5E3 filament wiring

[Randall]

How many of you guys wire the 5E3 as per the Fender schematic? And if not, how do you do it?

[Chuck H]

Do wire it as a "twisted pair". I think the Schematic Heaven site has the Mission Amps version as their standard layout. The standard wiring is more prone to noise and doen't do ANYTHING to the tone whatever. So there is NO advantage to the stock wiring over improved versions.

[pdf64]

Further to Chuck's advice, see http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20h...e3a_layout.pdf
That layout also implements dc elevation of the heaters, to further reduce hum (by referencing the heaters to the power tube cathodes); also shows a few other tricks.
Pete

[Randall]

Specifically, I am wondering about the Fender scheme with one side of the winding straight to ground. Can I go straight across the heaters and lamp without grounding? And can someone explain the virtual center tap resistor scheme a little better? Thanks.

[Chuck H]

There's a lot of explaining to do about false center taps, elevated center taps, twisted pairs and phase cancellation, etc.

In short... The false center tap is just a 0V reference. No significant current goes through the center tap to ground. Elevating the center tap reduces the differential between the heater and cathode so that noise from the heater supply is reduced (the differential is what can appear on a tube grid). Twisting the leads together (when both sides of the supply have the same currents but opposing phase) offers some phase cancellation of noise and hum via inductance.

Just follow the provided schematic for best performance.

[Jazz P Bass]

Further reading.
The Valve Wizard

[Barcelias]

Hello,
I built a Trinity 5E3 kit back in May. I recorded this clip today. Both guitar parts are from my Fender American Series Strat plugged straight into the 5E3 amp. I had the amp volume on 6 for the rhythm guitar part, and on 12 for the slide part. 100% pure natural tube overdrive with single coil pick-ups. Guitar volume knob was maxed.