How to find out voltage drop of different rectifiers?

[Tim]

Lately, I have found many tube-o-philes in HK have been swapping
5U4G/U52, 5AR4/GZ34, 53KU/U54, GZ37 and even 5Y3/U50 and 5V4/GZ32 as if
they are all the same.

While there are differences in terms of max plate volatge, and heater
current, I understand they also differ in terms of voltage drop for the
B+ as due to the difference between direct heating and indirect heating
as well as plate resistance.

The on-line tube database contain only limited information on voltage
drop. Does anyone has detail on this for the tubes mentioned.

Tim

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

[adri...@my-deja.com]

In article <8u85q7$o98$1...@nnrp1.deja.com>,

The best source of information is the software program PSU designer II
by Ben Duncan. It has a list of rectifiers (both vacuum state and
solid state) that you can substitute into a circuit. The program then
simulates the circuit and displays the voltage vs. time or current vs.
time plot as a graph. You can measure the voltage and current at
different points of the circuit. You can also add power resistors, or
change the value of your choke to achieve the desired steady state DC
voltage (for example, if you want to use a GZ34 instead of a 5U4).

You can download it at http://duncanamps.simplenet.com/