How to switch between tube recto and SS?

[M Fowler]

I ended up using a switch for the dual HT.

Then another switch to feed the rectifier board as well as the tube rectifier socket.

Works great. This is in a clone BF bassman head.

Mark

[martin manning]

Hi Mark, I get the dual HT part, but what exactly is the other switch doing? And no kitty cathode jokes... this means you, Miles!

[M Fowler]

Switching between SS rectifier and tube rectifier.

So I had to wire this up different from planned because of using the dual HT.

Wired the center of the Dual HT switch to the center of the bias select switch.

Mark

[Reeltarded]

That seems overly complicated but Martin would be upest if I explained further.

[martin manning]

So it's HT1 and HT2 to the outer poles of switch 1, then center poles of switch 1 to center poles of switch 2, and finally the outer poles of switch 2 direct selected HT to either SS or Vacuum rectifier?

[M Fowler]

Well it looks like my drawing below.

[martin manning]

Thanks, Mark!

[Reeltarded]

And mine looks just like it but I used cat-5.....

[martin manning]

Ok, I have new respect for you now, Miles: from Wikipedia: "The modern circuit symbol for a diode originated as a schematic drawing of a cat's whisker detector."

[Reeltarded]

Respect for me because you read something on a wiki..

Uhoh..

[Kagliostro]

If I can permit to say my opinion

Don't use this kind of schematic

https://tubeamparchive.com/download/file.php?id=23133

it is prone to give a short life to your tubes if you switch it in a running amp

prefer this

[img:400:259]https://tubeamparchive.com/files/thumbs ... r2_117.jpg[/img]

or do like Mesa do in the dual rectifier 3ch

K

[Reeltarded]

Martin! Make them stop it!

Those 5u4s are begging for little ears.

[M Fowler]

Kagliostro, so if I change my circuit for better option I should not use the diode board but rather place the diodes on the rectifier tube sockets instead?

My system is working but as you stated if you switch while the amp is on you can ruin the tubes?

Mark

[Kagliostro]

What is important is that the switch must be after the SS and Tube rectifier, not before, or you can use the schematic with the diodes in series with the Tube Rectifier and the switch like here

the diodes in series gives protection to the amp in case one diode of the Tube Rectifier melt, if it happens the circuit has anyway a DC voltage because of the preceding diodes

if you use a ON-OFF-ON switch it will act also as standby switch in the middle position

[img:400:255]https://tubeamparchive.com/files/thumbs ... er_211.jpg[/img]

K

[martin manning]

Mark, for your installation the layout would look like this. A rewire of what you have, except for a modification to the diode board.