Amp wiring and layout question.

[xtian]

I like distributed caps as well, and have been using radial caps in my own builds, trying different ways to integrate them into turret boards.

[Phil_S]

And here I thought I was in the minority by hanging filter caps off the edge, parallel to the board. You guys who build your own boards get something of an advantage on this style of layout. I've been using generic boards and just letting the caps live on the edge or actually inserting them perpendicular like any other resistor or cap, except they take up a lot of room!

Lots of pretty work being shown in this thread. I am glad to see the rhetoric dialed back and something productive going on. Thank you.

[matt h]

(deleted)

[xtian]

Yore trench. Show it me.

[matt h]

(deleted)

[matt h]

(deleted)

[Synchu]

That's clever! Kudos.

Doors at home - beware ....

Niki

[xtian]

I like this idea. You need to add some "turrets" along the edge of the trench for protection.

[img620]http://x-wing.beckerf.de/LaserTurrets16.JPG[/img]

[vibratoking]

Can we talk some about the phase change that takes place as the signal goes thru coupling cap after coupling cap?

Might be a good thread on it's own. Can't say I remember this being discussed much here.

[Zippy]

Xtian, this is a lil layout drawing the hands of the operation whipped up (cross-section). It's not necessarily to scale, but gives you some idea.

The chassis came from, yup, repurposed steel door frame.

That's pretty much what I envisioned. We have similar trenches in the lab floors for running hydraulics and cabling - I like being able to bundle power runs well away from signal leads.

Nice implementation for an amp! Looking forward to the gut shots when you're ready to share 'em.

[Brit-Tone-Amps]

I agree with most techniques mentioned here. such as:
1. High gain works better with short grid leads
2. Each stage is cleaner if individually power buss decoupled
3. Magnetic field EMI and RF signals are HUGE considerations
4. 60Hz hum is definitely a force to be reckoned with in tube amps

I always try to keep my leads as short as possible but generally use the same length for all noval tube connections from the board (up front) near the controls. I mount the tone stack on the control pots to eliminate additional leads. Using much of the design from the Hoffman board layout, I also de-couple power between gain stages, putting the power ground separate from the signal ground on the board and join them at the chassis star ground point. I try to use the 3D space within the chassis to keep the leads from touching one another. I use a simple (passive) DC heater circuit for the first two 12A_7s to insulate the initial guitar signal preamp amplification from the 60 cycle hum of the heaters (to improve the signal to noise ratio). The intra-stage decoupling also aids in 60 cycle hum elimination.

[xtian]

Well, howdy, Brit-Tone! Happy to have you join us. Very nice looking layout!

[Structo]

Welcome Bruce!

Maybe you can tell us about your builds and show pictures.