How do I Replace a 6X5 Tube With Diodes?
- 1). Unplug your tube equipment from the wall outlet and let it sit for ½ hour. While you're waiting, prepare the 6X5 replacement by performing the following steps.
- 2). Cut the anode lead of one 1N4007 diode and the cathode lead of a second 1N4007 to about 1 inch. Place the two cut-down leads next to each other so they overlap at least ½ inch and solder them together. Do this again for the remaining 2 diodes so you have 2 pairs of 2 diodes soldered in series.
- 3). Insert the free (unsoldered) anode lead of a diode pair into pin 3 of the octal base from the base's top side. Solder the lead into the pin. If you have a lower-wattage soldering iron, it may take a minute or two to get sufficient heat on the pin and leads for good solder flow.
- 4). Insert the free anode of the other diode pair into the octal base's pin 5. Solder the lead into the pin. Insert the free cathode ends of both diode pairs into the base's pin 8 and solder them in. Let the base cool. Wrap the middle, exposed diode leads with electrical tape.
- 5). Remove the 6X5 tube from the equipment and set it aside.
- 6). Locate pin 8 of the tube's socket. Turn the multimeter on and adjust the function knob so the meter reads DC volts. Touch the black (negative) probe tip to the metal chassis or other grounding point and touch the red (positive) probe to pin 8. If you read a voltage, wait until it decreases to under 20 volts before continuing.
- 7). Desolder and remove any wires connected to pin 8. Heat up the connection with the soldering iron and draw off the melted solder with the desoldering pump. Work the wires carefully loose with the long-nose pliers.
- 8). Take the 1000 ohm 10 watt resistor and cut the leads down to about 1 inch. Cut a ¼ inch to ½ inch piece of spaghetti insulation and slip it onto one lead. With the needle-nose pliers, make a small bend-back in the end of this lead, slip the bend around the pin 8 solder lug, crimp the bend onto the lug and solder it.
- 9). Cut another ¼ inch to ½ inch piece of insulation and slip it onto the other lead. Take the wire or wires you removed from pin 8 previously and solder them to this resistor lead. Make sure that the resistor leads do not touch any metal chassis parts or wiring, or short against the tube socket pins.
- 10
Insert the octal base plug carrying the diodes into the socket. Make sure it's pushed firmly into the socket. Double-check all connections. Close the equipment cabinet, plug the equipment into a wall outlet and turn it on.
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