This video is excellent. That is the first time in my life that I have ever heard a satisfactory explanation of the difference between resistance and impedance. Thank you so much. I'm learning so much about valve amplifiers just from watching your videos. I'm very grateful that you have taken the time, care, and planning to share your knowledge with us.
Two important points to make: 1. It is important to note that the 1.25 is a rule of thumb which is valid ONLY for the range of frequencies for audio. This difference is a function of the AC frequency, so it's not always true when dealing with radio or other ranges of AC. For more info see: www.electronics-tutorials.ws/accircuits/ac-inductance.html 2. Reactance in AC circuits comes in two flavors: Inductive Reactance which affects the changing electrical CURRENT in an AC circuit, (which Uncle Doug outlines on this video), but there is also Capacitive Reactance in an AC circuit (which Uncle Doug discusses on a different video), it affects the changing A/C VOLTAGE in the circuit: electricalacademia.com/basic-electrical/capacitive-reactance-ac-circuit/
I'm retired Industrial electrician and a ham radio operator for 40 Yrs but I learn something every time I watch your videos. In a word, they are brilliant. Many thanks.
I have to say, Uncle Doug, you are one of, if not the best, teacher I have ever encountered. Your explanations and accompanying diagrams are phenomenal. Thank you so much for all that you do. And please thank Rusty for teaching all of this to you. 👍🏻
I have just found your channel in 2021 and I am having a great time going through the catalog. I have learned a lot and have had it on in the background of the shop for the past week. You are a great teacher!
Very good video. I have only one criticism: Please do not apologize for the use of math nor for getting into the numbers involved in calculating these concepts. That is exactly what's wrong with our generation is that people have become afraid of (or at least disinterested in) anything that requires exertion of mental capacity. If someone wishes to become good at audio electronics engineering, they'd better get over any aversion they may have of numbers. So sincerely, please do not apologize.
***** Thanks, Jim. I taught math and science for many years, and agree with you completely. I "apologize" partially in jest and partially as a challenge....that must be met, if one is ever to develop a reasonable level of competency with electronic circuits. Thanks for your input.
I agree. And, come on : It's not rocket-science, jiggling a bit with ratios. My opinion is that when you want to be a tech in this field, Ohm's laws must be second nature.
I really appreciate you doing this. I'm watching and doing my best to take in bits in hopes that one day it will all come together and I can say, "Yes, I can build an amp. A dual 6L6'er."
You're welcome, Grady. For your first project, you might want to try a single-ended 6V6 amp, like the venerable Champ. You can learn all the basics without a lot of complexity and expense....and then move on to more challenging circuits. No matter what, best of luck !!!
Uncle Doug you did a nice job covering this topic. There is one other small point that I have never heard anyone mention concerning the speaker impedance and that is this. While the voice coil is the main element involved in the speaker impedance we forget that this coil of wire in also located in a magnetic field. The location of this coil makes for a totally different circuit than if it were just an air coil as the inductance changes. This may explain why some guitar players say they like the sound of certain magnets in their speaker as well as a certain type magnets in the guitar pickups. Since the magnet type can change the sound of something do to the metals used in the magnets and the magnetic energy of the magnets. This could be something you may want to think about doing a video on. Since the magnet type can change the sound of something do to the metals used in the magnets and the magnetic energy of the magnets. Thanks.
I am getting a better understanding of how amps work than I had just a month ago. You opened up a huge door into tube electronics for me. Don't let the hot rods distract you!
Uncle Doug As valves were before my teenage life I watch quite a few videos of yours and sometimes several times over a period until some points become understood. I believe your videos to be some of the best and practical tube and electronics tutorials.
At 65, I am finally taking time to relearn what electronics I learned in grade 13 which was mostly tube circuits. Having forgotten most of that, it is a real pleasure to study with you. My interest is Stereo tube amps and they are so much like guitar amps that your teaching is right on. THANKS
Your teachings are some of the best on RUclips. I greatly appreciate the time it takes to put together these videos. The more of these educational videos you make the better off we all are. Thank you so very much I know how time, effort, and energy it takes to put these together. With appreciation...
Again I have learned things I wanted to know for a long time. Some fifty years ago I built simple tube radios with only a wiring diagram. It worked well, but I did not understand everything. Now it getting clear, thanks to you, Uncle Doug.
This channel is beyond incredible. I took my fair share of EE classes in college as a computer engineer, but never before has someone been able to truly explain what these terms are, and especially well by explaining why they are named as such! Amazing job. I just watched your video on the 5F1 yesterday for the first time as I'd been looking for an in-depth component by component breakdown of how that circuit works, and no one yet has described it better. What an awesome teacher you really are. Thanks Doug.
Thanks for the lesson. Learned this stuff over 40 years ago, but forgot a lot of it. Btw...don't see em a lot with todays fancy digital meters, but I love the old Simpson 260 meters. Tough as nails and last forever! There's just something better to me to watch the needle than a bunch of numbers. Guess I'm old fashioned! And gettin old too! Lol☺
Dear Uncle Doug, the power of knowledge is zero if it's not shared and passed on. You are doing exactly that - sharing knowledge. I've seen few videos of yours, and the way you are explaining, the tone of your voice and the drawings you're using - are all together making things easier for dummies like myself, eager to learn about tube amps (because they are sick and tired of transistors and op-amps, ha!). Thank you form the bottom of my heart and keep up the good work!
These are great video's, thanks for them. I'm a retired Electrical Engineer who's hobby is guitars and old amplifiers. I find your video's informative and fun.
I am new to your channel and am very glad that I found you because nobody else is teaching this stuff and certainly not in the down-to-earth manner that you do which makes it very easy to understand and digest! Thank you for the excellent education!
Reactance + Resistance = Impedance. It's now so simple! Thanks so much Uncle Doug! I already knew about the winding ratio but finally I now understand impedance. Wonderful :)
Master class at its very best, impedance, reactance and resistance with AC and DC all explained so much in detail, Uncle Dugg you are the best explaining when it comes to Amplifier and Transformers.
Once again, this is a fantastic video. I busted out my old RCA tube manual and looked up a 6V6 and saw the 6600 impedance and got giddy because I finally understand what that number means. I have a box of transformers, tubes, sockets, caps that are all going to finally become tons of small amps. Thank you so much for all the time you put into these videos.
You're quite welcome, Aaron. Hearing from viewers like you, who actually turn the newly acquired knowledge into practical application, makes it all worthwhile. Best of luck with your projects :)
Uncle Doug thanks! I have an old Gene Leis that is heavily molested and I am currently determining the OT ratio (looks to be replaced). it has a good 8 ohm alnico speaker in it and I plan on building some sort of amp out of it. Gonna play with basic bias values and see what happens.
I wish you'd been my electronics lecturer, "back in the day". You have the knack of taking a complicated subject and making it seem simple, enjoyable and intuitive. Come over to Australia and let's build an amp together!
You are a very good teacher. In the last 3 hrs, minus time away, I learned so much about a subject that was BORING in HS and college plus solid state was the latest thing (if it ain't broke don't fix it!)
Seven years a sparky, it's been a good education on how to be safe with electricity. A few months ago, I revisited theory fundamentals, I've been so amazed by learning I'm not sure if I'll ever get to actually work on anything. I picked up a Hammond aurora 8200 for free on craigslist last week. It's a solid state system, I took it apart so fast I didn't document the connectors on the amp, signal inputs, supply outputs, whatever reverb driver means, output transformer connection. I looked for hours and couldn't find any technical information on it, or even a good old amp teardown on youtube. I'm still so fresh with electronics I look inside the amp and I can tell there's gonna some gratuitous groping in the darkness without some relevant information. I'm going to have to table this and find a simpler project. I picked up a Juliette record/8 track player for a dollar and the balancer pot plays both speakers on the right side and nothing on the left. I have chopsticked all around in it. Could it be as simple as the pot is shorted, open, ungrounded or that it's designed this way somehow? Thanks for any help and much love.
Your guess is as good as mine, Sam. It sounds like you learned one valuable lesson already, and more are on the way. Experience is, by far, the best teacher. Good luck with your repairs.
Uncle Doug, thank you SO MUCH for sharing your knowledge! I know I have said it before but, you have no idea how much you have helped me. AND, I am VERY MUCH enjoying my new hobby of working on tube Amplifiers!
Wonderful video! Not only does a great job of discussing the basics of output transformers, Doug also clears up the confusion for me regarding resistance vs. impedance. Thanks Doug!
Thanks Doug for a very clear explanation. I looked for this type of clarification elsewhere and couldn't find it. I was amazed however by how willing people are( who had no idea what there talking about) to explain it.
You're welcome......glad you enjoyed the video. The internet is "blessed" with all sorts of self-proclaimed experts. The trick is to separate them from those who actually are.
Thanks' Uncle Doug.I was watching your videos' a few years' back, then stuff came up and I am now getting back to them!Really informative and some info that I wish I had,some years' ago.I hand-wound an output-transformer for a prototype amplifier that a friend of mine was building and we were doing a lot of guess-work,at the time!This explanation video helps' so many people to understand the "black-art" part of tube electronics'!Thanks' again for your generous offerings' and sharing your incredible knowledge with us!
Finally, someone who knows how to teach! I have never found a better explanation of tube and transformer characteristics and there application than this. Thank you! new subscriber
Sir, I must declare you a living miracle-worker! You have actually managed to convey knowledge into my logic center which had previously been quite indecipherable!! Thats amazing! This is a great great vid thank you so much!
After 43 years on this earth, 15 of which I have been a professor of electrical and computer engineering, I finally understand what speaker impedance mismatch means. Thanks, Uncle Doug!
I watched this the first time a month ago and learned a great deal, but what I have used most since is the phrase "I invite you to try because it's one of life's great disappointments when (insert impossible idea here)". Thank you for all this great content and specifically that phrase. 19:50
This was the most informative, most right to the point, and most useful video on the topic! Not only you covered the theoretical aspects (which I came for) but it also showed practical aspects (which were bonus for me). I cannot thank you enough! Really!
Thank you so much for shedding light on an area that as a musician and collector of old amps I am interested in but have always been shy of investigating. Very clear delivery.
all the years of using my Marshall major and my other tube amplifiers I never had the idea of why these negativities could happen here's why in the way you just explained it 🙏
After using your method and Mr. ElPaso's method, I determined which were the primary leads. Also, the ratio is approx. 5500 to 1 for a 4 ohm load. Your videos are most informative.
Hey Uncle Doug. I am finally getting around to learning tube amps. I just want you to know that you are an amazing teacher. I am a HVAC tech and have an understanding of basic electricity and you explain things in a manner waaaay better than any tech school teacher ever did. I am not sure if you are still making videos or not not, but please keep it up if you are. Thank you thank you thank you! Ryan Wham
Hay Uncle Doug! You have really helped me remember my electronics coarse in High school. mid.70's. we had a great teacher who was a radar tech in the 2nd. WW. he really tried hard to help us understand all this amazing stuff. Its been many years since i felt such a strong disire to dive in to this amazing stuff again. But i plan on finding some time soon. Your a very good teach! Blessings
It's 2022 and I enjoyed a couple of your video's now and the one thing that surprised me most: You apologized for the math! Hahahaha, thanks for all the effort! The knowledge and theory is getting banned from school more and more every year. Alle the basics are brought down to an absolute minimum, so your teachings are worth the minutes in gold!
Thanks !! I was a math teacher for many years, SK, and know all too well that math is a nightmare for many people......largely because they had lousy teachers in school.
@@UncleDoug math doesn't have to be hard. But it's not easy to get math entertaining. Same with physics. Electric theory is as dry as dust, and I know to many collegues who doesn't get passed Ohm's law, while Kirschoff and Faraday's are to convinient to understand when it comes to resolving bugs. I still have and collect old schoolbooks when I run into them. They're awesome.
I highly appreciate any of your RUclips Land videos. So much to learn and allways using the correct terms. Makes it so much easier to understand. What I want to say is that using the right terms is ways much more better than prattling about which is so often seen on other channels. Like the car's stuff too.
Love, love, love your work and teachings... I have a few friends struggling to understand electronics, I am sharing this video (among several others) to help them with the heavy lifting, falling so far out of audio'fool'dom. Doug you are a master teacher... Thank you for the effort!!!
Hi Doug and Rusty; Thank You for Your Patience with me.. And Thank You for Your Great Answer.. A little while ago I found Dennis Carter, and His Video's give me, even more of what I am looking for.. Not so much in Output Transformers, but the Rest of the Set, which is even more of where I need Help... The Front end is where I am having the most trouble, and the Questions I have asked You was to complete what I needed to know for the Amplifier or Back End.. Thank You for doing such a Great Job !! THANK YOU Marty
What a spectacularly amazing video lecture. This is a must-watch for anyone from an audio & DIY enthusiast all the way down to high school and college level students who are studying electronics. All in all a fantastic watch!
This video was extremely helpful - Great Job and thank you so much for the effort and time you put into these video's. I've been studying tube amp circuitry for the past year and the fog is finally starting to lift!
Thanks, TB01. Hearing from satisfied viewers makes it all worth while. I may indeed make a video about the power transformer. One characteristic of it that some people might not realize is the current limitation on each winding. Ignoring this can lead to all sorts of problems. Thanks for the suggestion.
Thank you for such an illuminating video! You have a great talent for passing on technical information in an accessable yet scientifically rigorous way. Many thanks 😊
Doug, Nice layman's terms explanation! Harp players seem to love a mismatch like a 16 ohm speaker on an 8 ohm tap. Putting a 4 ohm speaker on an 8 ohm tap is a great way to burn things up. I have seen a shorted voice coil running at 1.2 ohms on an 8 ohm tap. Thankfully, all I got was a really good light show! I own an old ESI Teague LCR, but the Variac dialed to 1 volts secondary works fairly well, but RMA, NAB etc generally used 1000Hz as their test freq. You will have to use a lower B+ and the 6L6 pair won't deliver much more than 30 watts, but it will be a nice amp. At 5200 ohms you will get 60 watts from a pair of 6L6GCs, 5881s, 7581s, KT66s etc. When I went to college there was a discussion of teaching ohm's law for DC as AC theory with a 0 degree phase angle. Let's face it, going from DC to AC theory was a major learning curve for most people! NEVER say you are sorry for the math! NEVER! That math is what keeps us from screwing up more often than we do already!
Time for more honesty here... I worked for a pro audio company with an owner who claimed to be an electrical engineer (I've often doubted whether or not he graduated). He could not explain how any of this worked. I took a high enough level of physics in college to know the guy was full of beans. It is all finally starting to get clear. AWESOME videos.
It's great to hear that the videos are clearing up some "fuzzy" areas, Greg. I intend for them to build a very basic foundation, upon which motivated individuals can continue to build, with further study.
A few months back I was working as an electrician in a warehouse by an import and shipping dock, removing old wiring from the ceiling to free up space in the cable trays, which were overflowing and tilting from the weight of the cables. At the end of one of the lines (most of them had been cut in various places prior to my arrival) I find a really old PA speaker (which was completely covered in many decades of fork-lift soot), mounted on the wall. It's made to be used with a 50 or 100V signal, and has a transformer built into it. So an idea strikes me: what if I were to use this speaker, and the built-in transformer to build some kind of gnarly franken-amp? Certainly would make a fun project. Well, after many months of collecting even more dirt in the corner, you've helped set me on the right path to getting this thing started, so thanks a whole bunch, Doug!
Good luck with your project, SA. You might hunt down an old PA amp.....they generally had output capabilities that were suited for these old style CV speakers.
This was most likely a "70-volt-line" system. The PA's output transformer had a secondary winding (basically a 500-ohm tap) that was a bit self-regulated. It would put out as much power as the composite load wanted, up to the wattage capacity of the amp WITHOUT the system volume dropping. Each loudspeaker had its own adjustable transformer often with an individual selectable power level switch. I helped set up, operate and dismantle dozens of these for conventions back between 1960 and 1990. I was also one of the ladder guys that put up and took down the overhead wires and repaired broken mic cords.
Incidentally, the VERY best electronics course on vacuum tube circuit design and operation was the ack section of the OLD RCA Receiving Tube Manual out of the 60's. A couple years of electronics education in a few weeks, and dead easy to understand. I just ate it up. Then I designed and built my own amp roughly based on an RCA circuit and I pushed my 6L6's for 100 watts of clean sound. I used a tiny resistor in series with a 100-watt light bulb connected to the 70-volt-line output tap (meant for use on disttibuted PA systrms) on my special output transformer. I put a speaker across the resistor to sample the power going to the light bulb. It was clean and the light bulb was hitting way over 100 watts. This is what you can do with proper design. I had chosen to raise the plate voltage and put a cooling fan on the tube though. And little resistors on the tube elements to prevent parasitic oscillations.
It seems that the best teachers are on RUclips and you, my friend, are certainly among them. I hope this wasn't already asked. I looked for it, but 1397 comments is a daunting task, so please forgive me if I'm being redundant. Thanks to this episode, I now understand why my multi-meter always produces a value lower than the spec sheet, when I attempt to measure the impedance of a speaker using my shiny new multimeter. With that being said, what is the best way to determine a speaker's impedance, since it cannot be accurately determined with a multimeter?
Thanks so much, Tyler. You can measure the DC resistance and then multiply by about 1.3. Thus a DC resistance of 6.2 Ohms corresponds roughly to an impedance of 8 Ohms.
WOW Such a great explanation and the math wasn't too hard to comprehend either. Thanks so much for this. This video gets saved straight to the reference library of other useful videos on Valve Amplification
This video is just great! I wasn't expecting you to go into the Resistance vs Impedance, so that was a lovely surprise as I was needing to study up on this. Thanks again!
thank you. I think the way you explain things makes sense to those who may have not understood math in school very well. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into your lessons. I also appreciate the mathematical explanations as I always found maths complicated. I understand it very well how you explain things here. Cheers and thank you.
I understood all of that, and I did the art school thing, so the sums are simple! And just when I was thinking, hey, you could get a winding ratio from resistance that idea was shot out of the sky... But now I know why. Clear as a bell, sir. Thanks.
Great straight-forward information..the math is necessary for anyone entering the field of electronics....just gotta suck it up and get used to it! Go Uncle Doug..I'm loving it!
Thank you for posting this video. You explanation about impedance reflection really helped, as this has been a stumbling block for me. You make it easy to understand. Looking forward to more of your videos
This video explains the OT concept VERY well! I never found the math boring when I was in electronics school; (I guess I was the true electronics geek in the class) it helped me have a very clear understanding of component to circuit functionality to the fullest extent...This is a great explanation for both intermediate as well as advanced...The method you used to find the turns ratio was taught to me as a young teen by an old timer who had a radio/TV repair shop that I hung out in as a little kid...This brought back some good memories! Many don't know about inductive loads in circuits...this is a great starting point for the new-comer :) Keep 'em comin' I think you and David should partner-up & open an audio/electronics school! You would probably have packed classrooms! :)
Thanks so much, Frank. It's hard to keep a presentation simple enough for beginners, while not boring those with experience. Your comment makes me think I may have accomplished that goal. I appreciate your input and opinion.
Thanks for this video. I used this video and one by D-Lab, to check two output transformers from a Fisher X-100C that I purchased off eBay. I originally thought I had bad output transformers, but after using your test method, I was able to verify that they are both good and also determined their winding ratios.
![Hunxho - Ball Forever [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nki9ZTF9Uls/mqdefault.jpg)
This video is excellent. That is the first time in my life that I have ever heard a satisfactory explanation of the difference between resistance and impedance. Thank you so much. I'm learning so much about valve amplifiers just from watching your videos. I'm very grateful that you have taken the time, care, and planning to share your knowledge with us.
Two important points to make:
1. It is important to note that the 1.25 is a rule of thumb which is valid ONLY for the range of frequencies for audio. This difference is a function of the AC frequency, so it's not always true when dealing with radio or other ranges of AC. For more info see: www.electronics-tutorials.ws/accircuits/ac-inductance.html
2. Reactance in AC circuits comes in two flavors: Inductive Reactance which affects the changing electrical CURRENT in an AC circuit, (which Uncle Doug outlines on this video), but there is also Capacitive Reactance in an AC circuit (which Uncle Doug discusses on a different video), it affects the changing A/C VOLTAGE in the circuit: electricalacademia.com/basic-electrical/capacitive-reactance-ac-circuit/
You are 120% better at teaching than any of my EE professors. A+
Wow.....thanks so much, TL.
I'm retired Industrial electrician and a ham radio operator for 40 Yrs but I learn something every time I watch your videos. In a word, they are brilliant. Many thanks.
Thanks so much, Bob. So glad to hear it.
I have to say, Uncle Doug, you are one of, if not the best, teacher I have ever encountered. Your explanations and accompanying diagrams are phenomenal. Thank you so much for all that you do. And please thank Rusty for teaching all of this to you. 👍🏻
Wow, thanks, KK. Please continue to enjoy all our videos. I will ;)
Uncle Doug, you are a national treasure. Thank you!
You are so kind to say so, Gary. Thanks !!!
I second that
He is telling truth.
I’d only add, International treasure.
I second that 😊
You explain things well enough that I (a math zero) have a chance, if I watch this over and over, of getting THE MATH! Thanks for your patience!
You're welcome, NYS. Thanks for watching :)
I have just found your channel in 2021 and I am having a great time going through the catalog. I have learned a lot and have had it on in the background of the shop for the past week. You are a great teacher!
Thanks so much, Matthew. Welcome to our channel :)
This presentation is absolutely phenomenal. Simple, elegant, best verbal delivery to encourage learning and retention.
Wow, thanks so much, Ronald :)
Your videos are so important for future, and us current, generations. This is invaluable information! Thanks Uncle Doug.
+Fuga Mante You're welcome, FM. It's great to hear that the videos are helpful and appreciated :)
So true. Valves are not going away anytime soon.
WOW! Uncle Doug is the best teacher. Simply the best explanation of resistance and impedance. Wish I had found him a long time ago. Thanks.
Thanks so much, Red. We're glad you did find us :)
Very good video. I have only one criticism: Please do not apologize for the use of math nor for getting into the numbers involved in calculating these concepts. That is exactly what's wrong with our generation is that people have become afraid of (or at least disinterested in) anything that requires exertion of mental capacity. If someone wishes to become good at audio electronics engineering, they'd better get over any aversion they may have of numbers. So sincerely, please do not apologize.
***** Thanks, Jim. I taught math and science for many years, and agree with you completely. I "apologize" partially in jest and partially as a challenge....that must be met, if one is ever to develop a reasonable level of competency with electronic circuits. Thanks for your input.
***** You are so right!
I agree. And, come on : It's not rocket-science, jiggling a bit with ratios. My opinion is that when you want to be a tech in this field, Ohm's laws must be second nature.
Merjin van Schaik - agreed 100%.
Certainly illiterate people would not be watching this,..
A simple yet complete explanation of what could be a confusing topic! You're a gifted teacher Uncle Doug.
Thanks so much, Aurora. Thanks for watching.
I really appreciate you doing this. I'm watching and doing my best to take in bits in hopes that one day it will all come together and I can say, "Yes, I can build an amp. A dual 6L6'er."
You're welcome, Grady. For your first project, you might want to try a single-ended 6V6 amp, like the venerable Champ. You can learn all the basics without a lot of complexity and expense....and then move on to more challenging circuits. No matter what, best of luck !!!
Uncle Doug, your contributions to RUclips are priceless. Thank you!
You're quite welcome DW. Thanks !!!
Uncle Doug you did a nice job covering this topic. There is one other small point that I have never heard anyone mention concerning the speaker impedance and that is this. While the voice coil is the main element involved in the speaker impedance we forget that this coil of wire in also located in a magnetic field. The location of this coil makes for a totally different circuit than if it were just an air coil as the inductance changes. This may explain why some guitar players say they like the sound of certain magnets in their speaker as well as a certain type magnets in the guitar pickups. Since the magnet type can change the sound of something do to the metals used in the magnets and the magnetic energy of the magnets. This could be something you may want to think about doing a video on. Since the magnet type can change the sound of something do to the metals used in the magnets and the magnetic energy of the magnets. Thanks.
This is an interesting concept, Neutro, and one that I have never considered. I will do some more study on this topic.
I am getting a better understanding of how amps work than I had just a month ago.
You opened up a huge door into tube electronics for me.
Don't let the hot rods distract you!
That's good to hear, MR :)
Such a well explained article for electronic starters
Thanks, Graham. Glad you liked it. Please note that I have about 110 other videos that you (hopefully) may find equally interesting :)
Uncle Doug As valves were before my teenage life I watch quite a few videos of yours and sometimes several times over a period until some points become understood. I believe your videos to be some of the best and practical tube and electronics tutorials.
At 65, I am finally taking time to relearn what electronics I learned in grade 13 which was mostly tube circuits. Having forgotten most of that, it is a real pleasure to study with you. My interest is Stereo tube amps and they are so much like guitar amps that your teaching is right on. THANKS
You're quite welcome, OEC. Best of luck with your self-education.
Can you make your next video on the mains/power transformer please ?? You are the man!! I love all your videos !!
Your teachings are some of the best on RUclips. I greatly appreciate the time it takes to put together these videos. The more of these educational videos you make the better off we all are. Thank you so very much I know how time, effort, and energy it takes to put these together. With appreciation...
You are quite welcome, SP. We "appreciate your appreciation" of our efforts and thank you for your kind comments.
Thank you. Very generous of you to share your knowledge sir.
Again I have learned things I wanted to know for a long time. Some fifty years ago I built simple tube radios with only a wiring diagram. It worked well, but I did not understand everything. Now it getting clear, thanks to you, Uncle Doug.
Hennie Korf You're welcome, Hennie. Glad the video was helpful and informative.
What a gold mine of information ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Glad it was helpful, Charles :)
This channel is beyond incredible. I took my fair share of EE classes in college as a computer engineer, but never before has someone been able to truly explain what these terms are, and especially well by explaining why they are named as such! Amazing job. I just watched your video on the 5F1 yesterday for the first time as I'd been looking for an in-depth component by component breakdown of how that circuit works, and no one yet has described it better. What an awesome teacher you really are. Thanks Doug.
Wow, thank you so much, M. We're really glad to hear that our videos were helpful.
Thanks for the lesson. Learned this stuff over 40 years ago, but forgot a lot of it. Btw...don't see em a lot with todays fancy digital meters, but I love the old Simpson 260 meters. Tough as nails and last forever! There's just something better to me to watch the needle than a bunch of numbers. Guess I'm old fashioned! And gettin old too! Lol☺
I agree, 74. Analog meters are way better at checking potentiometers.....you can actually watch the smoothness of response throughout their rotation.
Uncle Doug yep!☺
Greg Clemen yep...you described me perfectly. Hope I always stay young at heart!
Greg Clemen that's for sure! This morning my body feels 90 but my heart and mind...20!
Greg Clemen the "Golden Years" suck! I'm confused all the time! I can't figure out which part of me hurts the worst!
Dear Uncle Doug,
the power of knowledge is zero if it's not shared and passed on. You are doing exactly that - sharing knowledge. I've seen few videos of yours, and the way you are explaining, the tone of your voice and the drawings you're using - are all together making things easier for dummies like myself, eager to learn about tube amps (because they are sick and tired of transistors and op-amps, ha!).
Thank you form the bottom of my heart and keep up the good work!
You're quite welcome, MS. Rusty and I appreciate your very kind comments and are glad the videos are helpful. Best of luck :)
An excellent transformer treatise. Thank you.
I'm glad you liked it, Andrew :)
The best explanation ever about the difference between resistance and impedance on RUclips.
Thanks so much, Alvaro :)
Excellent explanation!
Thanks, AB :)
These are great video's, thanks for them. I'm a retired Electrical Engineer who's hobby is guitars and old amplifiers. I find your video's informative and fun.
That's great to hear, Mack. We really appreciate it :)
I am new to your channel and am very glad that I found you because nobody else is teaching this stuff and certainly not in the down-to-earth manner that you do which makes it very easy to understand and digest! Thank you for the excellent education!
You're welcome, Robert. We're glad you found us :)
Reactance + Resistance = Impedance. It's now so simple! Thanks so much Uncle Doug! I already knew about the winding ratio but finally I now understand impedance. Wonderful :)
Master class at its very best, impedance, reactance and resistance with AC and DC all explained so much in detail, Uncle Dugg you are the best explaining when it comes to Amplifier and Transformers.
Thanks, SS. I'm glad you enjoyed it :)
Once again, this is a fantastic video. I busted out my old RCA tube manual and looked up a 6V6 and saw the 6600 impedance and got giddy because I finally understand what that number means. I have a box of transformers, tubes, sockets, caps that are all going to finally become tons of small amps. Thank you so much for all the time you put into these videos.
You're quite welcome, Aaron. Hearing from viewers like you, who actually turn the newly acquired knowledge into practical application, makes it all worthwhile. Best of luck with your projects :)
Uncle Doug thanks! I have an old Gene Leis that is heavily molested and I am currently determining the OT ratio (looks to be replaced). it has a good 8 ohm alnico speaker in it and I plan on building some sort of amp out of it. Gonna play with basic bias values and see what happens.
I wish you'd been my electronics lecturer, "back in the day". You have the knack of taking a complicated subject and making it seem simple, enjoyable and intuitive. Come over to Australia and let's build an amp together!
Thanks so much, Ian. Rusty always wanted to visit his homeland, but I guess he won't make it. Maybe Jack and I will come instead :)
Thank you. I have never been able to get an explanation to so many questions in such a great way. I so much appreciate your time and knowledge.
It's our pleasure, Todd. Thanks for watching.
You are a very good teacher. In the last 3 hrs, minus time away, I learned so much about a subject that was BORING in HS and college plus solid state was the latest thing (if it ain't broke don't fix it!)
Thanks, WS. I'm glad the videos are informative :)
Seven years a sparky, it's been a good education on how to be safe with electricity. A few months ago, I revisited theory fundamentals, I've been so amazed by learning I'm not sure if I'll ever get to actually work on anything. I picked up a Hammond aurora 8200 for free on craigslist last week. It's a solid state system, I took it apart so fast I didn't document the connectors on the amp, signal inputs, supply outputs, whatever reverb driver means, output transformer connection. I looked for hours and couldn't find any technical information on it, or even a good old amp teardown on youtube. I'm still so fresh with electronics I look inside the amp and I can tell there's gonna some gratuitous groping in the darkness without some relevant information. I'm going to have to table this and find a simpler project. I picked up a Juliette record/8 track player for a dollar and the balancer pot plays both speakers on the right side and nothing on the left. I have chopsticked all around in it. Could it be as simple as the pot is shorted, open, ungrounded or that it's designed this way somehow? Thanks for any help and much love.
Your guess is as good as mine, Sam. It sounds like you learned one valuable lesson already, and more are on the way. Experience is, by far, the best teacher. Good luck with your repairs.
Uncle Doug, thank you SO MUCH for sharing your knowledge! I know I have said it before but, you have no idea how much you have helped me. AND, I am VERY MUCH enjoying my new hobby of working on tube Amplifiers!
That's great news, DW. I hope you continue to enjoy and hopefully profit from your new hobby.
Wonderful video! Not only does a great job of discussing the basics of output transformers, Doug also clears up the confusion for me regarding resistance vs. impedance. Thanks Doug!
You're welcome, Tim.
Thanks Doug for a very clear explanation. I looked for this type of clarification elsewhere and couldn't find it. I was amazed however by how willing people are( who had no idea what there talking about) to explain it.
You're welcome......glad you enjoyed the video. The internet is "blessed" with all sorts of self-proclaimed experts. The trick is to separate them from those who actually are.
Thanks' Uncle Doug.I was watching your videos' a few years' back, then stuff came up and I am now getting back to them!Really informative and some info that I wish I had,some years' ago.I hand-wound an output-transformer for a prototype amplifier that a friend of mine was building and we were doing a lot of guess-work,at the time!This explanation video helps' so many people to understand the "black-art" part of tube electronics'!Thanks' again for your generous offerings' and sharing your incredible knowledge with us!
You're welcome, Charles. Another output transformer video is on the way.
@@UncleDoug Thanks' Uncle Doug,will be looking forward to seeing that video!
Excellent video Uncle Doug! If only all teachers were as clear and thorough as you.
Thanks so much, Bo :)
Finally, someone who knows how to teach! I have never found a better explanation of tube and transformer characteristics and there application than this. Thank you!
new subscriber
Welcome aboard, Darin. Thanks for the very nice comments :)
Sir, I must declare you a living miracle-worker! You have actually managed to convey knowledge into my logic center which had previously been quite indecipherable!! Thats amazing! This is a great great vid thank you so much!
You're welcome, C. Glad the video was informative :)
After 43 years on this earth, 15 of which I have been a professor of electrical and computer engineering, I finally understand what speaker impedance mismatch means. Thanks, Uncle Doug!
You're quite welcome, Nikita. Please see our related video on determining the Impedance Ratio.
I watched this the first time a month ago and learned a great deal, but what I have used most since is the phrase "I invite you to try because it's one of life's great disappointments when (insert impossible idea here)". Thank you for all this great content and specifically that phrase. 19:50
You're welcome, CM. I'm glad the video resonated with you :)
This was the most informative, most right to the point, and most useful video on the topic! Not only you covered the theoretical aspects (which I came for) but it also showed practical aspects (which were bonus for me). I cannot thank you enough! Really!
You're quite welcome, OD. Thanks for your very nice comments :)
Thank you so much for shedding light on an area that as a musician and collector of old amps I am interested in but have always been shy of investigating. Very clear delivery.
+Colms2005 Thanks, Colms. Rusty and I are glad the videos are clear and helpful :)
Have to say Doug you are an amazing teacher. The smoke clears every time you speak. Greetings and best wishes from Yorkshire UK.
Thanks so much, Sean. Likewise to you from the Desert Southwest, USA :)
@@UncleDoug Cheers for the reply Doug. 🎸
Ee by gum lad. God's own country.
all the years of using my Marshall major and my other tube amplifiers I never had the idea of why these negativities could happen here's why in the way you just explained it 🙏
Glad the video was helpful, Charles.
@@UncleDoug thank you Uncle Doug 💜
After using your method and Mr. ElPaso's method, I determined which were the primary leads. Also, the ratio is approx. 5500 to 1 for a 4 ohm load.
Your videos are most informative.
Joram Kalfa Thanks so much, Joram. I'm glad the videos are helpful :)
Hey Uncle Doug. I am finally getting around to learning tube amps. I just want you to know that you are an amazing teacher. I am a HVAC tech and have an understanding of basic electricity and you explain things in a manner waaaay better than any tech school teacher ever did. I am not sure if you are still making videos or not not, but please keep it up if you are. Thank you thank you thank you! Ryan Wham
You're welcome, Ryan. Thanks so much for your nice comments, and best of luck with your new hobby :)
Hay Uncle Doug! You have really helped me remember my electronics coarse in High school. mid.70's. we had a great teacher who was a radar tech in the 2nd. WW. he really tried hard to help us understand all this amazing stuff. Its been many years since i felt such a strong disire to dive in to this amazing stuff again. But i plan on finding some time soon. Your a very good teach! Blessings
Thanks, Barry. We're glad the videos have rekindled your interest in electronics :)
It's 2022 and I enjoyed a couple of your video's now and the one thing that surprised me most: You apologized for the math! Hahahaha, thanks for all the effort! The knowledge and theory is getting banned from school more and more every year. Alle the basics are brought down to an absolute minimum, so your teachings are worth the minutes in gold!
Thanks !! I was a math teacher for many years, SK, and know all too well that math is a nightmare for many people......largely because they had lousy teachers in school.
@@UncleDoug math doesn't have to be hard. But it's not easy to get math entertaining. Same with physics. Electric theory is as dry as dust, and I know to many collegues who doesn't get passed Ohm's law, while Kirschoff and Faraday's are to convinient to understand when it comes to resolving bugs. I still have and collect old schoolbooks when I run into them. They're awesome.
@@Kirurishii Agreed, SK. Thanks for sharing.
It's Amazing how smart you are Uncle Doug.
God Bless you and your Family.
You're too kind, John. If I can do this, so can anyone who really focuses on learning about tube electronics.
I highly appreciate any of your RUclips Land videos. So much to learn and allways using the correct terms. Makes it so much easier to understand. What I want to say is that using the right terms is ways much more better than prattling about which is so often seen on other channels. Like the car's stuff too.
Thanks, MM. We try to make every video as clear and concise as possible.
As always, excellent info here for everyone. You have given the gifts of your time and knowledge. Say hi to Rusty if he’s still around.
Thanks, George. Sadly, Rusty passed away several years ago.
Love, love, love your work and teachings... I have a few friends struggling to understand electronics, I am sharing this video (among several others) to help them with the heavy lifting, falling so far out of audio'fool'dom. Doug you are a master teacher... Thank you for the effort!!!
You're quite welcome, QE. I'm glad the videos helpful :)
Hi Doug and Rusty;
Thank You for Your Patience with me.. And Thank You for Your Great Answer..
A little while ago I found Dennis Carter, and His Video's give me, even more of what I am looking for.. Not so much in Output Transformers, but the Rest of the Set, which is even more of where I need Help... The Front end is where I am having the most trouble, and the Questions I have asked You was to complete what I needed to know for the Amplifier or Back End.. Thank You for doing such a Great Job !!
THANK YOU Marty
Thank you Uncle Doug! I wish we had more teachers like you around.
You're welcome, PMM.
Uncle Doug, you are a INTERnational treasure. Thank you!
Wow, thanks so much, ZH :)
If only you had been my math teacher in 7th grade...I would have actually learned something. Thank you for all your great videos.
Thanks :) By coincidence, I was a math teacher in grades 6, 7, and 8 for many years.
What a spectacularly amazing video lecture. This is a must-watch for anyone from an audio & DIY enthusiast all the way down to high school and college level students who are studying electronics.
All in all a fantastic watch!
Wow.....thanks so much, Aaron. Please be sure to watch our many other technical videos.
@@UncleDoug The pleasure is all mine in subscribing to your channel, mate!
I truly wish you were my professor in college.
Thanks so much for subscribing. I hope you find the videos to be rewarding and informative.
This video was extremely helpful - Great Job and thank you so much for the effort and time you put into these video's. I've been studying tube amp circuitry for the past year and the fog is finally starting to lift!
+Kevin King You're welcome, Kevin. I'm glad to hear the video was helpful :)
This is the best video tutorial on OT's I have ever seen. Thank you for this uncle DOUG!
Thanks, TB01. Hearing from satisfied viewers makes it all worth while. I may indeed make a video about the power transformer. One characteristic of it that some people might not realize is the current limitation on each winding. Ignoring this can lead to all sorts of problems. Thanks for the suggestion.
I am SO glad I watched this series of videos! You have explained Impedance in a manner that I actually understand. Thank you!!
You're welcome, M47. Please watch our other videos for even more insights :)
Thank you for such an illuminating video! You have a great talent for passing on technical information in an accessable yet scientifically rigorous way.
Many thanks 😊
You're quite welcome, MSF. Thanks !!
Doug, Nice layman's terms explanation! Harp players seem to love a mismatch like a 16 ohm speaker on an 8 ohm tap. Putting a 4 ohm speaker on an 8 ohm tap is a great way to burn things up. I have seen a shorted voice coil running at 1.2 ohms on an 8 ohm tap. Thankfully, all I got was a really good light show! I own an old ESI Teague LCR, but the Variac dialed to 1 volts secondary works fairly well, but RMA, NAB etc generally used 1000Hz as their test freq. You will have to use a lower B+ and the 6L6 pair won't deliver much more than 30 watts, but it will be a nice amp. At 5200 ohms you will get 60 watts from a pair of 6L6GCs, 5881s, 7581s, KT66s etc. When I went to college there was a discussion of teaching ohm's law for DC as AC theory with a 0 degree phase angle. Let's face it, going from DC to AC theory was a major learning curve for most people! NEVER say you are sorry for the math! NEVER! That math is what keeps us from screwing up more often than we do already!
Greetings, Seth. Thanks for your kind words and informative input :)
Time for more honesty here... I worked for a pro audio company with an owner who claimed to be an electrical engineer (I've often doubted whether or not he graduated). He could not explain how any of this worked. I took a high enough level of physics in college to know the guy was full of beans. It is all finally starting to get clear. AWESOME videos.
It's great to hear that the videos are clearing up some "fuzzy" areas, Greg. I intend for them to build a very basic foundation, upon which motivated individuals can continue to build, with further study.
Just watched this video and I have got to say, you explain this with fantastic clarity. It has been a pleasure to watch, thank you.
You're welcome, Mr. T. We're glad the video was helpful.
I feel smarter after I watch your videos. Thanks uncle Doug
Glad to hear it, Johny. The pleasure is ours :)
Excellent video presentation - all your vids are spot on! thx
We really appreciate your kind appraisal, K. Thanks !!
The best explanation about speakers and impedance, ever!
Wow.....thanks so much, Alvaro.
A few months back I was working as an electrician in a warehouse by an import and shipping dock, removing old wiring from the ceiling to free up space in the cable trays, which were overflowing and tilting from the weight of the cables. At the end of one of the lines (most of them had been cut in various places prior to my arrival) I find a really old PA speaker (which was completely covered in many decades of fork-lift soot), mounted on the wall. It's made to be used with a 50 or 100V signal, and has a transformer built into it. So an idea strikes me: what if I were to use this speaker, and the built-in transformer to build some kind of gnarly franken-amp? Certainly would make a fun project.
Well, after many months of collecting even more dirt in the corner, you've helped set me on the right path to getting this thing started, so thanks a whole bunch, Doug!
Good luck with your project, SA. You might hunt down an old PA amp.....they generally had output capabilities that were suited for these old style CV speakers.
This was most likely a "70-volt-line" system. The PA's output transformer had a secondary winding (basically a 500-ohm tap) that was a bit self-regulated. It would put out as much power as the composite load wanted, up to the wattage capacity of the amp WITHOUT the system volume dropping. Each loudspeaker had its own adjustable transformer often with an individual selectable power level switch. I helped set up, operate and dismantle dozens of these for conventions back between 1960 and 1990. I was also one of the ladder guys that put up and took down the overhead wires and repaired broken mic cords.
I wish my electronics instructor in the USAF was half as good as explaining theory as you are. Well done, Doug!
Thanks, David :)
Besides the perfect approach to the matter, being me italian, I do appreciate your always perfect and easy to understand english!
Thank you very much!
You're quite welcome, LLT. Glad to hear it :)
Incidentally, the VERY best electronics course on vacuum tube circuit design and operation was the ack section of the OLD RCA Receiving Tube Manual out of the 60's. A couple years of electronics education in a few weeks, and dead easy to understand. I just ate it up. Then I designed and built my own amp roughly based on an RCA circuit and I pushed my 6L6's for 100 watts of clean sound. I used a tiny resistor in series with a 100-watt light bulb connected to the 70-volt-line output tap (meant for use on disttibuted PA systrms) on my special output transformer. I put a speaker across the resistor to sample the power going to the light bulb. It was clean and the light bulb was hitting way over 100 watts. This is what you can do with proper design. I had chosen to raise the plate voltage and put a cooling fan on the tube though. And little resistors on the tube elements to prevent parasitic oscillations.
Very interesting, Fred. Thanks !!
It seems that the best teachers are on RUclips and you, my friend, are certainly among them.
I hope this wasn't already asked. I looked for it, but 1397 comments is a daunting task, so please forgive me if I'm being redundant.
Thanks to this episode, I now understand why my multi-meter always produces a value lower than the spec sheet, when I attempt to measure the impedance of a speaker using my shiny new multimeter.
With that being said, what is the best way to determine a speaker's impedance, since it cannot be accurately determined with a multimeter?
Thanks so much, Tyler. You can measure the DC resistance and then multiply by about 1.3. Thus a DC resistance of 6.2 Ohms corresponds roughly to an impedance of 8 Ohms.
WOW Such a great explanation and the math wasn't too hard to comprehend either.
Thanks so much for this.
This video gets saved straight to the reference library of other useful videos on Valve Amplification
Glad you liked it, UT.
Love this video explaining the impedance Z (Xl) and ohms... great technical information you have broken down into terms that most can understand.
Thanks, Vic. Glad to hear it :)
This video is just great! I wasn't expecting you to go into the Resistance vs Impedance, so that was a lovely surprise as I was needing to study up on this. Thanks again!
You're welcome, Garrett. We're glad the video was helpful :)
thank you.
I think the way you explain things makes sense to those who may have not understood math in school very well. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into your lessons. I also appreciate the mathematical explanations as I always found maths complicated. I understand it very well how you explain things here.
Cheers and thank you.
Thanks for your very nice comments, Sonor.
I understood all of that, and I did the art school thing, so the sums are simple! And just when I was thinking, hey, you could get a winding ratio from resistance that idea was shot out of the sky... But now I know why. Clear as a bell, sir. Thanks.
That's great news, Bill. It's a shame that simple DC resistance can't provide an accurate estimate of winding ratio.
You are an excellent teacher, thanks so much for all of these RUclipss.
You're welcome, Polly. Glad you enjoy them.
Great straight-forward information..the math is necessary for anyone entering the field of electronics....just gotta suck it up and get used to it! Go Uncle Doug..I'm loving it!
Thanks so much, FBH :)
Thank you for posting this video. You explanation about impedance reflection really helped, as this has been a stumbling block for me. You make it easy to understand. Looking forward to more of your videos
You're welcome, Ernest. We're glad to hear that the video was clear and helpful.
Without doubt ,this is the best way to learn about circuits. I'll be back here a few times yet. Well done. ( Subscriber )
Thanks so much, W. We look forward to hearing from you.
This video explains the OT concept VERY well! I never found the math boring when I was in electronics school; (I guess I was the true electronics geek in the class) it helped me have a very clear understanding of component to circuit functionality to the fullest extent...This is a great explanation for both intermediate as well as advanced...The method you used to find the turns ratio was taught to me as a young teen by an old timer who had a radio/TV repair shop that I hung out in as a little kid...This brought back some good memories! Many don't know about inductive loads in circuits...this is a great starting point for the new-comer :) Keep 'em comin' I think you and David should partner-up & open an audio/electronics school! You would probably have packed classrooms! :)
Thanks so much, Frank. It's hard to keep a presentation simple enough for beginners, while not boring those with experience. Your comment makes me think I may have accomplished that goal. I appreciate your input and opinion.
Thanks for this video. I used this video and one by D-Lab, to check two output transformers from a Fisher X-100C that I purchased off eBay. I originally thought I had bad output transformers, but after using your test method, I was able to verify that they are both good and also determined their winding ratios.
You're welcome, Armstrong. I'm glad our video proved to be helpful :)
This lesson is pure gold! Thank you Uncle Doug!
You're quite welcome, Watson, and thanks for your kind words. Rusty and I are glad you enjoy our videos :) ^. .^
Thank you Uncle Doug. Your video's are always enlightening.
We All Appreciate you Uncle Doug !!! Thanks . . . I'll keep watching !
That's great to hear, RD. Thanks :)
Great lesson. The impedance of your teaching was a perfect match to my brain.........
Well said, Mark. You have obviously been paying attention :)
I always learn a lot watching your videos. Thank you for taking your time to share your knowledge on tube amplifiers.
You're welcome, NN :)
THANK YOU SIR. Finally an explanation that is simple and clear. Radiotron Handbook was driving me crazy. 🌠
You're welcome, Reggy.
You are a gifted teacher, Doug.
Thanks, MC.
You are a great teacher. You make things very easy to understand and enjoyable.
Thanks so much, Brock. I really appreciate your kind assessment :)
I have lots of time for your explainations on Tube Amplifiers Dugg, keep it up my friend.
This was so great - thank you! Fwiw, I am terrible with Math and I followed you just fine - you must have been an amazing math teacher.
Thanks, Phil. I hope I was. The vast majority of my students seemed to excel in high school and college :)