Not just an replacement, but an improvement!
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EML 274A / 274B
Mesh Version
Last Revision: June 5th 2011
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Description
Note, Emission Labs was the first to re-introduce the 274A again, in the year 2001.
This Data sheet. is about the 274A and 274B, which only difference is the tube base. These tubes are a full wave rectifiers of a special kind, and electrically equivalent to the original Western Electric historical tubes. Our tubes feature a series connected filament for both diodes together. The series connection makes the middle of the filaments to be virtually grounded, when using a filament supply winding with a center tap. This tube is can supply 140mA with a normal C-L-C filter. The 274A and 274B are designed specially for Audio purposes, and is optimized for use with a small size first capacitor. With this tube, you will have only normal rectification current flowing in the rectifier circuit, and no heavy current spikes. This will result in less hum radiation into of the preamplifier, an improved sound compared to low impedance rectifier tubes for industry applications, or solid state rectifiers. Also the 274 is specially suited for applications with relatively high DC voltage. The new ceramic sockets we use, are a good help for this, since these give no leakage, and do not age under high voltage.
For ultra low ripple, it is recommended to use the Lundahl LL1673 dual coil choke in low CMR configuration. In this configuration, there is virtually no field radiation from the choke. (See link to circuit diagram, at the bottom of this page).
Features
- Slow Start ( 2...7 seconds)
- Filaments are series connected, for best symmetry of the two diodes inside.
- Two extra large getters
- Each tube is numbered, inside the bulb with a metal Tag
- Two extra large getters, flashing the complete tube bottom
- These tubes are shipped in a high quality box
- Tube printing with real gold (metal), red color is burned into the glass
- 274A has machined, solid tube base pins for highest contact precision. Ideal for the YAMAMOTO tube sockets.
Starting May 2011, we have started to ship the 274B-mesh with the new ceramic socket, with five pins. From Yamamoto, the Octal 8/5p Teflon socket is recommended. This is an octal socket, but has five pin holes only. It is specially used for this rectifier. When working with Octal sockets, you will find the Yamamoto an amazing top class product. For this rectifier you can take the special octal version with five holes only. Like this you can never put in a non-rectifier tube by mistake. You can also use normal octal sockets of course.
Typical application
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Filament Ratings
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| Filament Voltage |
5 Volt (AC or DC)
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| Filament Current |
2.4 Ampere
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Maximum ratings.
NOT possible simultaneously
Take one maximum number, you must de rate another
READ all notes at the bottom of this Data sheet.
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| AC input voltage |
550Volts
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| First capacitor, connected to plates |
4uF
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| DC output current |
160mA
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Typical Conditions
for C-L-C filter See: Note 2
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| DC output voltage |
450Volt
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| Total rectified current |
140mA
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| First capacitor, connected to plates |
4uF
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| Choke |
10 Henry
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| Second capacitor |
max 20uF
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For a total (C1 + C2) capacitance above 24uF, a limiting series resistor must be used, so the peak in-rush current through the choke is limited to the saturation current of the choke, or max 600mA, whatever comes first. Otherwise tube damage can result. MUST MEASURE. Can not be calculated in a reliable way. For lowest hum, this resistor is in series with the choke. So you get a C-LR-C filter. In this way 200uF is possible. |
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274A Mechanical Data
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Tube Size including Socket:
140 x 58 mm
5.5 x 2.3 Inch
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| Tube weight |
130 Grams
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Shipped weight for
double box with one pair |
730 Grams
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274B Mechanical Data
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Tube Size including Socket:
147 x 55 mm
5.8 x 2.7 Inch
Connections:
Filaments: 8 + 2
Plates: 4 + 6
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Single Tube weight
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125 Grams
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Shipment weight
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400 Grams
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274A / 274B
Large Image
Plate Detail
Curves

274A Base
Large Picture

UX4 Base

274B Base
Large picture

5-Hole Octal Base
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Note 1) Hard-metal filaments prevent filament breakage with DHT Tubes. This material has a higher melting point than the classical nickel wires.
Note 2) To prevent large charge current peaks, the first capacitor (C1) should NOT be larger than 4uF.
If the input capacitor is too large, this will result in heavy AC charge current through this capacitor. This is not good for the rectifier tube, and also the AC capacitor current peaks may cause hum radiation into the preamplifier. With the given C-L-C values in table, the rectifier circuit will work without any trace of hum. For ultimate filtering, with oversized components, you will have best results by increasing the choke. Do not oversize capacitor C1, this will not give better results.
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SOME DESIGN NOTES FOR POWER SUPPLIES.
Design note-1
Design note-2
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EXPLANATION: |
Circuit 1: This is the most commonly used. What is not so nice about this circuit, will get clearer when you understand the benefits of the other circuits here. |
| Circuit 2: Added here is a bleeder resistor, a ground connection point, and if needed an external windings resistance. The ground connection point prevents any faulty ground path. This is called "star" grounding. |
| Circuit 3: This avoids the rectified DC current flows through the transformer heater winding. This will reduce Transformer hum. However circuit #4 is more simplified and will do the same. |
| Circuit 4: This circuit refers the Choke AC and DC electrical field to ground, where they can cause less problems. Also the ground path for the first capacitor is now forced in a correct way, same as in circuit 3. |
Circuit 5: This is how to connect a double coil Choke, such as the Lundahl LL1673 or similar products. Beware the polarity of the connections. (the dots in the circuit diagram here). The importance of this circuit is very high. We have complete inductive separation of the transformer from the amplifier. Definitely, the transformer capacitance from primary to secondary can not inject an AC hum current into the amplifier any more.
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| Bleeder Resistor: This is to empty all capacitors after power off. Using no bleeder resistor is not only dangerous, it is also one of the reasons for a sparking rectifier. Make sure the resistor discharges all capacitors to less than 40V in one minute. Do not mount in directly on a capacitor, if the resistor gets too hot. Electrolytic Capacitors must be kept cool. |
Windings resistance. The special knowledge of tube transformer making has gone lost. Each rectifier requires a certain MINIMUM windings resistance, or the tube will have low lifetime, or even show a white spark. Transformer Raa is measured between the tube Anodes. In many cases the value is too low. This major design error can be fixed by adding an external resistor as shown. This resistor has half the value of the total Raa required. If a tube needs Raa of 250Ω
Ohms, and you measure 100Ω only, there is 150Ω missing. You need to add 0.5 x 150Ω externally, in series with the center tap. Ignoring this, will lead to reduced tube life, or early failures. |
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