Tube Socket Voltage Ratings

[David Root]

What is the voltage rating for phenolic vs. Micalex vs Celanex vs Ceramic etc? I used to have a list and I can't find it.

I cannot decide whether to use some Omron black phenolic octals I got from Apex Jr. or Belton brown Micalex in a #124 at ~460V plates.

Something in the back of my head says phenolic is only good up to about 350VDC........?

I guess it makes a difference on the pin spacing too, octal to 9-pin.

[David Root]

Hopefully someone has some info here. I used up the Omrons I had and bought another box of 10. The box now has 10A 260VAC on it below the UL & CSA logos.

How does that translate into a DC voltage rating??? Is it like motor run caps that can have four times the DC capability of the AC rating?

[diagrammatiks]

ya. at least 1.4

ceramic will have the highest voltage rating out of all of the materials.

[David Root]

That's my problem, I now need sockets that can handle ~500V to 7581As.

[diagrammatiks]

that shouldn't be a problem.

I know that soldano and fryette at least run 500+ on their b+ and they use some kind of micalex socket...i think it's actually beltons now in their production run.

[David Root]

Thanx d., these Omrons are glossy black like phenolic so I don't know what to make of them. They are only $1.99 each at Apex Jr. so I'd like to use them if I can, I just don't want to have one of them short out and take my NOS Bassman 100 OT with it.

I have one amp with the micalex Beltons running 8417s at 520V so I know they're good!

[diagrammatiks]

partsconnexion has ceramic sockets for 2-3 dollars each.

but I can't imagine the belton's at least not working.

the omron's should be fine too. 260vac should be good for at least 500vdc.

[ToneMerc]

I have one amp with the micalex Beltons running 8417s at 520V so I know they're good!

David my high voltage ODS clone has 725V on the Beltons, although the ones that I have been using in the last 2 years or so, don't look exactly the same as earlier ones.

TM

[David Root]

Thanx folks! I googled Omron PL-08 datasheet and got the relay assembly that it's used in and designed for. It doesn't specifically rate the socket but it does say the complete relay assembly's insulation resistance is 100M ohm min. at 500VDC. I have used these sockets above 400VDC in several builds without trouble, just never around 500VDC.

BTW I don't like ceramic sockets, they chip easily and look awful.

In my googling I also found out that Fender used them in the De Ville amp, no doubt because they're cheap, but I don't know what plate voltage that amp runs.

UPDATE: Found the Blues DeVille schematic, B+1 is 471V.