Tube orientation for new chassis

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gkwallace
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Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by gkwallace »

Is there a standard for tube orientation when drilling a new chassis?

Some amps, would benefit from having pins 4 & 5 facing away from their respective side of the chassis (for a 12AX7 for instance).

I've seen it all different ways.

Does it matter at all, disregarding ease of build?

Thoughts?
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by Bieworm »

I like to arrange them so the heater wires can be tucked in the long side corner of the chassis, with the shortest way to the tubes. So pin 4-5 pointing to the backside of the chassis.
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by gkwallace »

Bieworm wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 10:10 am
I like to arrange them so the heater wires can be tucked in the long side corner of the chassis, with the shortest way to the tubes. So pin 4-5 pointing to the backside of the chassis.
Exactly! but I see them different ways. I was wondering if orientation of the actual grid had any effect on rf noise. It my be a fun experiment.
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by JMPGuitars »

gkwallace wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 10:58 am
I was wondering if orientation of the actual grid had any effect on rf noise. It my be a fun experiment.
It's not the orientation of the wires as much as the relationship between them. Certain wires need to avoid being run parallel to others for example.
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by gkwallace »

I understand the wires need to be correct, I was wondering about internal components of a tube.
I watched a demo on how transformer orientation and position greatly affects noise. So simple, but often ignored.

It's just my ocd geek brain working overtime in public.
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by JMPGuitars »

gkwallace wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 1:16 pm
I understand the wires need to be correct
But what does that mean to you? Correctly wired is not ambiguous. But how the wires are run, and what they're next to can be. The biggest one is to avoid running the grid and plates parallel.
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by gkwallace »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 9:39 pm
gkwallace wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 1:16 pm
I understand the wires need to be correct
But what does that mean to you? Correctly wired is not ambiguous. But how the wires are run, and what they're next to can be. The biggest one is to avoid running the grid and plates parallel.
I am no expert but my Soldano SLO is wired completely different than a Marshall. ie bus wire in straight lines parallel for the heaters. So, although not ambiguous, not without variance. Rift amps makes really bitchen amps and all his heater wires are twitsed, but straight up from the sockets, floating in the air. Not next to the chassis like we normally do it. I like the utility of doing it that way, but it kinda worries me to do it on mine.
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by gkwallace »

JMPGuitars wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 9:39 pm
gkwallace wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 1:16 pm
I understand the wires need to be correct
But what does that mean to you? Correctly wired is not ambiguous. But how the wires are run, and what they're next to can be. The biggest one is to avoid running the grid and plates parallel.
I just reread what you wrote and now I understand what you're saying. It's not the position of anything, it's the relationship in orientation to all the parts and wires. You could do any crazy orientation or layout you wanted if none of the basic principles are violated, ie, power transformers away from preamp, main power in on own ground near input, etc
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by Bieworm »

gkwallace wrote:
Sun 10/27/24 12:48 pm
JMPGuitars wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 9:39 pm
gkwallace wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 1:16 pm
I understand the wires need to be correct
But what does that mean to you? Correctly wired is not ambiguous. But how the wires are run, and what they're next to can be. The biggest one is to avoid running the grid and plates parallel.
I just reread what you wrote and now I understand what you're saying. It's not the position of anything, it's the relationship in orientation to all the parts and wires. You could do any crazy orientation or layout you wanted if none of the basic principles are violated, ie, power transformers away from preamp, main power in on own ground near input, etc
Main power should have a dedicated ground, but not near the input. Unless you mean power cord inlet (IEC?)
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Re: Tube orientation for new chassis

Post by gkwallace »

Bieworm wrote:
Mon 10/28/24 4:31 pm
gkwallace wrote:
Sun 10/27/24 12:48 pm
JMPGuitars wrote:
Sat 10/26/24 9:39 pm


But what does that mean to you? Correctly wired is not ambiguous. But how the wires are run, and what they're next to can be. The biggest one is to avoid running the grid and plates parallel.
I just reread what you wrote and now I understand what you're saying. It's not the position of anything, it's the relationship in orientation to all the parts and wires. You could do any crazy orientation or layout you wanted if none of the basic principles are violated, ie, power transformers away from preamp, main power in on own ground near input, etc
Main power should have a dedicated ground, but not near the input. Unless you mean power cord inlet (IEC?)
Yes.
Thanks for prompting clarification.
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