LEAD DRESS SPECIFICS

[ViperDoc]

I have a few questions about some lead dress specifics. I'm wiring up my latest amp with tefzel-coated braided wire and, so far, things seem to be running pretty smoothly! I had a breakthrough during my first attempt at wiring my socket heaters, mainly because I was displeased with how sloppy they were turning out. I can imagine many of you already do this, but I decided to remove it all and rewired the heater harness entirely against a cardboard template, leaving extra lead length for trimming and soldering. It came out better than I expected. I decided to guide the preamp socket wires over the middle of the socket like the Valve Wizard recommends. I held it in with painters tape and soldered it in one pin at a time. Voila!



After that, I started wiring my DC relay supply wires and wondered about the best way to secure the DC wires against the chassis wall. I know some have used silicone caulk, hot glue, RTV silicone, and perhaps even epoxy to secure wires. If I wanted to stick this white/purple twisted pair in a similar path as in this picture, how would you do it?



My last question is about the best way to secure the PT unused primary and secondary wires. The picture above shows the unused 220V and 240V primary on the left and the unused secondary HT CT, the bias supply wires (blue) and the HT secondaries on the right. Some of these wires can be near each other, others can't and I have no idea which. What's the best way to organize these? The unconnected wires simply have shrink wrap tubing in place for now.

THANK YOU!

[TUBEDUDE]

I cut them as short as possible and double heat shrink them.

[pdf64]

I've been using a blob of 'Blutak' to hold wires in place during soldering.
And I rotate the noval sockets so that the wires feed through the gap

https://imgur.com/gallery/5Rk6cco

[Phil_S]

If you don't want to cut the extra length off the unused PT leads, after heat shrinking, you can zip tie them to something to anchor them and prevent them from moving around, or you can use something sticky to do the same. Ask yourself, are you ever going to use those leads? At least trim them somewhat, leaving some length to attach extensions if you just can't get past trimming them all the way.

[sluckey]

I used aluminum duct tape on a few projects...

[ChopSauce]

As is, the unused cable appeared to me like crying for they being zip-tied together, the red one over the others ...
(just kidding)

I used aluminum duct tape on a few projects...

I also did, & I also see that you have a few of those lovely isolated turrets ...

[ViperDoc]

I've been using a blob of 'Blutak' to hold wires in place during soldering.
And I rotate the noval sockets so that the wires feed through the gap

https://imgur.com/gallery/5Rk6cco

That looks ideal. I might have to do that on the next build!

[ViperDoc]

I used aluminum duct tape on a few projects...

That looks good! I might just do that.

[TUBEDUDE]

I align the tube pins so the triode sections face the circuitry involved, to keep leads as short as possible. I have the heater wires coming up from the socket to the top (bottom) of the chassis opening, running along the ground buss. (This photo is before the buss installation for clarity).

20200506_170139.jpg

[ViperDoc]

I align the tube pins so the triode sections face the circuitry involved, to keep leads as short as possible. I have the heater wires coming up from the socket to the top (bottom) of the chassis opening, running along the ground buss. (This photo is before the buss installation for clarity).
20200506_170139.jpg

That point-to-point business is as cool as it is over my head. I do like how your relay PCB has the terminals all on one side, that's slick azz. I initially just kept my 9-pin sockets in their current orientation because that's how they are oriented on my layout, but that probably makes no difference. I guess I could have rotated them and swapped the pin assignments no problem. But I used 18 guage wire to heat them, and it was an absolute bitch to get two wires through one pin, so those are staying where they are!

[TUBEDUDE]

I got the relay boards from Amplified Nation.