TRIWATT Builders Guide Ver. 3.7.docx
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................................................. 5
WARNING ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Please Read this Information Carefully................................................................................................................. 6
Version Control................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Guitar Amplifier Basics.................................................................................................................................................... 12
Distortion...................................................................................................................................................................... 13
General Amplifier Operation..................................................................................................................................... 15
Some DO NOTS......................................................................................................................................................... 15
Some DOs..................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Introduction to Vacuum Tubes and Common Terms ............................................................................................... 17
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Switches and wire......................................................................................................................................................... 20
Physical layout .............................................................................................................................................................. 20
Grounding..................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Insulated jacks .............................................................................................................................................................. 21
Minimizing transformer interference........................................................................................................................ 21
Wiring ............................................................................................................................................................................ 21
Assembling the amp ......................................................................................................................................................... 21
Before You Begin ........................................................................................................................................................ 21
Tools .............................................................................................................................................................................. 21
Soldering........................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Tube Pin Numbering .................................................................................................................................................. 22
Assembly Steps Summary................................................................................................................................................ 24
1. Install the Hardware................................................................................................................................................ 24
2 Wiring ......................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Grounding Scheme................................................................................................................................................. 28
3 Install Transformers................................................................................................................................................. 32
4 Power Supply Wiring ............................................................................................................................................... 33
Test the Power Transformer................................................................................................................................. 37
5 Turret Board Construction ..................................................................................................................................... 38
6 Connecting the Turret Board ................................................................................................................................. 40
7 Connecting the Turret Board to Controls............................................................................................................ 42
8 Output Transformer - Output Jacks ..................................................................................................................... 42
9 Input Jacks ................................................................................................................................................................. 45
Input to V1 .............................................................................................................................................................. 47
9 Final checkout........................................................................................................................................................... 48
10 Power Up................................................................................................................................................................. 49
WARNING ....................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Please Read this Information Carefully............................................................................................................... 54
Troubleshooting................................................................................................................................................................ 55
Hum ............................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Volume Test ................................................................................................................................................................. 55
Faulty tube..................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Severely unmatched output tubes in a push pull amplifier ................................................................................... 56
Faulty power supply filter caps .................................................................................................................................. 56
Faulty bias supply in fixed bias amplifiers................................................................................................................ 57
