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LOW BIAS READING MM RD112-100

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Mark Terry (fm711)
Username: fm711

Registered: 02-2012
Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 - 01:31 pm:   

Music Man 112 RD- 100. I had broken a 6L6GC and bought replacement tubes (Electro-Harmonix) and an AMP-HEAD MPD bias tester to to check the bias and plate voltage. The plate voltage showed 630 volts but the tubes only showed 5mV (actual 5mA, since the Amp-head bias checker uses a 10 Megohm high-voltage resistor). Is such a low reading adjustable with the bias adjustment or indicative of another problem? The amp does seem to work. (AMP-Head thought there might be a burned out screen grid or no cathode current due to the high plate voltage. But, from what I've read here, the plate voltage sounds in the ballpark or even a bit low?)
Mike Kaus (mm210)
Username: mm210

Registered: 05-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 02:50 pm:   

those amps have the SS driver board so you should be measuring the cathode current across the resistors on the driver board as outlined in the SS driver section of the adjustments section on this site.
Lars Verholt (lmv)
Username: lmv

Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 07:58 pm:   

fwiw, the bias current is supposed to be minimum 6 and change mA (25mV across 3.9ohms). With a scope you can adjust it until crossover disappears, then check what the idle voltage actually is.

In the 'Hi' position, the plate voltage should be 715V-60V=655V


Sincerely,
Lars Verholt