BF PRINCETON with dual PT secondary?

Fender Amp Discussion

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Post Reply
User avatar
ViperDoc
Posts: 1247
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2019 2:21 am
Location: Idaho

BF PRINCETON with dual PT secondary?

Post by ViperDoc »

I'm going to build another Princeton because I like the first one I made so much, and that one is headed to a friend soon. I was looking at "upgraded" Princeton PT transformers and wondered if anyone has built a Princeton circuit using a dual PT secondary like this one? I thought I could put the two secondaries on a DPDT switch with a center-off for a standby option.

https://www.hammfg.com/files/parts/pdf/291AEX.pdf
Just plug it in, man.
Stevem
Posts: 5144
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 3:01 pm
Location: 1/3rd the way out one of the arms of the Milkyway.

Re: BF PRINCETON with dual PT secondary?

Post by Stevem »

Yes a DPDT switch will allow you to place both windings in parallel to have the US / 120 volt setting which is the way it's done.
When I die, I want to go like my Grandfather did, peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming like the passengers in his car!

Cutting out a man's tongue does not mean he’s a liar, but it does show that you fear the truth he might speak about you!
sluckey
Posts: 3528
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:48 pm
Location: Mobile, AL
Contact:

Re: BF PRINCETON with dual PT secondary?

Post by sluckey »

He's not asking about the primaries. He's asking about switching the dual taps on the HT secondary to provide either 325-0-325 or 275-0-275 to the rectifier.

Yes, you can do that, but you may want to check the bias every time you switch. Not worth the effort IMO. Such a switch could be more useful with cathode biased output tubes. I would just experiment and find the secondary taps that you prefer and tape off the other taps.
User avatar
ViperDoc
Posts: 1247
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2019 2:21 am
Location: Idaho

Re: BF PRINCETON with dual PT secondary?

Post by ViperDoc »

Good point. Thanks!
Just plug it in, man.
User avatar
nworbetan
Posts: 162
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 11:34 pm

Re: BF PRINCETON with dual PT secondary?

Post by nworbetan »

Assuming you're building a cathode biased Princeton, my first thought about that PT is to use solid state diodes on the 275V taps to get ~385V on the plates and a tube rectifier on the 325V taps to get closer to 300V on the plates. Those are the plate voltage targets that look good to me using that PT anyway.

However, if you're especially happy with the last Princeton you built and want to recreate that, you'll be better off aiming for the same plate voltage target as the one you know you like.
User avatar
ViperDoc
Posts: 1247
Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2019 2:21 am
Location: Idaho

Re: BF PRINCETON with dual PT secondary?

Post by ViperDoc »

That sounds interesting. I wasn't planning on cathode-biasing the power tubes, but I can see how that would make sense. I'm not exactly sure how I would design that. I can also see how cool it would be to have a tube-rectified and a SS-rectified option on tap with their own bias settings. That could very well be over my head at present, though. I tested a Marshall-style build with just switching the HT secondary into the same fixed bias circuit and it did sound good and different, but it was clear it needed more refining. We'll see.
Just plug it in, man.
Post Reply