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[AMPS] Safety resistor

To: <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [AMPS] Safety resistor
From: measures@vcnet.com (measures)
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 15:14:26 -0700
>
>Vic Rosenthal wrote:
>>
>>In the common circuit used for GG triode amplifiers that separates the B- 
from
>>ground in order to allow for convenient plate and grid current metering, 
there
>>is a 'safety resistor' from B- to ground.  
>>
>>Most designs seem to use a value like 10 or 20 ohms.  As G3sek
>><http://www.ifwtech.demon.co.uk/g3sek/> points out, if you use the 'voltmeter
>>method' to measure grid current, the high value of the shunt resistor 
requires 
>a
>>higher value for the safety resistor (he suggests 1000 ohms) to keep the grid
>>metering accurate.
>>
>>My question is:  What malfunction is this 'safety resistor' protecting us
>>against?  What could happen if it were omitted or opened in service?
>
>The resistor is there to keep the B-minus rail somewhere close to ground
>(chassis) potential, even if the high voltage supply is operated
>separately from the rest of the amplifier. 
>
>Without it, the whole rectifier/capacitor stack would be completely
>floating with respect to chassis, ......

Only if one inadvertently forgets to connect the grid-current meter shunt 
R between gnd and the positive side of the anode-current meter shunt.   


-  Rich..., 805.386.3734, www.vcnet.com/measures.  


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