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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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    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade

    penguinpages
    penguinpages


    Posts : 29
    Join date : 2021-04-26
    Age : 55
    Location : Atlanta

    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Empty ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade

    Post by penguinpages Tue Sep 12, 2023 8:54 am

    I just completed my amp upgrade per this post and wanted to share my notes and documentation.  

    First off, a note to Dan Willoughby who took the time to work through the issues and is as always making improvements in documentation and design.


    As I was already repairing the amp, (due to ground lug coming loose as I put tubes in /out it came loose and blew out the transistor), I figured I would take the time to some upgrades

    1) Purchase Dual Rectifier board and upgrade. Which I understand helps with more continual / heavy use of the amp.. aligning with how I use it.
    2) Purchase bias Display, so I am more conscious about bias drift to indicate tubes wearing out.
    3) Purchase bias "port" upgrade.  This one I did as to put in the bias drift display units then would require pulling tubes "up" to be able to contact pins on tube with Digital multimeter (displays are a guide) and that to me is not convenient.
    4) One other design consideration was to NOT abandon the Triode/pentode switching connection  Which per above posting.. I used his great idea of just moving them to between main tubes.


    Note:  My upgrade path required drilling the steel case multiple times. My means to protect items and not damage things.  Hot glue small chunk of wood on backside of location. This is backing for when you "punch though", also directs metal filings out, vs inside. Also on outside you can use painters tape to create "file catch" and so keep metal bits from getting around where they should not be.

    Dual Rectifier upgrade:

    Documentation was helpful but with help of Dan, I built a table of "before" and after, to account for every wire I disconnected from old design, to new DR upgrade.


    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Amplea11




    Diagram of "before" against above table also showing new Dual Rectifier upgrade version 2 of board. Sorry for not taking a "finished picture" but missed that Smile

    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Ampdia11




    Notes:
    - I was following diagram for DR upgrade PCB board version 1 which needed two "red B+ contacts, but new board design does not require this as it has common contact point.
    - I also used shorter stand-offs I had from motherboards. they were 1/8" shorter than ones provided. I was trying to give better stability to board and lower deflection from insert of rectifier tubes, but meh.. it looks nicer but in end was not worth the calories.
    - I did take time to drill out the fourth hole needed to mount all four standoffs.  The right most hole is where the supercap use to be and so does not have a hole already (two from old rectifier tube and third from center ground lug screw lined up just fine). To get that last / fourth one.. use magic marker with other three in place and mark , drill out..


    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Ampfin10


    Update: I forgot to post one other important tidbit...  The new v2 Dual Rectifier board with my ST120 would not "fit" where holes of mounting posts lined up with holes on PCB board due to interference with the two side transformers.  I "pushed" them back on their posts as far as possible but they still would not allow it to "fit"  so I had to use a dremel and cut 1/4" corners off the PCB board to get around the "hips" of the two transformers.  There are no traces in board to be concerned about.  But this also why I used shorter "standoffs" to try to squeeze them under humps.. but in end had to clip corners.

    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Ampdrb10


    Update 2: The root cause of all this process was noted as ground lug (nut with star washer) came loose as I pulled / changed tubes). As such I put a dab of hot glue on each ground lug scew. I know with star washer it should "bite" and hold and maybe it was over caution on my part tightening it.. but this gives me peace of mind that this will not happen again.


    (((Forum has image qty limit so I will post in second part the bias upgrade)))


    Last edited by penguinpages on Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:40 am; edited 2 times in total
    penguinpages
    penguinpages


    Posts : 29
    Join date : 2021-04-26
    Age : 55
    Location : Atlanta

    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Empty Re: ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade

    Post by penguinpages Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:11 am

    (Part 2 of ST-120 upgrade)


    Bias Port / Upgrade:

    LED display and wiring was easy. My mistake was to connect the two power "green" wires to different tubes. Attached is a clarification diagram I made. I just picked right rear tub...

    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Ampbia11



    Also It took me a min to figure out that the cap just goes on each tube and jumpers like transistor (make sure ground side is to grounding lug) this is a tight solder, so patience helps... Smile




    I also mounted the bias upgrade four post lug and three post Dual Rectifier Upgrade to what use to be Lug post for the Triode/pentode switching two dual post lugs.


    To free this space up, I drilled holes mid way between main tubes and fit in the toggle switches, and as the two lug terminals were only to jumper the transistor from top pins, to the tubes, I just direct solder transistor end to short jumper wire. This is not as convenient as using lug post to solder to (lead direct to transistor wire) but then eliminating the mounting point for the two lug post saved a lot of space.

    Also note how I soldered the 470mf cap from Lug two with ground side to lug three, which was ground. This was not clear to me at first but this just kept it simple.


    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Ampfin11


    As for the means to bias. The Displays in front are to convey drift, but you still need contacts. So I purchased the "bias test points (replace octal socket) $20 pair" http://www.tubes4hifi.com/ST70.htm and drilled out two 1/4" holes in front next to the new LED displays to mount the plastic ports direct into the chassis.

    Again, be careful when drilling the case. Use a blocker behind. Drill a small pilot hole with small bit then expend it . My drill drifted a bit and made them tighter together then I liked and had to dremel it a bit to get it to connect flat.

    To connect it up.. I just de-soldered the old bias contact wires and soldered to the new ports.. simple upgrade after you get holes drilled.

    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade Ampbia12


    Hopefully this makes sense

    10-E-C, MechEngVic, erniegiro, smoorenc and Briansilcox like this post

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    smoorenc


    Posts : 47
    Join date : 2020-10-29

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    Post by smoorenc Sun Oct 15, 2023 11:30 am

    Never mind I figured it out with this drawing:  ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade I-nhqq10
       For the 2 chokes. I am a little confused. If one lead from each choke goes up to the new board. Where do I connect the other lead from each choke? Do I have 1 lead from each go to what was 40 (half circle) and one each to 80 (square) on the new posts? Then take and connect a new lead to 40 and up to the rec board and then tap off the 80 and up to the rect board?
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    smoorenc


    Posts : 47
    Join date : 2020-10-29

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    Post by smoorenc Mon Oct 16, 2023 9:09 am

    THANKS!!! These instructions were great! I am so glad you pointed me here. I was struggling some with the included instructions. Your diagrams were spot on! Thanks Scott

    ST-120 Dual Rectifier Upgrade I-qv7k10

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