Ray Garrison Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Hi guys. If I can ever get my business to the point where I have some free time and money, one of the things I hope to do is tinker with designing / building my own tube amplifiers. I have a couple years of basic EE as part of a BS in Computer Science from RPI, but that was long ago and far away in another lifetime. I'm basically talking about starting from scratch with perhaps a slightly advanced layperson's understandingof electronics. I'm looking for some references that would help me get started. Any recommendations on textbooks / other sources for basic tube electronics? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smuttynose Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 I recently wandered across a cool DIYer's web site with some good information. http://boozhoundlabs.com/ The guy is a little nuts but looking at his site is free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylanl Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 This was a good read for me: Tube taste.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Ray, have you tried any of the kits along the lines of your topology? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 Good question, Ray! I'm thinking this one might fit the bill (for starters): http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=500-108 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynnm Posted October 7, 2005 Share Posted October 7, 2005 A couple of useful links: TDSL -- A basic vacuum tube specs database ( includes substitution data ). http://www.duncanamps.com/ A decent and inexpensive electronics course ( $19.95 ) on CD: http://www.tpub-products.com/product_info.php?products_id=50&osCsid=2d5a0a7b6869618fce63df50c00638be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 lynnm,You have that course? Is it presented as scans from the in-print book? If so, do you know the edition? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Mandaville Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Great! I also suggest Bruce Rozenblit's " A Beginners Guide to Tube Audio Design" It's available from a number of sources, but let me check on the exact title of the book -- It's very close to the above, but I'm not 100% on the precise wording...... This has all the math and theory needed to get one started, but it might take a couple of re-readings to follow -- if your someone like me, it will take a couple of hundred, and you'll still have to go back again and again![] Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocket Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Maybe this will help............ http://www.audioxpress.com/resource/audioclass/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprocket Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Also good................. http://www.tubecad.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Great! I also suggest Bruce Rozenblit's " A Beginners Guide to Tube Audio Design" It's available from a number of sources, but let me check on the exact title of the book -- It's very close to the above, but I'm not 100% on the precise wording...... This has all the math and theory needed to get one started, but it might take a couple of re-readings to follow -- if your someone like me, it will take a couple of hundred, and you'll still have to go back again and again![] Erik I'll second Erik recommendation. But really I'm personally a learn by doing type. I just dive in and learn the hard but fun way. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted October 8, 2005 Share Posted October 8, 2005 Eric & Craig, That's the book I linked to (in post above) at Parts Express. I went ahead and ordered it last night. Glad to see you both like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arco Posted October 9, 2005 Share Posted October 9, 2005 Ray, You may find hereby attached, three texts which might be of help... tubes.zip 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickcr42 Posted October 9, 2005 Share Posted October 9, 2005 RCA R-10 Radiotron Manual http://www.vcomp.co.uk/manuals/rca_radiotron/rca_radiotron.htm http://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/~reese/RC-10.html/ You can learn a lot just by reading the old tube manuals which explained everything in both simple language and detailed graphics.Rather than make electronics mysterious the old way was to make you understand so you would buy the products Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickcr42 Posted October 9, 2005 Share Posted October 9, 2005 More, Power Tube Selection Charts for High Power Audio : http://www.triodeel.com/rcaptgp1.gif http://www.triodeel.com/rcaptgp2.gif Resistance Coupled Amplifier Charts : http://www.triodeel.com/rca_p1.gif http://www.triodeel.com/rca_p2.gif http://www.triodeel.com/rca_p3.gif Read and understand the above then toss in the data sheet for the tube chosen plus the tunbes plate curves and you can design any type of simple audio stage from scratch a really nice resource with some unusual but very useful information : http://www.triodeel.com/tubedata.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynnm Posted October 9, 2005 Share Posted October 9, 2005 Yes I purchased the course CD. It is the 1998 edition and appears complete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuber Posted October 14, 2005 Share Posted October 14, 2005 Hi Ray, Modern High-End Valve Amplifiers by Menno van der Veen an excellent place to start, even I can follow this one Radiotron Designer's Handbook by F. Langford-Smith (the holy grail tube of theory) Fundamentals of Vacuum Tubes by Eastman Hope this helps. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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