126mhz Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Hello; I just bought a Monster HTS3500 power conditioner from Buy.com for $159.00 with a $50.00 rebate and I'm sure I will be happy with it given my needs but I have question or two answered if possible. First, my household voltage from any outlet in my home is running from 122.1 to 122.6 according to my digital volt/ohm meter. (Sad to say my new Monster conditioner's voltage meter reads 125 volts even when I put a volt/ohm meter off of one of it's outlets and it reads 122.2) Just cheap volt meter on my Monster unit? Second, I do not want 122 volts running to any of my precious tube gear over a prolonged period of time because I understand that it will wear everything including the tubes out faster,...is this correct? Third, could I just pick up an inexpensive variac and set it so that it will deliver no more than 118 to 119 volts and then hook it into my new conditioner and will this solve my voltage problem right? Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 not Exactly .... you'll need to re-Bias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
126mhz Posted February 22, 2006 Author Share Posted February 22, 2006 Forgive my ignorance but, re-bias what? All tube gear? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 if ya lower the applied voltage, you will change the power tube bias.... I= ExR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyholiday Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 []"That Brown Sound" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Carefull, Johhny .. the Brown Note, er ..Sound .. can strip the heaters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnyholiday Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Carefull, Johhny .. the Brown Note, er ..Sound .. can strip the heaters just johnys' point, johny don't play the variac game,but will stand at the tipp rail,with $$$ to watch strippers heat the zeek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 but will stand at the tipp rail,with $$$ to watch strippers heat the zeek hmmmnnnn ... betcha goto the Plexi Palace.....[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEC Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 Duke, I have detected a violation of ohms law. I = E/R Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted February 22, 2006 Share Posted February 22, 2006 the Law is different here in New York, Bob......[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
126mhz Posted February 22, 2006 Author Share Posted February 22, 2006 Sooooo, should I worry about 122 volts going to my tube amps and pre amps over long periods of time? What would you guys do in my situation? Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 id ask Craig about the Scott ... that was designed for 107-110 vac .. the st-70... is on the edge when new .. a definite on that ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRBILL Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 What you really need is an ISOTAP. They show up on e-bay with regularity for very few bucks (more for shipping!). I don't think you will be doing any real harm at 122vac. My gear was designed for 117vac and in my neighborhood I have measured line as high as 132vac (in Texas everything is bigger!) which would be getting close to meltdown for Mark IIIs. With an Isotap, I keep it tamed to c. 120vac which works just fine. No fooling, watch your bias settings. If you don't know how to do it, don't wait. Find out this afternoon! You'll fry more output tubes with improper bias than you ever would with 122vac. Good luck. DRBILL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysal Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 I also doubt that 122 will cause any problem with your components. the monster will protect from spikes which will damage things. regards, tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Spinner Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 as i recall, the Dynaco voltages are on the ragged edge stock... and thats at a design 107-110 vac Craig ....???? quit solderin', and look at your computer.....[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRBILL Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 All the schematics (and I have most of them) show 117vac as the input voltage for Dynas. What do you know that I should know about this? Thanks. DRBILL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 All tube gear from the 60's were designed for 117VAC I have no clue where the 107-110VAC rumors came from. Read any schematic and they all state 117VAC. 122 is a little high but its really not that big a deal. An Isotap like Bill suggested is a great cure and actually provides isolation to boot. But be careful most of these can not power multiple pieces of gear at once But they work fine for a Scott integrated and maybe a Tuner. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
126mhz Posted February 23, 2006 Author Share Posted February 23, 2006 All tube gear from the 60's were designed for 117VAC I have no clue where the 107-110VAC rumors came from. Read any schematic and they all state 117VAC. 122 is a little high but its really not that big a deal. An Isotap like Bill suggested is a great cure and actually provides isolation to boot. But be careful most of these can not power multiple pieces of gear at once But they work fine for a Scott integrated and maybe a Tuner. Craig Thanks Craig and Dr.Bill. An Isotap eh? Okay if I pick one up could I splice one inbetween my outlet and the Monster? That way the Monster would never receive more than 120v or 117v right? Thanks for all the help folks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRBILL Posted February 24, 2006 Share Posted February 24, 2006 I have mine following my Furman, but I would entertain arguements either way. My thinking is that I have several pieces of gear that work fine on 125vac. The Isotap's rating is enough for my amps, but wouldn't be enough for all my gear. DRBILL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
126mhz Posted February 24, 2006 Author Share Posted February 24, 2006 Very kind of you to help me sort this out DRBILL,.. I did a google and found several on Ebay, (which I HATE) but I would be willing to pick one of there, except all of the "Hits" I got were for Isotaps that were already sold. Could not find a place still selling them without having to bid. It sounds to me like they might no longer be made? Thanks again, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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