to make the preamp switchable..?

The schematic is attached, but the pin numberings on V1B and V2B is incorrect.. and there is one wire missing in the tone stack I think, but You'll get the idea :) The EQ OUT1 point is where I send the signal to the phase inverter.

The relay on the right in the picture is the one making problems. I did not take a picture after i removed and moved it.
DC-2_pre_and_eq - export schematic.pdf
IMG_2402.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
goldenGeek
Posts: 170
Joined: Fri Nov 16, 2012 12:40 pm

Re: Relay noise/hum

Post by goldenGeek »

I might be overthinking this whole project. But is the easiest solution to either skip the cathode follower and wire it as two individual normal gain stages (plate driven eq) or preferably add another tube and leave the marshall-ish pre amp and eq alone and make the fender-ish pre amp and eq like it is in the AB763..? And then switch between the outputs of each pre amp/eq using one single relay?
User avatar
imjonwain
Posts: 97
Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2021 3:42 am

Re: Relay noise/hum

Post by imjonwain »

^following up on him maybe look at the Sundown Artist guitar amp schematic? It more or less has a 2204 preamp and a ampeg/fenderish preamp and switches between the 2 via relays.
https://tfrelectronics.com/
https://oshpark.com/profiles/TFRelectronics
User avatar
FUCHSAUDIO
Posts: 1256
Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:48 pm
Location: New Jersey (you got a problem with that ?)
Contact:

Re: Relay noise/hum

Post by FUCHSAUDIO »

FWIW: You need regulated DC for your relays. That's a common issue, it can be radiation of hum from the relay coils.
Proud holder of US Patent # 7336165.
Post Reply