Hi all. New Patrionic here. Really enjoying this resource!
Anyway, several years ago I tuberolled my Modwright Logitec Transporter. I now have these tubes sitting on my shelf:
– 2 Treasures CV181-Z
– 2 Tung-Sol Russian 6SN7 GTB
-1 Dumont-Emerson 3222-14-3 5U4 CB (rectifier, I think)
I’m looking to do something with these. The obvious seems to be a preamp removed link I’m not willing to put in the big $$ to make a full amp. I’m currently watching MCL power supply video. Maybe that would be cool. Can I get some ideas for something cool to do with these tubes??
TY
Welcome to this Forum runthenclimb. Your question raises a common situation that a lot of folks find themselves in. Having some vacuum tubes that though used have a lot of life left in them just laying around not being used.
The cold hard reality is that anything you chose to build with any vacuum tubes will need a budget. The more higher cost thing is the power transformer & then if its an audio amplifier it’s the output transformer and often the need for a choke or even inter-stage transformers. I have seen tube stashes of some very nice NOS & the owner says oh one day i will make a (whatever). Eventually they discover the reality that this part of the electronics hobby just became a bit more costly.
Without knowing your level of practical experience assembling a circuit from a schematic diagram that calls upon quite a few practical skills & what sorts of tools & test equipment you have access to, it’s awkward to answer your question about the tubes you have that have become what sounds like shelf occupiers.
They would be an audio amplifier (with a couple of additional tubes) & you mention a preamp (but your posted link to the info has been compromised in your post).
The CV-181-Z & 6SN7 are both dual triodes in fact i see some info they are equivalent which means they one could be substituted for the other… And the 5U4 is a twin diode for use as fullwave rectifier. I also note the CV-181-Z is some what specific to high end HiFi that Audiophiles would tend to use & TBH I wouldn’t personally being using them for a home DIY as a 1st project! Perhaps look to selling them on eBay etc & then use the funds to build your project?
The 6SN7 is a common enough workhorse often in audio circuits as phase splitter for a push pull output amp. The 5U4 will always need it’s own 5V filament feed from the Mains power transformer so immediately it becomes specific yet you can do the same with modern semiconductor diodes at a much more lower cost.
So as a retired, 50+yrs career electronics tech/engineer i have to admit this set of tubes have a more obvious use as an audio amplifier & would all find a buyer should you chose to on-sell them. I you are still interested in DIY using tubes specially and much of the time the trend is to create an audio amplifier for that famous ‘warm sound’ then there is a limitless level of info on the subject. Check video #86 to #92 for MCL on converting a transistor practice electric guitar amp to a vacuum tube one. This will reveals what’s needed working with tubes in a project & how it can use really quite low cost tubes.
I hope this sort of helps answer your question.
@peteb2 Your thoughtful reply is very on point, I think. I think I will consider selling some of them, and look into some pet projects to develop my knowledge using the others.
I’m retired and working on my electronics knowledge (e.g, MCUs, smd soldering, PCB fabrication, electronics theory). I’m always looking for broken down amps to work on. 🙂