Good tube literature

Hi, It was suggested to me a couple weeks ago on this forum to check my RCA receiving tube manual for some data I was looking for. Not only did I not have one, I didn't know such a thing existed! Well, after a little e-baying I now have two (a 1947 and a 1968). I wish I had known about these 8 months ago. What a wealth of practical down to earth tube data. I thought it might be helpful to have a thread where members could list literature that has been helpful to them. My list would go as follows.

Boozehound Labs Hi-Fi Primer
Valve Amplifiers Third Edition (Morgan Jones)
Principals of Power (Kevin O'Conner)

I've read more, but these stand out, what are some of your favorites? Jay

 

Hey!!!,
I'd add some...

Radiotron Designer's Handbook the smaller 3rd and the big red 4th.

and the super data site:
http://www.philipse.info/

cheers,
Douglas

 

hey-hey!!

subscription to this thread added! :thmbsp:

 

Check Pete Millett's website for more literature online and some excellent DIY projects for anyone from the novice to the expert.

http://www.pmillett.com/

(note: site seems to be down at the moment, but I'm sure -- I HOPE! -- it'll be back)

EDIT: In the meantime, you can see one of Pete's popular projects at:
http://www.diyforums.org/millett.html

 

I find it helps my understanding to read (and re-read!) the first section of the RCA Receiving Tube Manual called "Electrons, Electrodes and Electron Tubes". The discussion concisely progresses from the idea of an electron cloud around a heated element through the concept of a diode, triode, tetrode, pentode, etc.
I never took electronics classes in school (although I had the basic physics classes that taught about charge, Ohm's law, and the like), so this is greatly educational to me!

I like collecting odd & unusual tubes, and I have found Ludwell Sibley's "Tube Lore" book helpful for identifying rare & strange tubes, but while it gives some technical parameters (heater voltage, architecture, etc.) it is not really a technical manual. I like the historical data, though.

I also like looking at the old tube boxes, too, and there is a great website for that at:

http://www.geocities.com/rxtxtubes/pa01000.htm

I recently donated some boxes to the fellow running that site that fill in some gaps in his collection. Should be showing up there soon.

--Bob

 

I agree with reading the first section in the RCA manual. It really helpd me. The part on curves was finally understandable to me.

As for Franke Phillips, great site and great guy. I sent him some odd WWII tubes. He is a super nice guy.

 

This link isn't tube specific, it's general electronics training which includes tube info. The Navy does have a lot of experience in training electronics.

http://www.tpub.com/content/neets/

and here's a site with many different downloadable books on tubes, general electronics, radio, etc. This site could keep you busy for a looooooong time.

http://www.pmillett.com/tecnical_books_online.htm

 

Pete's site is back up, with more reference material on-line:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/tubediy/messages/101539.html

 

Damn, that is a good site Mark. I've got a lot of reading to do.

 

Pete's a great guy, too.

 

Yeah, looks a lot like the pmillett.com website that I posted the link to...without going thru AA...

 

yup, I had mentioned it in post #4 above, but the link was down over the weekend as Pete was migrating to a new server (per the AA post).

 

Here's a few that haven't been mentioned yet;

Glossary of common amplifier terms

http://www.aikenamps.com/AmpTerms.html

grounding tutor

http://www.sonic.net/~ktstrain/Groundtutor.htm

tube tutorials and theory (beginner level)

http://www.lh-electric.4t.com/tutorials.htm

Steve Bench’s site has lots of good stuff including hum reduction circuits for DH triodes

http://members.aol.com/sbench101/

TubeCad has some interesting articles and projects.

http://www.tubecad.com/

I'm going to make this thread a 'sticky' and link to it from the DIY forum, lots of good stuff here.

 

This is a pretty good one, too, albeit focused on radio, but the basic info is there:
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/radio/index.htm

 

I picked up an RCA manual (c.1955) last week myself along with some supplements and a manual for a Heathkit TC1 tube tester (missed the tester :tears also a service manual for a 1957 Ford car radio. All for a buck. The RCA is a fun read.

 

Lots of great sites listed here good one to pin to the top.

 

Hey!!!,
Just wanted to mention that a good lab proceedure is useful. For that matter, a lab session with clearly defined goals is very important.

Just as with any structured lab course, setting up the experiments, and recording the data provide the best way to interpret and judge the results. Read the theory, do the paperwork, and measure what you've got...

Sometimes the ears are the best tool, and sometimes one can get along with something a lot simpler, like a volt-meter!
cheers,
Douglas

 

there is a wealth of old tube manuals whos copywrites have expired to be found at http://www.pmillett.com/tecnical_books_online.htm

 

I still have my TC1. It was my first tester and I still use it for certain tubes :thmbsp:

I just got an e-mail from Amazon plugging a book I didn't know about

"Building" Valve Amplifiers by Morgan Jones

Seems to be geared more toward layout and mechanics of homebrew I just ordered my copy :yes:

 

Hey, I received my copy of "Building" Valve amplifiers by Morgan Jones yesterday. NO MATH NO MATH did I mention NO MATH I've only had the chance to skim it over, but it looks to be excellent reading for the beginner or old salt alike. Lots of info on tools, test equipment, etc. I hope to get a chance to read it this weekend. I just wanted to make everyone aware of it's prescence. Jay