Filament wires

[M Fowler]

Alright guys let me know what your secrets are for wiring the brown filament wires from tonesluts trannies on a TW liverpool build using the small 9 pin single hole scokets listed on the BOM?

Do I simply trim the wire down to size to fit, solder a smaller wire on the end that will fit, or just use a two lug terminal strip with smaller wire to the pins? I know there is some amperage on the filaments so the tranny wires need to be large but man no room on my tube sockets for this wire.

Mark

[skyboltone]

Wish I could help you Mark. Aren't those socket pins longer than they are wide? Can't you just mash the wire flatter and get it in there?

[M Fowler]

skyboltone

Yes they are longer than wide but that tranny wire is huge and I also have to use this same hole for the other wire going to the next tube.

I also need to get a smaller/shorter machine bolt and nut on these sockets because they are way to close to these pins in my opinion. I am using 6-32 x 3/8 long. Will come up with something, just had to walk away from it for a while and post this to see what you more experienced builders out there could advise. I was using stranded wire on my filament loop, then tore that out and switched to 20 ga solid to get more room.

Mark

[paulster]

They fit! You just have to shape them into a flat formation and then they'll go in without a problem, leaving room to get the next pair in there as well.

Not the easiest job, but quite plausible.

[Phil_S]

Some people pre-tin the wire with a bit of solder. If you do it right, the shape will be good. If you overdo it, it will clog the tube pin. The objective is to keep the wire bundle from fraying on insertion into the pin.

If you are using a recycled tube socket (many do that), be sure to use a solder sucker and then braid to remove all the old solder and get that hole back to it's full size.

You might consider bending the pin over, so you can push wire up from the bottom or down from the top, instead of trying to work sideways. Careful not to break off the pin.

Indeed, wire can look too fat. I like to take the tranny wires to a terminal strip, and continue the filament string with solid core wire. I find it much easier to work with. I break the rule and use 20ga solid. If you don't have too many tubes, you really should be OK with #20 wire. That terminal strip is also a great place to create the artificial CT with 2 100 ohm resistors.

Good luck.

[M Fowler]

Thanks guys,

I'm getting ready for a Halloween gig this Friday night and looking forward to rocking out. The beer will go down good as well.

I'll get back to the liverpool build this weekend and see what I can get done with those filament wires. Besides I need to recheck what I have done so far.

Mark

[Normster]

Alright guys let me know what your secrets are for wiring the brown filament wires from tonesluts trannies on a TW liverpool build using the small 9 pin single hole scokets listed on the BOM?

Do I simply trim the wire down to size to fit, solder a smaller wire on the end that will fit, or just use a two lug terminal strip with smaller wire to the pins? I know there is some amperage on the filaments so the tranny wires need to be large but man no room on my tube sockets for this wire.

Mark

Terminal strip is the way to go.

[billyz]

I use a fender style pilot light and it is no problem. Kind of like the terminal strip idea. I have stripped the lead to a smaller gauge, cutting the strands all around. Just use a wire stripper and instead of 16 ga use the 18 ga cutter. After you pre tin the wire it is all good. of course won't work with a solid lead wire.
Also, some tube sockets have smaller eyelets. I find the micalex ones to be bigger than the cheap o chinese.

[Jana]

I always get a little nervous with the thought of connecting welding cables to the fragile tube socket pins. Whenever I have a transformer with those mofo wires I either do like Billyz does and use the pilot light as a terminal or use a dedicated three terminal strip.

[M Fowler]

I have seen the terminal strip and pilot light wiring before but in my case I am using a 120V pilot light and on the gut shots on this web site I can't say that I have seen guys using the terminal strip method on the liverpool, express or rocket. I was trying to figure out why not and how did everyone get those large tranny wires in those small 9 pin tube sockets.

I sure do appreciate the feed back and will get over this one way or another. My wife asked me while leaning over my shoulder one night, is this fun or frustrating and I answered fun of course and it is, why do we enjoy such things, must be a sickness, huh.

Thanks once again.

Mark

[Ron Worley]

You can also VERY gently use a small flat blade screwdriver and bow the middle of the socket lug out a bit- that's what I do even with 18 AWG heater wire on V1-3.... but you must go easy so you don't ruin the lug....

Ron

[billyz]

If you don't want to use a terminal strip or cut the wire down to size then just pigtail them to the 18 or 20 ga heater wire you want to use. Solder and shrink wrap.

[jaysg]

If you don't want to use a terminal strip or cut the wire down to size then just pigtail them to the 18 or 20 ga heater wire you want to use. Solder and shrink wrap.

I think I did what you're calling a pigtail. Along the way, I cut them off, and did inline junctions to 20ga wire. Two layers of shrink wrap and done.

[tubedogsmith]

All tube sockets aren't the same. Some are a lot smaller than others. The nice gold sockets from Steve at Angela are the best I've seen. You can also pick up some with oversized tabs from Triode and CE.

[billyz]

Maybe pigtail is not the right word, I don't know. Basically a splice. Get er done.