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The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of all original Dynaco tube audio equipment - Customer support for Tubes4hifi VTA tube amp and preamp kits and all Dynakitparts.com products


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    VTA timer board - who's using one?

    Tom
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    Tom


    Posts : 217
    Join date : 2011-04-04
    • Post n°1

    VTA timer board - who's using one? Empty VTA timer board - who's using one?

    Post by Tom Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:22 pm

    I need to protect (?) my system against a certain family member who can't remember the turn on - turn off sequence.

    Was thinking about installing one of the timer boards offered here. Will this help with the humms and thumps of turning the tube preamp (SP-Cool on or off with the SS amp still on?

    Any help appreciated.

    Here's the timer board: http://www.tubes4hifi.com/TDR.htm
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    Tom
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    Tom


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    Post by Tom Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:24 pm

    Ha! The software (smarter than me) turned my parenthetical SP-8 in to a smiley Cool

    I should be better at this. Smile
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    jhoak
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    jhoak


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    Join date : 2009-10-16
    Age : 66
    Location : Central Florida
    • Post n°3

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    Post by jhoak Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:22 pm

    I put one in the VTA/ST-120 that I recently sold.

    Nice piece of kit. Easy to build and easy to install.

    Highly recommended.

    Frankly I think it should be "standard equipment" in all VTA/ST-XXX kits.
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    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
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    Location : Massachusetts
    • Post n°4

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    Post by Bob Latino Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:34 pm

    jhoak wrote:I put one in the VTA/ST-120 that I recently sold.

    Nice piece of kit. Easy to build and easy to install.

    Highly recommended.

    Frankly I think it should be "standard equipment" in all VTA/ST-XXX kits.

    Hi Jeff,

    The VTA TDR is not really needed unless ..

    1. You are using solid state rectifiers and want to delay the application of B+ high voltage until the tubes have been warmed up a little.

    2. You live in an area where you have AC power "drop outs" for a fraction of a second up to maybe 3 or 4 seconds. In other words a quick ON/OFF/ON (a short cycle situation) on your AC power. This can take out a rectifier tube.

    If you intend to use just a TUBE RECTIFIER then you can get away with no TDR board. The tube rectifier warms up slowly enough so it has its own built in "time delay". I don't ever remember a short ON/OFF/ON here where I live but I know that this can be an issue in other parts of the country.

    The inclusion of the TDR board in all amps would add $35 to the price of the VTA ST-70 and ST-120 amp kits. I don't know if all would be willing to pay for an extra feature that may not be absolutely necessary in their situation.

    Bob
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    Luddite
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    Luddite


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    Join date : 2009-02-04
    Age : 73
    Location : Texas
    • Post n°5

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    Post by Luddite Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:37 pm

    Tom wrote:I need to protect (?) my system against a certain family member who can't remember the turn on - turn off sequence.

    Although 99% of the time I am the system operator here at home, for those rare occasions that someone else (aka. Mrs. Charlie) may choose to operate it, I made a laminated card containing the system operating instructions. So far no problems! Wink

    Best Regards,
    Charlie
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    Tom
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    Tom


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    Post by Tom Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:54 am

    If laminated cards worked, more than one person could operate the pool, the sprinklers, etc... Razz

    Seriously though, If I put the timer on the AC secondaries for the HV circuit of the SP-8, would that reduce the transient noises that warmup / shutdown sends thru the amp to the speakers?

    Anyone tried it?

    Smile Tom
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