My 100 Watt Kit Build Journal

[FourT6and2]

This arrived today. Metro 100 watt 1959 Super Lead kit. I opted for the Mercury Magnetics transformers. I went with the O100JM-S, 2" stack output tranny and the regular Mercury power tranny that comes with the kit. Sozo caps and all that other good stuff. Here's a teaser while I finish uploading the rest of the photos from today:



(I guess I'll have to resize my photos in the future, because this forum is laaaaaaaaaame-sauce)

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 3241hn.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[FourT6and2]

These suckers are like twice the size of the regular trannies. So I had make new mounting holes in the chassis. That was a pain in the ass...







http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 3244c1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[FourT6and2]

Small update today. Wired up the PT Heater to V7, Heater Center Tap, Bias Ground, Filter Caps' ground and resistors, and the power tubes' ground bias resistor thingamabobers. It's going slow, but I'll get there.

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 326tiw.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 326tp5.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 326tqc.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[FourT6and2]

Heaters are done. That was the biggest pain in the ass ever. I mean... I'd rather have a few teeth knocked out from a coked-out, c-section infested stripper at the Clermont Lounge than wire heaters again. And those of you familiar with Atlanta know that's some serious shit.

For serious. Took like 2.5/3 hours. Fuck.

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 328w5a.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 328wij.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OnTheFritz]

Heaters are a PITA, not my fave part of a build.
Looking at your pics you did a great job, especially if it's your first time!

[FourT6and2]

Heaters are a PITA, not my fave part of a build.
Looking at your pics you did a great job, especially if it's your first time!

Thanks! I built a Champ clone a number of years ago. That was my first time, but that thing only had one power tube... So it wasn't anywhere near as bad as wiring seven sockets... I wish I had been able to do a neater job. But the wire just doesn't want to hold its shape. Maybe I should have used Teflon wire instead? Or even cloth wire.

[demonufo]

I must be sick. I actually enjoy taking time over the heaters.

[FourT6and2]

I must be sick. I actually enjoy taking time over the heaters.

I believe that's called sadomasicism.

[demonufo]

You could have a point, there!

[FourT6and2]

Another small update:

Wired up the output transformer primaries.

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 32bt8l.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Drilled the impedance selector mounting holes, mounted the rear faceplate, wired up the output transformer secondaries and the output jacks.

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 32btf6.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 32btgw.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's all until probably Sunday night or early next week.

[Roe]

added comments in thegearpage thread (about twisting secondaries and keeping them away from primaries in order to avoid oscillation)

[FourT6and2]

added comments in thegearpage thread (about twisting secondaries and keeping them away from primaries in order to avoid oscillation)

Thanks, responded in that thread.



Power section is done! (at least as the sockets go)! This part was actually kinda fun. Wasn't stressful like the filament wiring. I was able to sort of relax and enjoy getting everything super neat (hopefully).

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 32dc2z.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 32dcdf.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 32dchi.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 32dcld.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[FourT6and2]

Lots of progress today! Power switch, standby switch, power transformer, fuses, pilot light, filter caps, bias supply and all that other good stuff. This part was really fun. The instructions said this part would be crazy hard and intensive. But I found it MUCH easier than wiring the filaments. The way I chose to route the wires is slightly different than how it's usually done. I hope I don't have any noise issues. I've seen some of the runs from the switches to the fuses twisted like the heaters. But the instructions didn't say to do that. And my power transformer has a different layout than what people usually use, so I couldn't really twist them together. I guess we'll see what happens when I finally fire her up.

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 32ffzj.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/ ... 32fg7s.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[FourT6and2]

Turret board is in! I've decided not continue until I get some more wire-ties. I had to remove a few to rewire the power section to modern standards so I don't die. And I've added a few ground wires (I'm doing a hybrid style of grounding - check out the pots). So, I'm not going to go any further so I can tidy everything up first. And it'll give everybody a chance to look it over and see if anything is wrong. I don't want to have to pull the board up.

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 32jef0.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/ ... 32jelc.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[demonufo]

Personally I prefer doing the board outside of the amp. Installing flyleads, then components, then installing in amp. First pots, then tube sockets. Many guys do the tube sockets first though.

One time when loading a board inside an amp (on an eyelet board) I accidentally poked a bit of solder straight through to the chassis. Switched it on, and a big buzzy sparking hum. Couldn't see it for looking until I pulled the board out.