Rectifier Heater Circuit to Power Jewel?

[The New Steve H]

I'm working on my Champ/Herzog. I am at the point where I need to hook up the lamp. I chose a purple Fender-style jewel.

It's my understanding that this thing is designed to run on 6 volts from the heaters, but I already have two tubes plus a relay on my heater circuit. I don't want to mess with that circuit any more. I'm wondering if I can run it off the 5V rectifier heater circuit instead. Voltage seems close enough.

[VacuumVoodoo]

You will have pilot lamp hanging on B+ dc voltage above chassis ground if you are using a tube rectifier. I wonder if the pilot lamp holder and enclosure are specified for at least twice B+ isolation strength. If that 5V winding isn't used for anything at all then it's ok to drive pilot lamp with it. Just ground one end of it.

[The New Steve H]

Dang this thing. This has to be the worst schematic in the universe. I will beat it even if I have to buy a separate 6 volt transformer.

I don't even know if the housing is electrically connected to the lamp power supply, but I guess it probably is.

[ToneMerc]

Dang this thing. This has to be the worst schematic in the universe. I will beat it even if I have to buy a separate 6 volt transformer.

I don't even know if the housing is electrically connected to the lamp power supply, but I guess it probably is.

You are truly a glutton for punishment brotha, let this be another lesson. Debug the circuit and it's layout before you actually start building it.

good luck

TM

[The New Steve H]

Have you seen this schematic? It's a horror. I had to go ahead and do my best, or I would never have gotten started.

[ToneMerc]

Have you seen this schematic? It's a horror. I had to go ahead and do my best, or I would never have gotten started.

Yes I have and I'll repeat it again......you are a glutton for punishment

There's fifty eleven dozen Champ style variants and you picked that one.

TM

[The New Steve H]

Well, I was trying to do a Herzog, not a Champ. If there is a Champ variant out there which is rigged up for use as an effect, I haven't seen it yet.

Luckily, I found a third Herzog schematic which clears a lot of things up.

[Phil_S]

I think the ground in that last one is going make it hum. It's redundant to the mains ground.

[The New Steve H]

Maybe it's a special cord with two neutrals.

[T Wilcox]

Cant you just get a 120vac lamp for your jewel and run wires right off the power switch?
I've never used a jewel lamp in any of my builds, but almost did and that was the plan. ended up using 6.3v neon lamp

Todd

[The New Steve H]

That may be a great idea, but I went with the jewel because I had hum problems with the 125V neon in my second amp. That may be because I wired it like a blind monkey, however.

Right now I'm thinking I might buy myself a big white LED and hide it in there. Who would know the difference? I'm sure I can find 2 volts somewhere to power it.

[Gaz]

That may be a great idea, but I went with the jewel because I had hum problems with the 125V neon in my second amp. That may be because I wired it like a blind monkey, however.

Right now I'm thinking I might buy myself a big white LED and hide it in there. Who would know the difference? I'm sure I can find 2 volts somewhere to power it.

You sure can (at the bottom of the page):

http://www.freewebs.com/valvewizard2/OtherStuff.html

Also, a 120v lamp should give you no issues, and there are a lot avaiable. You could save the purple one for another project.

To be honest, I don't really understand the initial problem. It sounds like you're too lazy to hook up the 6 volt lamp? I think the current draw is negligible if that's what you were getting at.

[The New Steve H]

I am definitely lazy, but that circuit has a pile of stuff on it already. Maybe it doesn't matter, since the relay isn't connected when the amp is playing.

I like the LED, though. No maintenance.

[ToneMerc]

That may be a great idea, but I went with the jewel because I had hum problems with the 125V neon in my second amp. That may be because I wired it like a blind monkey, however.

Right now I'm thinking I might buy myself a big white LED and hide it in there. Who would know the difference? I'm sure I can find 2 volts somewhere to power it.

[IMG:360:288]http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/67/tumblr_lilrg3Rs6y1qgmivlo1_400.gif[/img]

TM