Jeb's Build

[adydula]

Yes pretty much your ok...I would try to keep leads separate as best possible. Leads that touch well before the solder joint sometimes could cause issues in a high current application. Your work here looks ok to me.

Its just good practice to me to keep things separate and neat.

Alex

[Jeb Jeb]

Noted! Alex and Doc, cheers!

[Jeb Jeb]

Hi guys!

after every session I come in and say "well that was the trickiest bit so far"  It was today.  Manual must be a good learning-curve then! 

getting those caps in position with everything else going on took me a fair bit of time and jiggling. 

Couple of questions:

1) I wanted to check do the caps get hot? I noticed they say 85 degrees C on the side? so is it bad if they are just touching any wire insulation for example where the wire from the headphone jack enters 12L underneath one of the caps?

2) is it normal that I couldn't get the last 220UF capacitor pushed all the way so it was snug against the terminal strip  (the other cap was in the way).  The lugs went through to the other-side by 2 or 3mm, which seemed about the right amount so as not to get in the way of the resistor.  It seemed to match the picture in the manual .

I posted a couple of pics for inspection.

I'm sure I'll get it finished tomorrow - I must be close - all i've got left on the parts table is 2 small caps, a few more resistors and some rubber feet.  And the badge of course!

Thanks again,

Jeb.

[adydula]

I don't think this is an issue, your joints look nice and shiney!!

I dont know if these caps get warm at all....I never checked, but they are out in the air so to speak and shoulddisappate any heat fairly well.

The insulation slightly touching is ok, if it were rubbing up against on the tabs on the cap itself I would concerned a small amount and might re-wire or position...but yours is ok to me!

Your almost home!!

Alex

[Jeb Jeb]

Thanks Alex!  Yes I reflowed a number of joints today as there were some dull ones.

Almost home.  The caps were tricky - on the ones on the tops of the terminal strips  I bent the lugs to 90 degrees as per the manual, then when they were through the terminal hole I crimped them round the terminal to lock them in place so they were secure even without solder - not sure if that was the right thing, but it held them properly while I soldered. 

Afterwards I realised I'd probably regret that if I ever want to remove them & upgrade as everything is extremely tight and locked in the hole now and would be pretty tricky to remove!

Cheers,

Jeb.

[Grainger49]

The 85 degree C rating is because of the transformer and tubes.  They get hot and PB doesn't want the capacitors to fail.

[2wo]

To clarifiy a little, the caps themselves do not get hot. the 85c refers to how hot a place you can put them...John 

[Jeb Jeb]

Ahh cool - understood! Thanks Grainger & John.

[adydula]

Jeb...so far so good!!

I didn't bend my cap leads, just made sure they didn't move while soldering in.....great take your time and be careful measuring the
resistances and voltages....

I am listening to mine right now and its pure heaven...Eva Cassidy Live!

Alex

[Jeb Jeb]

Yes - I will be super-careful with the resistances and voltages.  I have to just wait a couple of days for new multimeter leads I ordered to arrive that have optional clips so I can clip one on to ground.

Today I made a bit of an error when soldering and managed to slightly melt some of the insulation  on one of the wires that leads to the octal socket.   I'm not sure what the rules are here and whether its deemed acceptable to leave it as it is as I did not melt through to bare wire and it is still sealed, but have obviously thinned the insulation slightly at that point.  Since I'm fussy I would normally just replace it but the other end is right in a tricky spot -  not impossible, but thought I'd check first.   I'm kicking myself because it was probably the easiest joint to get to of all the ones I did today!

Jeb.

[Grainger49]

If you don't see bare wire the "insult" to the insulation is minimal.  Don't worry with it.  I have seen worse on operating kits.  Shoot!  I have done worse.

[Jeb Jeb]

awesome Grainger thanks - just what I wanted to hear! In terms of aesthetics - it looks like the smaller caps might cover it once fitted!

Jeb.

[Strikkflypilot]

That slightly melted cable doesn't look too bad.
You have a good build going.
Like You say yourself, trying to improve one thing might make other end worse.
that said, I rewired my Crack twice, the second time with cotton clad wire. sure won't hear the difference:)
Enjoy Yourself, that's the most important bit.

[Jeb Jeb]

Great advice & thank you.  I am very much enjoying it and finding that a couple of hours per day is optimal for me for enjoyment otherwise small mistakes/frustration can creep in.  Perhaps stamina comes with practice.  I'm sure the guys over at Bottlehead HQ have had some epic soldering sessions. 

The cotton clad wire sounds very cool - I can totally see why you and others would re-wire and do multiple builds - there's something really beautiful about perfect looking point to point wiring.  I've seen pictures where people made all the wires perfectly straight with 90 degree turns - that looks very cool too. 

I definitely have massive respect for people who do this for a living - it's an art!

Jeb.

[adydula]

Jeb, it will be fine....I know how you feel, I would probably replace it but at this point you might cause other issues....Its still insulated, albeit not as well in that one spot as the rest of the wire, but nothing is close to it or will rub on it....we all have done this to some degree!!

I have even used some electrical tape as a bandage when I thought it was really necessary. Ha!!

I cant wait to hear your first impressions!!

Ale