How to wire and how to NOT wire a VTA amp kit - photos ...

since Bob didn't post the "supposed to look like this" photo for TubeNube, here you are . . .

And a thing of beauty it is!

Thanks for the compliments.

Sal

Ah-ha, those chokes seem to fit in the chassis much better. What is their source?

Best Regards,
Charlie

Dynakitparts.com has the C 354 chokes in stock.

Sal

Hey are those different bias resistors?
They look like 1/2 watt resistors. Not the same ones as in the first amp picture nor what Bob seems to recommend. Are they big enough?

Beautiful wiring Sal

Here's mine, not nearly as neat but not quite spaghetti either

HiGHFLYiN9 wrote:
Here's mine, not nearly as neat but not quite spaghetti either

I love those cmc-style sockets with the backside mounting card. When I build my next amp I'm going to use them everyplace I can.

where did you get those CMC octal sockets?

eBay. Just search for 'CMC Socket'. I just found both the octal sockets, plus the PCB wire-connection boards, which are important, plus really cool. They make assembly really easy, plus it makes changing of the sockets down the road much easier.

I have the octals, and I have the 9-pin sockets for the small tubes (although I don't think they'd work with VTA boards).

HiFly, you did a NICE and serious job!

I don't understand how those CMC sockets with PCB connectors would make it easier to change sockets. Wouldn't you need a a special soldering tool to heat all the socket pins at the same time? (Well, maybe then it would be easier!)

You don't need to unsolder your wiring. You just remove the solder on the socket pins using a solder sucker or dewicking braid. Swap sockets and solder the PCB back on. Granted, I know nothing about building an amp, but because I don't have much experience, this seems like it would easier.

Mostly though, I like the firm connection these sockets make with the tubes. I have another amp where I have real problems with the tubes making a good, reliable connection, even after numerous attempts to bend the socket 'flanges' to retension them. Maybe I'm wrong, but these just seem to be the highest quality sockets. In a hobby where spending hundreds of dollars on wires, record needles, and tubes is commonplace, this seems like a reasonable upgrade.

davidness wrote:You don't need to unsolder your wiring. You just remove the solder on the socket pins using a solder sucker or dewicking braid. Swap sockets and solder the PCB back on. Granted, I know nothing about building an amp, but because I don't have much experience, this seems like it would easier.

Mostly though, I like the firm connection these sockets make with the tubes.

Solder suckers and braid don't remove every last trace of solder. If these PCBs fit at all closely against the pins, then solder is going to wick all around the pin. As soon as you remove the heat whatever solder is left will still hold the pin...
It seems you would need a special circular tip that heated them all at once, if such a thing exists!

Bob Latino wrote:A typical issue .... The amp kept blowing fuses ... The biggest problem here is that he did not "shorten the transformer wires to an appropriate length" as outlined in the assembly manual. Even though not shortening the wires might not make any difference in the sound of the amp, excessive wire WILL make a difference in your attempts to figure out why the amp doesn't work correctly. It's just a confusing mass of "spaghetti" in there and it is hard to tell what wire goes where?

Bob

Bob if I remember from hanning days a little tip: always grab the leads exiting the transformer firmly with pliers whilst you do "The Twist" on the departing ends. It is possible to yank the wires out of the xformer otherwise. Maybe they are sturdier nowadays but I think it's a good caution.

Tube Nube wrote:A hah! Then we all have chokes that are equally wonky at best, which in a way, restores symmetry!

We don't all have wonky chokes ... nothing a little filing cant fix ...

Now THAT is a tidy job!

Thanks Brenton ... I tried to keep it as neat and tidy as I could ... and actually surprised myself with how it turned out