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New kid on the block here: anyone has the dimensions for the completed uTracer6 board
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Ben
Nov 30, 2024, 12:18:35 AM11/30/24
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Hi guys,
I recently purchased a uTracer6 kit and joined this group. While waiting for the arrival of the kit, I want to be prepared for it. So I have a couple of questions that I really hope you experienced folks here can help me with:
1. Anyone has the dimensions for the complete uTracer6 board (Length x Width x Height) with all the tall capacitors and other components soldered in? I want to find a suitable case to hold the completed board, so I need to know the dimensions first.
2. I am not sure if the kit comes with banana jacks and plugs to manually connect tube sockets to the uTracker main board, if not, can any of you recommend some links to buy these banana jacks and plugs (preferably from Mouser or DigiKey for easiness to order).
3. Any external tube filament power supply you guys recommend (I believe prof. mentioned DP50V5A somewhere on his website)? If I want to test a 6336 tube which runs on 6.3V @ 5A filament, can I test it with the additional DP50V5A unit installed?
Thanks a lot!
- Ben
Never Mind
Dec 17, 2024, 7:47:20 PM12/17/24
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Ben
I would be happy to provide dimensions except it would require me to take my uTracer6 apart to do so. Sorry.
The DP50V5A looks like a very nice unit.
I like the current display as it will show you the heating of the tube filament by changing filament current .
When the filament current is fully stabilized you are pretty sure your tube is now thermally stable and ready for testing.
I watch filament current all the time during testing. If it after settling initially starts to vary or jumps that tube has likely got issues.
My only caution on the
DP50V5A
is switcher noise.
If there is too
much
switcher noise it may degrade the uTracer results by cross coupling into the grid of the tube under test.
I am not saying the
DP50V5A will not work as i have not tested it I just add the caution in case you run in to a noise issue later on.
In my case I used a
surplus computer
8A, 5V
linear power supply with a LT1083 regulator good for 7.5 amps.
It turned out it could provide 7 amps of current at up to 9 volts, it was such a over designed boat anchor.
As it is a
linear supply the output is very clean with no switcher noise to worry about.
Re:"
I am not sure if the kit comes with banana jacks and plugs"
No you have to get you own.
I used I think the following for the chassis banana jacks
Cinch Connectivity Solutions,
Banana Jack,
108-0902-001. They come in lots of colors so I color coded everything and are low cost.
For patch cable ends I think I used the following banana plugs, again they come in lots of colors also low in cost
Johnson / Cinch Connectivity Solutions,
Banana Plug
108-0307-001
and for the patch cable test leads themselves I used these cut in half so I got two 18" leads for the price of one as they cost a bit and are too long anyway.
By using the above color coded jacks I made the cables color coded on one end (the cut end) to make setup really easy.
Also very nice is the
Banana plugs built into the cable allows a second cable to be plugged in making stacking a connection easy.
Pomona,
Test Leads 36in. Banana Plug Patch Cord (Set),
B-36-02
Never Mind
Dec 17, 2024, 8:10:40 PM12/17/24
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Ben
One other thing on the
DP50V5A I just though about.
many tubes start up cold drawing about 1.5 to 2 times the finial
filament
current.
So a tube with a 5 amp filament may well draw 7.5A to 10A COLD.
This may become a issue with a 5 amp power supply getting the cold filament warmed up enough for the current to drop down to the 5 amps the power supply is capable of.
Will depend on how the power supply reacts to a over current situation.
It may work by slowing ramping up the voltage to allow the filament temperature to rise and have the current stay at or under 5 amps as it warms.
Or if the power supply has a current limit function just set it to 6.3 volts output with a set 5 amp current limit and then let the tube ramp up in temperature and voltage slowly.
Ambrose Clarke
Dec 18, 2024, 5:28:47 AM12/18/24
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You should be able get all the dimensions in a cad format from this 3d printable, or any similar.
For the banana plugs and sockets - I used this kit - super cheap at 10 euros total for all the plugs and sockets
I like the small size, and that you only need one row of sockets as you can clip the plugs together when you need two plugs in one socket
The only possible downside to this is there is an exposed screw on the side of each plug that some might consider an issue
And here is the ferrite beads I used - dont know if they are working well or not, hard to tell - but they are on - again amazon as the postage is next day.
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Martin Manning
Dec 18, 2024, 7:06:01 AM12/18/24
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Ben Wrote:
2. I am not sure if the kit comes with banana jacks and plugs to manually connect tube sockets to the uTracker main board, if not, can any of you recommend some links to buy these banana jacks and plugs (preferably from Mouser or DigiKey for easiness to order).
I used Pomona jacks and short 4" patch cords with stackable plugs from Mouser for my uT3+ build. An EL84 set up is shown in the photo below.
Ben Wrote:
3. Any external tube filament power supply you guys recommend (I believe prof. mentioned DP50V5A somewhere on his website)? If I want to test a 6336 tube which runs on 6.3V @ 5A filament, can I test it with the additional DP50V5A unit installed?
I would certainly test that power supply on the bench with a 6336 before committing to it. You want to be sure that it can supply the full 5A. If it limits to exactly 5A you'll be waiting a while for it to come up to the full heater voltage and you'll never know what the tube will draw if it's anything over 5A. I see many people using that unit successfully, but the typical maximum current required is the 3A for a 5U4. The good news is they are cheap enough to buy and try.
I use a small 3A bench top switching supply for heaters for complete flexibility. It is jacked in at the panel (red and black leads in the photo). I second the usefulness of monitoring heater current. I typically set the supply limit to ~1.5x rated current so the heater isn't abused on start-up.
Martin Manning
Dec 18, 2024, 7:12:47 AM12/18/24
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PS, on Ronald's web site he says: "The dimensions of the board are exactly 6x6 inch, or 152.4x152.4 mm."
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