The MAXI-MATCHER...a review.
Whole Lotta Tom
Lord Valve wrote:
> Lord Valve Speaketh:
> It's not often that I review a piece of testgear...but this
SNIP-ola.
And here we have th' Lord of Valve demonstrating once again what a dick
he is. More useless BS, right Caraudiomikehuntdicklessguy?
BTW, Lord, didn't I read that the Mho was renamed the Seimans? No, I am
not refering to that dress.
Thanks for the review.
Lord Valve
It's not often that I review a piece of testgear...but this
about owning one. The "Maxi-Matcher" digital tube tester
(from Maxi-Test, 6920 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 135, Seattle,
WA 98115; phone 206-363-9915, or contact Allen Kaatz, at
a...@aa.net) has become my number-one matching rig...replacing
a whole table-top full of stuff I used to use for this
purpose, including 4 meters, two tube testers (one Hikock,
one Eico) a modified Laney AOR 100 chassis, and a Variac
(OK, I'm still usin' the Variac, but more about that later)
and some other odds and ends. The Maxi-Matcher is *small*...
about the same size as a medium phone book; 12-1/2" X 8-1/2"
and only 2-1/4" thick. It weighs around 10-12 pounds. It's
a good-lookin' little gadget, too...the control panel is
intelligently designed, and it's a breeze to operate. (My 12
year old daughter learned to run it in less than 10 minutes.)
Some of you have already purchased tubes from me that were
matched on this device. It has 5 octal sockets...four for
testing/matching, and one marked "Short Circuit Test."
I also ordered a set of four adaptors, which allow me to
test EL84s; other adaptors for use with the 7591A and other
non-6L6/EL34-based tubes are available.
Everything you need to know to operate the Maxi-Matcher is
printed right on the front panel. There's a chart (all the
graphics are nicely silk-screened in a tasty maroon color,
against a cream white background) which lists the tube types,
and details the settings necessary to test each type.
There are also some "acceptable" current and transconductance
ranges listed, which I don't entirely agree with. (I think
that the folks who developed the Maxi really didn't have
enough representative examples on hand of all the different
tubes listed when they were brainstorming the device, since
I've found many tubes in the course of the matching process
which fell outside the listed ranges and still performed
flawlessly when installed in actual guitar amps.)
Tube types listed on the front panel are 6L6, 5881, EL34,
6550, EL84, 7027, and 6V6. There are four rotary switches,
a rocker-type power switch, and a 4-digit LED readout with
LARGE characters (5/8" tall) that can be easily read even
under bright lights. Two plate voltages are available:
400 and 325, selected by a rotary switch (which also has
an "off" position.) 5 bias voltages (-60, -48, -36, -24,
and -12) are selected by another rotary switch; this one
(understandably) has no "off" position. Two more rotaries
round out the control compliment; one selects test sockets
one through four, and the other switches the LED display
between the plate current and transconductance readings. All
of the switches have that really positive "snappy" feel that
goes with quality test gear. (This gizmo ain't cheap...
$500, and the EL84 adaptors are extra, too...) Plate current
is displayed in milliamps, with one digit to the right of the
decimal point. Of course, even with well-warmed-up tubes,
there is considerable last-digit jitter; for matching purposes,
however, this is not a problem. (The difference between 20.5
mA and 20.9 mA is completely inconsequential, in any amplifier
you're likely to run into.) Transconductance is displayed in
"Deci-mhos," which (I think) is Allen Kaatz's way of saying
"We put the decimal point in a strange place, for some reason."
Again, this doesn't matter, for matching purposes...2.37
decimhos is every bit as useful a figure as 2370 micromhos.
(At least, I *think* that's how it works out...) Again, there
is some last-digit jitter when taking this reading.
When screening a whole pile of 'raw' tubes, it's always a given
that a few will be defective; the Maxi-Matcher has a slick
way of dealing with this...a circuit they call a "Smart Fuse"
will shut down the plate supply if the current rises above
140 mA. A red LED lights up when this happens. "Remove
bad tube to reset" is the marking by this LED; in actual use,
I found the circuit to be a little on the ambitious side. It
occasionally activates when switching from one test socket to
another; possibly a transient is generated during switching
which 'fools' the circuit into thinking a short exists. It
works just fine when you smack a tube to test for shorts,
though...instead of blowing the HT fuse or smoking a screen
resistor (like my homebrew modified Laney chassis does) when
a tube croaks, it just lights up the protect LED. Nifty!
One of the five octal sockets is marked "Short Circuit Test,"
and it has two red LEDs which will light (or just one of them,
depending on what's shorted inside the tube) when a shorted
tube is plugged in. The one-page dopesheet that comes with
the Maxi doesn't state which leakage paths are actually tested
by this socket, but it does say that it checks for leakage of
"up to 10 K-ohms resistance."
In actual use, I found that I preferred to test Tesla 6L6s
and Sovtek 5881s with a bias voltage of -36 rather than the
specified -48, as the current readings I was obtaining with
the higher bias were all rather low. I prefer to stress the
tubes a bit when I'm testing, anyway...after all, the guys
who buy 'em are gonna thrash the crap out of 'em, right?
On the other hand, NOS Philips 7581As, Svetlana 6L6GCs, and
the new Sovtek 6L6WXT+ all gave usable readings with the
bias set to -48. ALL the 6550s (NOS GE, Svetlanas, old
Sovteks, and the new Sovtek 6550WE) liked the specified -48
bias voltage, and all of the other types listed on the front
panel tested best with the recommended settings. The 'factory'
specs listed for the various types were 400 volts plate (with
the exception of the EL84, specified at 325) and the following
bias voltages were recommended: 6L6 = -48, 5881 = -48, EL34
= -36, 6550 = -48, EL84 = -12, 7027 = -48, and 6V6 = -36.
I took the bottom plate off (a fairly thick steel piece) for
a peek under the hood; I found a double-sided hand-soldered
PCB, with the parts accessible without board removal. Aside
from the 40-pin (or so) display-driver chip, nothing strange
presented itself...a couple of TO-220 stye regulators, a few
diodes, an IRF380 mosfet power transistor, an LF-353 opamp,
and an RC4558. Four trimmers, all unmarked. The usual
resistors and caps. I only saw one 'added' (tack-soldered)
capacitor, so the board was evidently well thought out before
it went into production. The sockets appear to be first-rate
parts; it does look like it'll be a bit of a job to replace
them when the time comes, though. Overall, the Maxi is built
like a tank. HOWEVER...
Lord Valve Bitcheth:
Yeah, I got a bitch...the HV and bias supplies are UNREGULATED.
This puts the test readings at the mercy of line fluctuations.
Allen says they will offer an upgrade for the older units (and
a factory-installed option for the newer ones) which will
include regulated supplies. For now, I have to "ride gain" on
my Variac, making sure that the incoming AC line is dead-on
120 VAC. (I've got one of my Flukes set up to monitor the line,
where I can see it easily.) Since I had to do this with my old
rig, I'm used to the procedure...but I'll sure be glad when the
upgrade is available. Mr. Kaatz mentioned that the folks at
Vacuum Tube Valley tested some of the unregulated units, and
that they "didn't find this to be a problem." Perhaps they
don't match 'em as tightly as I do...or perhaps they didn't
consider that one might need to match tubes from a new batch
to some from the last batch...three months later, when the AC
line is 5 volts lower or 3 volts higher. At any rate, this is
a shortcoming that I can deal with (for now) while I wait for
the upgrade to come online.
The Nitty-Gritty:
At $500 a crack (plus an estimated $150 for the regulated HV
supply upgrade, plus whatever adaptors may be required) this
is not a toy for the hobbyist or amateur tech. For a high-end
audio shop, or a small tube-supplier like me, it's the best
damn thing since sliced bread. Larger tech shops might want
to own this, too...buying tubes in bulk and saving the matching
fees will pay for this unit quickly. BTW, there is also a
larger unit available that loads 25 tubes at a time...but it
gives only current readings and no transconductance info.
Bottom line: I LOVE MY MAXI-MATCHER!! And, no...I don't get
a nickle if you buy one...I hadda pay for mine like any other
slob. Dammit. :)
Lord Valve
Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and request a
tube catalog. I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes. Good prices, fast service.
"I'm not an asshole, but I *play* one on the Internet." - Lord Valve
KCA NOS Tubes
Thanks for that! I'm now convinced that I've gotta have one.
I'm a little surprised that there are no chokes or tranny's (output
load) in there. I contemplated building one of these (without the
digital part) and realized (incorrectly?) that using resistive plate
loads (with load values like 5K or so) would create such voltage drops
that the plate voltages would be way lower than desired (eg. 400VB+ -
(50mA X 5K= 150V). Hmmm, could this mean that B+ is WAY up there? Or
does it mean that the plate load resistances are very low? Does it mean
I have no idea what I'm talking about? (most likely! :-)
Anyway, mine wouldn't have had the Gm measurement in it so I'd still be
doing a 2 stage matching process (using a tube tester to measure Gm).
If you dial in the variac closely, are your day to day readings pretty
repeatable?
Thanks for the great review!
Mike
KCA NOS Tubes
http://www.erols.com/bluestat/
TubeGuy
> Thanks for that! I'm now convinced that I've gotta have one.
>
> I'm a little surprised that there are no chokes or tranny's (output
> load) in there. I contemplated building one of these (without the
> digital part) and realized (incorrectly?) that using resistive plate
> loads (with load values like 5K or so) would create such voltage drops
> that the plate voltages would be way lower than desired (eg. 400VB+ -
> (50mA X 5K= 150V). Hmmm, could this mean that B+ is WAY up there? Or
> does it mean that the plate load resistances are very low?
>
match static current drain. I built a home brew tube matcher and did not
use plate load resistors. I used a big-ass tranny with adjustable bias and
plate supplies. I match transconductance on a separate Hickok
539C tube tester.
I have found that as long as I use a variac (as Lord Valve stateth) to control
the AC line voltage, my standing current measurements are repeatable.
My thanks to the Lord for an excellent, informative review.
Best regards.
TubeGuy
ark
interested to visit the Maxi-Test website at
http://www.aa.net/maxitest
Al
Scott Hinman
> For a high-end
> audio shop, or a small tube-supplier like me, it's the best
^???^
> damn thing since sliced bread.
Ain't no diet in the world gonna make that statement true.
Scott H.
Lord Valve
<ashi...@chem.ucalgary.ca> writes:
>
>Lord Valve fibbed:
>
>> For a high-end
>> audio shop, or a small tube-supplier like me, it's the best
>> damn thing since sliced bread.
>
> Scott H.
Lord Valve Starveth:
Actually, I recently found out I've got type II (adult-onset)
diabetes...the wages of 50 years of dietary sin. Having resolved
to kick most of my own ass off, I am in the process of losing
100 pounds. 24 of them have disappeared since August 5. All
I can say at this juncture is, I WANT SOME FUCKING PIE!!
And a goddamn milkshake. BTW, diet Coke tastes like shit.
Lord Valve
Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and request a
tube catalog. I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes. Good prices, fast service.
"Ninety percent of everything is CRAP." - Sturgeon's Law
Mark or Cyndi Van Ditta
> Lord Valve Starveth:
> Actually, I recently found out I've got type II (adult-onset)
> diabetes...the wages of 50 years of dietary sin. Having resolved
> to kick most of my own ass off, I am in the process of losing
> 100 pounds. 24 of them have disappeared since August 5. All
> I can say at this juncture is, I WANT SOME FUCKING PIE!!
> And a goddamn milkshake. BTW, diet Coke tastes like shit.
>
I can emphasize with you on this one. I have diabetes on both sides of
my family; so, I have had to watch my weight for the better part of the
thirty-seven and half years I have been on the face of the Earth. There
is nothing like watching a member of one's extended family have their
legs amputated, because of lack of circulation, to motivate one to
exercise and watch their weight. My mom is a type II, insulin-taking
diabetic (my grandmother was also, and died from a toxic reaction to
insulin), and has lost quite a bit of feeling in her hands and feet.
All I can say is to take it one day at time. In time, you will adjust
to your new diet. I also recommend that you try to get one hour of
physical exercise (walking is fine) in three times a week.
Take care of yourself diabetes is a serious problem!
Mark
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Scott Hinman
> Lord Valve Starveth:
> Actually, I recently found out I've got type II (adult-onset)
> diabetes...the wages of 50 years of dietary sin. Having resolved
> to kick most of my own ass off, I am in the process of losing
> 100 pounds. 24 of them have disappeared since August 5. All
> I can say at this juncture is, I WANT SOME FUCKING PIE!!
> And a goddamn milkshake. BTW, diet Coke tastes like shit.
Really sorry to hear that. Best of luck with it. (24 pounds
is pretty impressive. Good on you .. er .. I mean good off you).
Take care of yourself.
Scott H.
Sisco.
difference....l.v
Lord Valve wrote:
> In <6tecqj$i...@ds2.acs.ucalgary.ca> Scott Hinman
> <ashi...@chem.ucalgary.ca> writes:
> >
> >Lord Valve fibbed:
> >
> >> For a high-end
> >> audio shop, or a small tube-supplier like me, it's the best
> > ^???^
> >> damn thing since sliced bread.
> >
> >Ain't no diet in the world gonna make that statement true.
> > Scott H.
>
> Lord Valve Starveth:
> Actually, I recently found out I've got type II (adult-onset)
> diabetes...the wages of 50 years of dietary sin. Having resolved
> to kick most of my own ass off, I am in the process of losing
> 100 pounds. 24 of them have disappeared since August 5. All
> I can say at this juncture is, I WANT SOME FUCKING PIE!!
> And a goddamn milkshake. BTW, diet Coke tastes like shit.
>
> Lord Valve
> Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
> Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and request a
> tube catalog. I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
> current-production vacuum tubes. Good prices, fast service.
>
tho...@integracom.net
ALL diet soda tastes like shit. Learn to love sun tea.
Mike
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum
Brewergart
Zinger makes great iced tea!
Cheers,
Tim Armstrong
Chief Zymurgist - Atlanta BeerGarten, Newport News, Virginia
Mm9775
"Sport Tea" is nice, too, though no match for the "Mill Hill Kool-Aid".
The Twin sounds great. Thanks "Big Guy"
Shooters,
Mike
Ned Carlson
>In actual use, I found that I preferred to test Tesla 6L6s
>and Sovtek 5881s with a bias voltage of -36 rather than the
>specified -48, as the current readings I was obtaining with
>the higher bias were all rather low.
Agreed, I test 'em at 400V HT & 30V bias
on my AVO. (Cost me 20 quid, courtesy of HM
Ministry of Defence)
Let 'em get nice & toasty.
>Lord Valve Bitcheth:
>Yeah, I got a bitch...the HV and bias supplies are UNREGULATED.
>This puts the test readings at the mercy of line fluctuations.
>Allen says they will offer an upgrade for the older units (and
>a factory-installed option for the newer ones) which will
>include regulated supplies. For now, I have to "ride gain" on
>my Variac, making sure that the incoming AC line is dead-on
>120 VAC.
Heck, Willie, I'd think you could find a surplus Sola
CV xfmr at a hamfest that would fix that problem in a jiffy.
Ned Carlson Triode Electronics "where da tubes are!"
2225 W Roscoe Chicago, IL, 60618 USA
ph 773-871-7459 fax 773-871-7938
12:30 to 8 PM CT, (1830-0200 UTC) 12:30-5 Sat, Closed Wed & Sun
http://www.triodeel.com
Your Start Page for Tube and Tube Amp info on the net...
http://www.triodeel.com/tlinks.htm
Lord Valve
>>and Sovtek 5881s with a bias voltage of -36 rather than the
>>specified -48, as the current readings I was obtaining with
>>the higher bias were all rather low.
>
>on my AVO. (Cost me 20 quid, courtesy of HM
>Ministry of Defence)
>Let 'em get nice & toasty.
>
>
>>Yeah, I got a bitch...the HV and bias supplies are UNREGULATED.
>>This puts the test readings at the mercy of line fluctuations.
>>Allen says they will offer an upgrade for the older units (and
>>a factory-installed option for the newer ones) which will
>>include regulated supplies. For now, I have to "ride gain" on
>>my Variac, making sure that the incoming AC line is dead-on
>>120 VAC.
>
>CV xfmr at a hamfest that would fix that problem in a jiffy.
>
>
>Ned Carlson Triode Electronics "where da tubes are!"
>2225 W Roscoe Chicago, IL, 60618 USA
>ph 773-871-7459 fax 773-871-7938
>12:30 to 8 PM CT, (1830-0200 UTC) 12:30-5 Sat, Closed Wed & Sun
>http://www.triodeel.com
>Your Start Page for Tube and Tube Amp info on the net...
>http://www.triodeel.com/tlinks.htm
>
I haven't had good luck with Solas...all the ones I ever
saw used a clickety-clack relay to jump taps up and down
for regulation, and the output was too bumpy. As far
as I can tell, they have to be loaded at or near their
current rating to work, too. A one-volt bump on the input
side of a HV supply turns into a big rise in plate voltage...
not that troublesome in a guitar amp, but it plays hell with
test instruments. A Furman line regulator is a little better,
since it employs a zero-crossing tap-switching circuit, but it
regulates in 2-volt steps, as I recall. STILL too bumpy.
Lord Valve
Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and request a
tube catalog. I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes. Good prices, fast service.
"I got the chop...I'll never get popped." - Tower of Power
nobody
> ALL diet soda tastes like shit. Learn to love sun tea.
Actually, you have to be careful with sun tea. I just heard the other
day that sometimes tea has bacteria in it that isn't killed when brewing
this way (even in Arizona!!!).
Bummer on the diabetes, tho, LV. Good luck with the diet.
Dutch
Brewergart
bacteria-friendly temperatures. Just put the bags in the jug full of water, and
put in your fridge. And you thought I just made beer!
Cheers,
Tim
Edwin Hurwitz
> In <6tecqj$i...@ds2.acs.ucalgary.ca> Scott Hinman
> <ashi...@chem.ucalgary.ca> writes:
> >
> >Lord Valve fibbed:
> >
> >> For a high-end
> >> audio shop, or a small tube-supplier like me, it's the best
> > ^???^
> >> damn thing since sliced bread.
> >
> >Ain't no diet in the world gonna make that statement true.
> > Scott H.
>
> Lord Valve Starveth:
> Actually, I recently found out I've got type II (adult-onset)
> diabetes...the wages of 50 years of dietary sin. Having resolved
> to kick most of my own ass off, I am in the process of losing
> 100 pounds. 24 of them have disappeared since August 5. All
> I can say at this juncture is, I WANT SOME FUCKING PIE!!
> And a goddamn milkshake. BTW, diet Coke tastes like shit.
>
Does this mean that we'll have to call you "Skinny Willie?" :-) I am sorry
to hear of your condition. If you put half the integrity that you put into
your tech work into your health, I'm sure you'll be fine!
I missed your original post on the Maxi-Matcher. Do you still have it?
Edwin
Ned Carlson
>regarding sun tea- refrigerater tea works just as well, and at less
>bacteria-friendly temperatures. Just put the bags in the jug full of water, and
>put in your fridge.
Same here...throw some round Tetley teabags in a jug o' hot water,
put it in the fridge for a few hours.
Tea that's sat in the sun too long tastyes sour, anyway.
And tea or coffee made with water that's too alkali tastes like crap.
>And you thought I just made beer!
And you thought I just *drank* it..
dave slagle
> since it employs a zero-crossing tap-switching circuit, but it
> regulates in 2-volt steps, as I recall. STILL too bumpy.
wheeeellll then...
as I hear it... a simple... ugh solid state circuit could be devised
in a neat little package to constantly monitor and adjust the line
voltage... sooo how do we do this??? what we really want is a little
troll to sit and watch our variac out and constantly adjust it so it
is null...but alas trolls requre hourly wage.. and still spend 90% of
their time neglecting their work to surf....
in any event... aside from implamentation... how hard would it be to
connect a bigass variac to geared motor and then to a simple
adjustment circuit to provide the nuts on 117V???
a good friend asked me about such a circuit... the bigass variac being
the key... since this was for a delicate tubed circuit... and even the
shift of a couple line volts changed his art to something arcane...
I agree with the bigger the variac the less it effects my sound... and
suggested the actual driving circut would be simple, but the putting
in a box would suck...
I have seen the switched tap autoformers... they are good.. but how
about one step better???
who knows maybe the switched ones...even at 2V incraments... will
sound better than a wiper at the precise voltage...
i understand several cans o worms have been mentioned... personally I
find it hard to swallow that 2V in line variation will ever be an
issue.. (sound..not safety wise) but then again...
latr
dabe
Lord Valve
writes:
Lord Valve Speaketh:
Next time, junior...try *reading* the post, instead of
jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
"Variac." No sound (or amplification) equipment was
even being discussed.
Lord Valve
Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and request a
tube catalog. I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes. Good prices, fast service.
"Ninety percent of everything is CRAP." - Sturgeon's Law
Alan Thompson
2-3 hours and you won't die.
A.T.
Alan Thompson
pitcher, makes great ice tea in about ten minutes, no waiting for the sun to do
it's thing.
A.T.
Brewergart wrote:
> regarding sun tea- refrigerater tea works just as well, and at less
> bacteria-friendly temperatures. Just put the bags in the jug full of water, and
Jamie
>Next time, junior...try *reading* the post, instead of
>jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
>"Variac." No sound (or amplification) equipment was
>even being discussed.
Weel, Lord Valve, if you had bothered to read *his* post, you would see how
off base your complaint is. In fact, what he was discussing has everything
to do with tight line voltage regulation, which BTW is NOT EVEN the subject
of this thread (refer to subject line for clarification). So, YOU are just
as off topic as he is in the context of the original thread, but when you
shift the context to the latter voltage regulation discussion, he is right
on the mark, regardless of what type of equipment he was stating he had
experience in using with a variac.
>try *reading* the post, instead of
>jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
>"Variac."
Honestly. What a bunch of shit. You do realize that your post could not be
more textbook an example of a knee-jerk reaction, don't you? I'll bet your
knee isn't the only thing you...... Never mind......
Why are you so eager to show your ass and be rude and condescending to a
person who just contributed to a thread you appear to have an interest in?
Do you feel yourself to be so superior that other people's suggestions can
be written off with such a smug stroke of the pen? If so, whose posts do
you read here, your own? Or mabye it's just that we neophytes have
absoutlely nothing that could be of any possible use to 'Lord Valve', who is
the sole keeper of all that is right and good....
If you guys are after clean line power, shit go down to the computer store
and buy yourself an APC Smart-UPS and run everything off it. Pure sine wave
output, shitloads of filtering, and real-time voltage regulation even if the
line voltage is +/- 15 volts of normal. And if you get a bad brownout, or
worse blackout, *click* over to battery mode. I run my entire system of a
Smart-UPS 1250. Quite a nice piece of gear if I do say so myself, but they
ain't cheap. I think mine cost like $900 new. Another nice feature of the
UPS approach is that via a 9 pin serial connection and some software for
your computer, you get real-time displays of both input and output power
quality including:
Frequency in HZ down to 1/10 of a hz
Voltage in
Voltage out
Highest voltage input experienced
Lowest voltage input experienced
Same as above for output
Not to mention the fact that the P.C. can log to a file any and all
power events on the UPS, as well as just periodic logs
And, if you needed ABSOLUTLEY stable power for a short period of time,
you could deliberately run the UPS off battery for a while. My UPS can run
for up to 30-40 minutes with a small load, time decreases with increasing
load...... Totally switched and filtered power, and completely computer
regulated, to boot.
Worth the money, IMO.
Regards,
Jamie Campbell
>
>"Ninety percent of everything is CRAP." - Sturgeon's Law
>
Good advice on your sig line. I'll keep it in mind when I read future posts
by you.
John
nobody wrote in message <35FECF...@primenet.com>...
>tho...@integracom.net wrote:
>> ALL diet soda tastes like shit. Learn to love sun tea.
>
>Actually, you have to be careful with sun tea. I just heard the other
>day that sometimes tea has bacteria in it that isn't killed when brewing
>this way (even in Arizona!!!).
You heard about that too heh? I remember that news story about two years
ago where channel whatever here in PHX went around and tested a bunch of the
tea in restaurants and found bukku lifeforms in a lot of them, apparently
way beyond the Food Police's acceptable standards.
john
john
Dave Slagle
>
> In <35FEEB...@earthlink.net> dave slagle <dsl...@earthlink.net>
> writes:
> >
> >> A Furman line regulator is a little better,
> >> since it employs a zero-crossing tap-switching circuit, but it
> >> regulates in 2-volt steps, as I recall. STILL too bumpy.
I replied....and am still interested in....
> >wheeeellll then...
>
a clever retort...
> Lord Valve Speaketh:
> Next time, junior...try *reading* the post, instead of
> jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
> "Variac." No sound (or amplification) equipment was
> even being discussed.
OK clown boy.....
does it matter???
my point was the viability of some sort of self monitoring power
supply...and my suggestion a self monitoring variac... that would solve
your dilemma wouldn't it...
I don't need nuys on line voltages, but apparently you do... so it was
merely a suggestion...
if such a thing were to be made... or rather a DIY article written... it
would be foolish to not worry about the sonic characteristics for
audio... like I said its not for me but...
and next time... take it private there is already enough BS in the
group without your words of wisdom...
and yes this is posted... since I am still interested in the possibility
of this type of circuit... I did alter the subject... so you won't be
confused...
dave
Sisco.
i love it aga still cruisin along after all these years ..
and ready fir flames theres smoke on the horison... bbq ....a brewin
wheres the hillbilly from them hills??? marc!!! ..
http://members.icanect.net/~sisco/
Jamie wrote:
> >Lord Valve Speaketh:
> >Next time, junior...try *reading* the post, instead of
> >jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
> >"Variac." No sound (or amplification) equipment was
> >even being discussed.
>
> Weel, Lord Valve, if you had bothered to read *his* post, you would see how
> off base your complaint is. In fact, what he was discussing has everything
> to do with tight line voltage regulation, which BTW is NOT EVEN the subject
> of this thread (refer to subject line for clarification). So, YOU are just
> as off topic as he is in the context of the original thread, but when you
> shift the context to the latter voltage regulation discussion, he is right
> on the mark, regardless of what type of equipment he was stating he had
> experience in using with a variac.
>
> >try *reading* the post, instead of
> >jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
> >"Variac."
>
Lord Valve
<j...@this.needs.to.be.cut.wwa.com> wrote it all down in a tear-stained
letter, to wit:
>>Lord Valve Speaketh:
>>Next time, junior...try *reading* the post, instead of
>>jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
>>"Variac." No sound (or amplification) equipment was
>>even being discussed.
>
>
>
>Weel, Lord Valve, if you had bothered to read *his* post, you would
see how
>off base your complaint is. In fact, what he was discussing has
everything
>to do with tight line voltage regulation, which BTW is NOT EVEN the
subject
>of this thread (refer to subject line for clarification). So, YOU are
just
>as off topic as he is in the context of the original thread, but when
you
>shift the context to the latter voltage regulation discussion, he is
right
>on the mark, regardless of what type of equipment he was stating he
had
>experience in using with a variac.
LV: Boo hoo...Not only do I know what the subject line is...I WROTE IT.
And the review which followed. I *knew* I shouldn't have
crossposted the damn thing to RAT...'cause of wankers just like
*you*. Oh, well...live and learn...
>
>
>>try *reading* the post, instead of
>>jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
>>"Variac."
>
>Honestly. What a bunch of shit. You do realize that your post could
not be
>more textbook an example of a knee-jerk reaction, don't you? I'll bet
your
>knee isn't the only thing you...... Never mind......
LV: Blow me, asswipe...as long as we're on this level...
>Why are you so eager to show your ass and be rude and condescending to
a
>person who just contributed to a thread you appear to have an interest
in?
LV: Like I said...I wrote the original review. Speaking of ass,
here ya go...
,,, ,,,,
..ooo*"""**ooooo .oo*""*ooo..
. oo*" "*o.oo*" "*o.
. o" 'o" "o
o o *o
.o o 'o
o o o.
o o o
o \o/ o
o --0-- o
o. /o\ .o
"o o o'"
oo o oo
oo. oo oo
'ooo. .oo. ooo
"o ""oo,, ,,oO-'Oo, ,,,,,,..oo"o
o. """""" oo """"" .o
'o oo o'
*o oo o
'o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
o o o
Try not to get too excited...
>Do you feel yourself to be so superior that other people's suggestions
can
>be written off with such a smug stroke of the pen? If so, whose posts
do
>you read here, your own? Or mabye it's just that we neophytes have
>absoutlely nothing that could be of any possible use to 'Lord Valve',
who is
>the sole keeper of all that is right and good....
LV: Jeez, what a putz. Quit cryin' in your beer and go read
alt.thermionic.wankers...while yer at it, put me in your
killfile, OK? If ya don't like 'em...DON'T READ 'EM!!
Lord Valve
Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and request a
tube catalog. I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes. Good prices, fast service.
Please, musicians only...NO AUDIOTS!!
Lord Valve
regurgitated the following pilobous upon the collective carpet of
AGA/RAT, thusly:
>
>Lord Clown wrote:
Wow, what a zinger! Clever boy!
>> In <35FEEB...@earthlink.net> dave slagle <dsl...@earthlink.net>
>> writes:
>> >
>> >> A Furman line regulator is a little better,
>> >> since it employs a zero-crossing tap-switching circuit, but it
>> >> regulates in 2-volt steps, as I recall. STILL too bumpy.
>
>I replied....and am still interested in....
>
>> >wheeeellll then...
>>
>
>> >as I hear it... a simple... ugh solid state circuit could be
devised
>> >in a neat little package to constantly monitor and adjust the line
>> >voltage... sooo how do we do this??? what we really want is a
little
>> >troll to sit and watch our variac out and constantly adjust it so
it
>> >is null...but alas trolls requre hourly wage.. and still spend 90%
of
>> >their time neglecting their work to surf....
Last time I checked, "null" meant "nothing, zero, or non-existent."
If you wish the AC line to be "null," a switch is probably a much
better (and much cheaper) alternative to a "bigass variac."
>
>> Lord Valve Speaketh:
>> Next time, junior...try *reading* the post, instead of
>> jerking your knee every time you see a buzzword like
>> "Variac." No sound (or amplification) equipment was
>> even being discussed.
>
WOW...twice in one post! These RATters are some seriously
heavy hitters, no?
>
>does it matter???
LV: Yeah, it does...'cause if you'd read the original review of
the Maxi-Matcher (which, incidentally, I am the author of)
you'd have seen that use of a Variac with this device is
considered a stopgap measure, in lieu of regulated plate,
screen, and bias supplies. The Maxi is a piece of *test
equipment*, and the audio qualities thereof don't count
for jack shit. I also mentioned that the Maxi would soon
be available with the regulation on-board, and that a
retrofit would be offered for existing units. DC regulation
is *not* an arcane science; the principles have been around
for many decades. Rube Goldberg devices consisting of motor-
driven "bigass variacs" are laughable in this context; even
with rock-solid AC input, a piece of testgear such as the Maxi
Matcher would still suffer from DC fluctuation on all three
supplies. The regulation in this case needs to be applied
where the action is...NOT on the primary side of the power
tranny. Duh.
>
>my point was the viability of some sort of self monitoring power
>supply...and my suggestion a self monitoring variac... that would
solve
>your dilemma wouldn't it...
repartee? Huh? Huh? Gosh, I certainly hope so...I wouldn't
feel right if I didn't fit in. 'Scuse me, I gotta go buy some
solid-platinum interconnects...)
>I don't need nuys on line voltages, but apparently you do... so it was
>merely a suggestion...
LV: Um...WTF are (or is) "nuys?" Someplace in California, yes? No?
These RAT characters are downright enigmatic...latr, dabe... (I think
I've got it...)
>
>if such a thing were to be made... or rather a DIY article written...
it
>would be foolish to not worry about the sonic characteristics for
>audio... like I said its not for me but...
>
>and next time... take it private there is already enough BS in the
>group without your words of wisdom...
LV: Awwww...yer killfile is busted, huh? You have my sympathy...did
you read the treatise I posted on OCNGMCD? (Obseesive-Compulsive News-
Group Mouse-Click Disorder.) It appears you are a victim...try
VERY hard not to click that mouse when you see my username, uh, "dabe."
It'll save you a lot of heartburn...
>
>and yes this is posted... since I am still interested in the
possibility
>of this type of circuit... I did alter the subject... so you won't be
>confused...
>
>dave
LV: Damn, and I thought *Jute* was a jerk...I should lurk RAT more
often...what a gas! Latr, dabe!
Lord Valve
Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and request a
tube catalog. I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes. Good prices, fast service.
Please, musicians only...NO AUDIOTS!
"I'm not an asshole, but I *play* one on the Internet." - Lord Valve
profrets
I gotta say, dude, it doesn't look that much smaller to
me......Hmmmm.......you aren't losin' all that weight off your Johnson, are
ya?
8^)
roy
Lord Valve
I ain't usin' it anymore, I'm makin' me own sodas with
fructose in 'em. I'll post a picture of my New Improved
Ass in a few months...
Lord Valve
Visit my website: http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/lord-valve/
Good tube FAQ for newbies. Click the e-mail link and request a
tube catalog. I specialize in top quality HAND-SELECTED NOS and
current-production vacuum tubes. Good prices, fast service.
"I'm not an asshole, but I *play* one on the Internet." - Lord Valve
Jamie
Most wanna-be flamerz gave up on ASSCII years ago. In case you thought that
you were the first to try it, you are! The first person in 10
years..........
I was looking forward to responding to you, to point out what a moron you
are, but after your last post, there isn't much left to point out. So,
carry on referring to yourself in the third person if it makes living with
yourself more tolerable. And since you are so increadibly fond of lower
anatomy, I hereby dub you "Lord Vulva"
l8r!
BTW, don't expect me to make this thread lamer than you and I already have.
If you are too silly to let this drop, then make it private e-mail.
Jamie Campbell
Ned Carlson
>>Heck, Willie, I'd think you could find a surplus Sola
>>CV xfmr at a hamfest that would fix that problem in a jiffy.
>Lord Valve Speaketh:
>I haven't had good luck with Solas...all the ones I ever
>saw used a clickety-clack relay to jump taps up and down
>for regulation, and the output was too bumpy.
Yeah, I'd agree..but doggone it, I used to have
some kind of Sola CV xfmr which I swear just had
some kind of capacitor(s) hanging off one side or the
other, not the relays. Had a cage on each side of the
xfmr.
The complaint I remember hearing about those kind of xfmrs
was that the output wasn't a clean sinewave.
Maybe someone who knows more about that type
of xfmr than I (maybe Steve Bench?) knows what the
details are on that gizmo.
But otherwise, you're right, they should've
regulated the PS anyway.
I used to have a big-ass 100 lb Lambda
with a mess o' 6L6's on the back that
with 500 ma, would've tested a whole
passel of tubes all at once..
Ron Bales
>
> Yeah, I'd agree..but doggone it, I used to have
> some kind of Sola CV xfmr which I swear just had
> some kind of capacitor(s) hanging off one side or the
> other, not the relays. Had a cage on each side of the
> xfmr.
> The complaint I remember hearing about those kind of xfmrs
> was that the output wasn't a clean sinewave.
> Maybe someone who knows more about that type
> of xfmr than I (maybe Steve Bench?) knows what the
> details are on that gizmo.
NOt an expert, but I know something about these pigs. They are basically a
low ratio step-up tranny that is designed to saturate at outputs over
120Vrms. They hang some big caps for filtering and I think loading. They
tend to put out a flattened waveform at anything above the minimum rated
input voltage (usually 90v). The regulation is entirely within the tranny,
no switching or wipers needed. The excess V turns into losses in the iron
- it simply distorts clipping the excess.
This output may be a problem depending on the type of rectifier and filter
in the equipment used. Most fullwave rectifiers like the flattened
waveform, less filtering - but higher frequency noise. It's a bit late for
my brain to work properly, but some filtered supplies will put out well
over the intended DC voltage when fed from a Sola, and I don't recall which
ones. Note that the actual power under the voltage curve isn't regulated
only the peak to peak voltage.
ROn
Lord Valve
<j...@this.needs.to.be.cut.wwa.com> pissed and moaned:
>ASSCII?
>
>Most wanna-be flamerz gave up on ASSCII years ago. In case you
thought that
>you were the first to try it, you are! The first person in 10
>years..........
>
>I was looking forward to responding to you, to point out what a moron
you
>are, but after your last post, there isn't much left to point out.
huh?
So,
>carry on referring to yourself in the third person if it makes living
with
>yourself more tolerable. And since you are so increadibly fond of
lower
>anatomy, I hereby dub you "Lord Vulva"
500 others... :) BTW, I prefer "Lard Valve," or sometimes
just plain "fatass" will do...
>
>l8r!
>
>BTW, don't expect me to make this thread lamer than you and I already
have.
>If you are too silly to let this drop, then make it private e-mail.
remember what I said about the mouse, son...try not to click
it when you see my username...BTW, dude...I got a solid teflon ass,
snappier folks than you have exhausted their supply of (what you
might consider) wit on it. If you're too dumb to figure out how your
killfile works, call my Mom and rat on me. Putz!
>
>Jamie Campbell
>
>
>
>
dst...@my-dejanews.com
postm...@triodeel.com wrote:
> But otherwise, you're right, they should've
> regulated the PS anyway.
> I used to have a big-ass 100 lb Lambda
> with a mess o' 6L6's on the back that
> with 500 ma, would've tested a whole
> passel of tubes all at once..
I have one of those giant Lambda regulated tube supplies, and 100 lbs.
probably isn't much of an exaggeration. I just about injured myself hauling
it from the hamfest out to my car.
Marc Ferguson
Lord Valve wrote:
> >Sheeee-itttttttt!
Hey its......L_V_I_S!
Kamchak Tuchuk
Lord Valves Inner Sphincter?