Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Using EL86 with EL84 OT

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Using EL86 with EL84 OT

    Hi all... So, if I modify all the voltages in the circut to fit the EL86 but I don't have enough money for the new OT, can I use the EL86 with the old EL84 OT from the late 50's, and if I can, what would i have to do with the bias section and how should I adjust the bias so that the tube(EL86) handles a little higher EL84 plate voltage in the circut (don't worry for the screen grid, just bigger resistor) and that transformer that was not meant for that tube? Any opinions and posts would be very useful.

  • #2
    A brief glance at the datasheet suggests that the el86 is better with lower voltage, higher current and a lower Raa (primary impedance). Power is about the same so that's not an issue. You would need to know (or discern) the primary of the OT in question. And how much "higher voltage" are we talking about??? Further, a bigger resistor for the screen feed in the HV rail is "ok" but not ideal. You can quickly pigeon hole yourself into a very specific (and saggy) tonal character. This assumes you are building a guitar amp.
    "Take two placebos, works twice as well." Enzo

    "Now get off my lawn with your silicooties and boom-chucka speakers and computers masquerading as amplifiers" Justin Thomas

    "If you're not interested in opinions and the experience of others, why even start a thread?
    You can't just expect consent." Helmholtz

    Comment


    • #3
      What Chuck said.
      See the Class AB Push Pull specs on this datasheet:
      http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/f...010/e/EL86.pdf


      The higher voltage (than +250V recommended for EL86) would require a higher Raa OT so the (almost certainly) 8K Raa for EL84 may be fine.


      Set bias for the idle current to be less than what the data sheet says by the ratio of the B+ you have with respect to 250V.

      Cheers,
      Ian

      Comment

      Working...
      X