the Shuguang EL156 is tough!

Tube DIY Asylum

Do It Yourself (DIY) paradise for tube and SET project builders.

I've been playing around with a test rigged Chinese EL156 used in a fixed bias SE UL amplifier -
Placed on a aluminum plate from a preamp project that never took off, I have an input tube cap coupled to an EL156 with a beefy 1627SEA Hammond OT. I'm using two outboard tube regulators to supply the B+, filament, and bias voltage. The Shuguang EL156 uses an octal socket instead of the Telefunken 10-pinner - and the best part is they are dirt cheap for a 50W pentode.
Juggling the negative bias and B+ knobs is a little tricky if you aren't paying attention and in my haste I've far exceeded the maximum ratings on a few occasions - once pumping 170mA/400V (68Ws total). Never got a red plate or glowing grid! Whoops - glad these tubes aren't original Tele's!
On the other hand an (old, used and abused like me) SED 6550 from the junkbox was used for initial powerup testing - I managed to kill it real quick dissipating 'only' ~35Ws.
Once I find an input tube combo I like (suggestions gladly accepted), I think I'll be making a pair of monoblocks with an onboard power supply and adjustable bias to roll in different output tubes. Can't comment on the sonics yet since this is a mono amp so far - running into a freebie Radio Shack Minimus 7 speaker. Will eventually listen to some mono material on the 'big' system.
It should be noted, like the EL38 the EL156 requires a lower negative bias voltage than the KT88/6550. These are not direct plug-ins for the KT88 unless the power transformer can handle the extra .3A of filament current per tube and your bias supply can dip low enough.

EL156 data (Open in New Window)

Edits: 01/22/08 01/22/08

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Topic - the Shuguang EL156 is tough! - kstagger 08:02:51 01/22/08 (5)

RE: the Shuguang EL156 is tough! - Neff 15:05:18 01/23/08 (0)

Hmmm... - anumber1 19:12:10 01/22/08 (0)

RE: the Shuguang EL156 is tough! - Caucasian Blackplate 11:16:16 01/22/08 (2)

EL156 - Meister 14:29:10 01/22/08 (1)

RE: EL156 - Caucasian Blackplate 18:21:08 01/22/08 (0)

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