06-27-2023, 12:23 PM
>> How fussy are the main filter caps? Will the choke tolerate 10uF on both the output and the input?
This is not about the choke tolerating the caps, but about the rectifier tube's tolerance.
If your primary filter (right at the tube's K) cap is too large, the tube might not like it.
Also any increase in its value results in the increase of the rectified voltage value, and you might not want it as then your B+ is higher and your tubes run hotter.
The output cap after the choke is not critical, and is OK to be larger value (not smaller though). I almost always increase it two-fold. It improves filtering and does not affect anything else.
Prefer the film caps if possible, and high ripple/low impedance electrolytics by well-regarded mfrs, like Rubycon, Panasonic and such, if the electrolytics are desired.
This is not about the choke tolerating the caps, but about the rectifier tube's tolerance.
If your primary filter (right at the tube's K) cap is too large, the tube might not like it.
Also any increase in its value results in the increase of the rectified voltage value, and you might not want it as then your B+ is higher and your tubes run hotter.
The output cap after the choke is not critical, and is OK to be larger value (not smaller though). I almost always increase it two-fold. It improves filtering and does not affect anything else.
Prefer the film caps if possible, and high ripple/low impedance electrolytics by well-regarded mfrs, like Rubycon, Panasonic and such, if the electrolytics are desired.
People who do not drink, do not smoke, do not eat red meat will one day feel really stupid lying there and dying from nothing.
