Anyone using 1 watts instead of 1/2 watts?

[Randall]

I dunno, but the smaller size of today's components doesn't sit well with me in a vintage build. I'm putting together a pair of 5E3 kits for friends. It included 1/2 watt carbon comps, which I think is mostly snake oil, so they subbed 1/2 watt metal films instead. I'm okay with metal films, but they are so small they look silly on a turret board to me. I am going to get 1 watts to replace them just because they look better to me. Anyone else plagued by such a condition?

[Leo_Gnardo]

1/2 watt metal films instead. I'm okay with metal films, but they are so small they look silly on a turret board to me.

Not using tiny new R's so much but agree with you in your plight. Seen some 2W that look like quarter-watts, just does not "hit the spot" with me. And just wrapped up repair on a new-ish tweed combo that looks like all that & a bag o chips, but no screen grid R's at all however 5W MOX 1K5's as grid "stoppers" on the 6L6's. WTF wuzza point of THAT? There's the place for CC.

Got some 1W proper-size carbon films at Mouser and you can too.

I'm thinkin' the "theory" is we can make R's smaller with new MF & MOX materials, yes that's nice, but they'll run hotter therefore more noisy and likely to fail so what's the point, that's why MF & MOX are selected. IOW self-defeating. Fooey.

[Cantplay]

I mostly build with 2W resistors.

Less noise, less thermal effect (especially in fuzz) I feel like they should be less failure prone too

I also really like the way they look.

There are places where you do want a low wattage resistor. Better to blow out a resistor than fry OPT if a tube fails.

John

[martin manning]

...no screen grid R's at all however 5W MOX 1K5's as grid "stoppers" on the 6L6's. WTF wuzza point of THAT?

The tech's grid stopper cupboard was bare, so he borrowed something from the PS resistor barrel?

[renshen1957]

1/2 watt metal films instead. I'm okay with metal films, but they are so small they look silly on a turret board to me.

And just wrapped up repair on a new-ish tweed combo that looks like all that & a bag o chips, but no screen grid R's at all however 5W MOX 1K5's as grid "stoppers" on the 6L6's. WTF wuzza point of THAT? There's the place for CC.

Hi Leo,

No Screen resistors and both screens and Transformer B+ sourced from the same voltage was common, another maximum performance based on the rugged nature of 50's Tubes which were thought to be relatively cheap to replace. Or why use extra resistors for either grids and screens because it was cheap.

Or likely the design engineer who developed one circuit had his preferences, and his successor had another circuit predilection.

The Williamson Tube amp had both so the concept wasn't unknown. I would go to pinching pennies or idiosyncrasies of different designers.

Most Fender PP Tweed Amps did not have Screen resistors. 1k5 Grid Stoppers appear with the 5E series. Most of the 5F tweeds don't have Screen resistors but retainGrid stoppers. These disappear on the 5F6 but 100 ohm Screen grids appear, 5F6A bumps these up to 470 1W (Carbon Comps) but no grid stoppers and screen grids until AA0864. However, The 5F8 Twin has both Grid stoppers and Screen resistors onwards but most Blonds have Screen resistors. only.

Go figure.

Best regards,

Steve

[xtian]

Randall, I've been using Xicon 1-watt MF resistors in my recent builds. Mouser series 294-[value]-RC. Example 100K. $0.15 each for 10 or more, $0.08 for 100!

Just posted a photo of my finished 18-watt Stout using these resistors.

[renshen1957]

Randall, I've been using Xicon 1-watt MF resistors in my recent builds. Mouser series 294-[value]-RC. Example 100K. $0.15 each for 10 or more, $0.08 for 100!

Just posted a photo of my finished 18-watt Stout using these resistors.

Hi,

I've used 1 Watt or 2 Watt MF resistors from Japan for better dissipation (lower noise) and 1 Watt PRP (the solid red color so there's no argument as to origin) resistors, too, for those "Made in the USA" folks. I have other MF choices depending on the amp circuit. The Dumble forum turned me on to the MF that Alexander Dumble used in his amps, which are also available Mouser.

Best regards,

Steve

[Leo_Gnardo]

And just wrapped up repair on a new-ish tweed combo that looks like all that & a bag o chips, but no screen grid R's at all however 5W MOX 1K5's as grid "stoppers" on the 6L6's. WTF wuzza point of THAT? There's the place for CC.

No Screen resistors and both screens and Transformer B+ sourced from the same voltage was common, another maximum performance based on the rugged nature of 50's Tubes which were thought to be relatively cheap to replace. Or why use extra resistors for either grids and screens because it was cheap.

Yup, I'm aware of all that & it's apparent the Collins builder stuck to the same ol' formula for authenticity's sake. Bothers me that screen grids are above plate V. For now, I'm leavin' it alone. Nixed the problems the owner was complaining about*. Besides, moved the Rk off to the very end of the circus board. It was nested between its Ck and 1st HV filter, givin' em a good roast. I got a laser thermometer a couple years ago. Showed me the Ck (85C rated) was baking at 102C so I just replaced it, period. Curious he used those gigandamundo grid stoppers but wouldn't spend to do the right thing for the screen grids. (Funny thing at first blink I thought those 5W'ers WERE the SG resistors.) =C= 6L6's were doing their maraca act so out they went too.

Steve, what are PRP resistors? I'm not up to speed on these. In fact completely unfamiliar. Thanx much, LG

* Is he going to be surprised his amp sprouted a relay! Builder ran a line all the way from 1st stage cathode to the "ground" switch which he repurposed as a gain boost, switching in a cathode bypass cap. And made the amp hum like a thousand bees in a bottle by proximity to the PT. Schmart, not. How to undermine an otherwise excellent build.

[M Fowler]

The Dumble forum turned me on to the MF that Alexander Dumble used in his amps, which are also available Mouser

Steve which brand or type is available to use in Dumble builds?. The PRP are good resistors.

[Tone Lover]

I like the way those Red PRP resisters look in a build, sound nice to but havn't got the amp broke in yet. Only had it up to bedroom level .
Im going to try the 2 watt kiwames from mouser. $ 0.65 apiece same size as regular 1 watt, nice green color to.
Bill

[Structo]

PRP Resistors

http://www.prpinc.com/index.php?mod=page&id=45

They are those red ones with the data printed on them.

[img:350:350]http://www.hificollective.co.uk/images2 ... 72_350.gif[/img]

[Miket]

I like the way those Red PRP resisters look in a build, sound nice to but havn't got the amp broke in yet. Only had it up to bedroom level .
Im going to try the 2 watt kiwames from mouser. $ 0.65 apiece same size as regular 1 watt, nice green color to.
Bill

I used those kiwames on my express build. I remember I spent around $60 USD on them, including freight.
Would I do it again? No way, I would rather spend 15$ on normal metal films resistors and use the left over cash to buy a nice nos 12ax7!

[rp]

You guys forgot to mention bigger resistors have longer leads, not a bad thing for ptp and turret board builders given how dinky modern 1/2 watts are, even the current crop of cc's suffer from this nonsense.

[Leo_Gnardo]

They are those red ones with the data printed on them.

Thanks for the link Tom! They look like hot dogs on a stick.

- - - - - -

Also, I think I found that guy I PM'd you about the other day.

[telentubes]

I hardly ever use 1/2 watt anywhere anymore, unless they are AB carbon comps. The ABs are pretty rugged. I use 1 watt where 1/2 watt is called for as they are more robust all around, and they look better on the board. I'm going to get some of the PRP Resistors. They look pretty cool.