Rocket w/ Reverb

[M Fowler]

Taylor probably need to put in tubes take reading and then trouble shoot to see why the voltages are lower then expected.

Like Rich said check the resistors. We all have missed resistor values so I would go over the amp from head to toe while waiting for the EL84's.

Mark

[amplifiednation]

Could the reverb driver coming off of b2 be sucking too much power to allow for the two 9k1 resistors in series from b2 to b3? I feel like the drop is too drastic?

B+2 is338 then b+3 is 172 with preamp tubes in.

I dont get it voltages are all high with no tubes. Gotta keep working on it. Thank u mark for all of your help

[angelodp]

Friday will tell all, analyze when those power tubes are in.

Ange

[surfsup]

We all have missed resistor values

Yea especially the blue resistors with yellow bands (they look green to me)...

[amplifiednation]

Got tubes in the rocket today. It didn't change the issues with voltage on b3 b4 or b5. I am thinking maybe a poor connection from b2 to b3 through the double resistor chain or I have a bad cap at b3. I reflowed the joints and it didnt make a difference. Im gonna take that wiring down tomorrow and test that cap. I double checked all resistors in the amp and they are correct.

I plugged in an mp3 player to see if sound would pass through the amp and it did but very faintly. Voltage on some of the plates was incredibly low...like 20 volts and even less. Preamps only though. Power amp section is right on for voltage, and so is b1 and b2. At least I think I have it narrowed down...not sure but it seems something is wrong in the cap stack. Those 9k1 resistors arent polarized right? I feel like that is a stupid question but one of them I have in going a diff direction than the other 3 Suggestions are more than welcome. Thanks.

Taylor

[martin manning]

Sorry, but where's the schematic you're working to? Can you point me to that? Then list the voltages along the power supply string now (so we have a consistent set) and the voltages on the tube pins? I've not been following closely, but I gather it powers up and idles ok (no smells, smoke, or flames) except that some voltages are low... is that right?

[amplifiednation]

I've double checked all resistor values and I have them correct. I just re-soldered all of the B+ connections on the cap stack to try to identify a bad joint/connection. I made sure to have each lead connect on it's own for good contact.

I also tested the 9k1 resistors that I removed. They had 14.77 ohms. I'm not sure how else I can test them...or if that is even correct, but it's consistent across all of the resistors.

I'm still getting a huge voltage drop from B2 to B3.

Here is some data and the schematic for the Rocket, although mine has reverb added in.

Heaters are 6.3VAC

Tube/Suggested/Actual

V1a-119/3
V1b-96/43
V2a-185/55
V2b-na/82
V3a-180/110
V3b-159/117

V4-V7 (EL84's)-294/285 screen 283/272

V8 (5AR4)- heater 294/285, plate 256/262

Reverb tube V3a and b are tied together and at 270

Mains 120/125
Secondary 506/525
B+1 290/286
B+2 279/273
B+3 212/143
B+4 187/83
B+5 183/80

The amp is passing signal. I have an MP3 player into the amp and i can hear the music coming out but it is VERY faint and is coming through even with the volume off. It doesn't get much louder with the volume turned on, just distorts at full.

Here are some pics too. I haven't had a chance to put the shielded input cable in yet--just got here yesterday (thanks again!)

[M Fowler]

Taylor can you reduce your picture size or email them to me I have been unable to get any of my browsers to open those pictures to check thinks out.

Mark

mjensenfowler@aol.com

[amplifiednation]

thanks Mark. Resized pics and sent email.

I appreciate the help!!

[XgamerGt03]

You did say that the voltages with no tubes in all looked closer to what you would expect right? It looks like the phase inverter is drawing way too much current.

Check continuity between each turret that has a wire that goes to ground and the chassis. Do the same for each negative terminal of the cap stack. I've had a connection that looked good turn out to be bad before.

You may also want to try a different tube in the preamp. You could also swap the preamp tubes around and see how the voltages change. This could help you decide if it is a bad tube or a bad connection in the amp.

[M Fowler]

(Edited) I will check out the pictures!

One small thing the left lug of the input jack is wired to the center lug so when you unplug the guitar it is silenced by going to ground. It looks like you did not do that.

Make sure the under board wiring is good by draining the PS caps and makes sure B5, B4 and B3 are connected using tone selection on your DMM continuity. Remember as shown on Normster's layout there is now an additional circuit to power B5 compared to a traditional TW Rocket.

Mark

[amplifiednation]

With no tubes b2 is 339 b3 is 337 b4 and 5 are 335. My meter is being weird with cont testing. I will start once it stops beeping uncontrollably

[martin manning]

V3a and b are tied together and at 270

Do you mean pins 6 and 1 are tied together? That shouldn't be.
Oops, that's your reverb driver... nevermind.

[amplifiednation]

V3a and b are tied together and at 270

Do you mean pins 6 and 1 are tied together? That shouldn't be.

Yes that is what I have. It appears that way on the layout so I thought it was correct. The grids and cathode are tied too. I thought that was the recovery tube for the reverb. I could be way off

[M Fowler]

V3 pin 1 and 6 are tied together on the Rocket Reverb which go to the blue wire of the reverb driver.

I looked at all the wiring based off Normster's layout and you have it wired correctly including the cap stack, choke, rectifer and standby switching.

Mark