Best standby switch wiring in 2204

General discussion area for tube amps.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Steveo
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:29 pm

Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by Steveo »

Hello, in my amp i have

bridge rectifier - filter cap - standby switch - ht fuse - choke and ot center tap.

But i also see in other layouts

Bridge rectifier - standby switch - filter cap - ht fuse - choke and ot center tap.

The filter cap is after the switch not before like mine.

What do you prefer?

My amp when playing at high volume and high gain will squeal for two seconds when i put it into standby. I was wondering if it was because of my standby switch configuration. It wont do this at moderate volumes.

Thanks
User avatar
xtian
Posts: 7103
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:15 pm
Location: Chico, CA
Contact:

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by xtian »

The best plan is not to use a standby switch at all.
I build and repair tube amps. http://amps.monkeymatic.com
frankdrebin
Posts: 131
Joined: Wed May 14, 2014 11:40 am

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by frankdrebin »

you can wire the standby to the screen grid line only,that is much less stressful on the contacts,Peavey used to do that
sluckey
Posts: 3229
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:48 pm
Location: Mobile, AL
Contact:

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by sluckey »

I would use a DPST switch between the PT and diodes just like Marshall did.

https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics ... w_2204.pdf
R.G.
Posts: 1319
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2014 9:01 pm

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by R.G. »

It's a question of objectives - what do you want a standby for? Here are some possible reasons.
1) just because this amp (or other amps historically) have one
2) to mute the amp but be able to have it fire right up instead of waiting for the tubes to warm up for short quiet periods
3) to save wear and tear on the tubes from multiple heat/cool cycles
4) some other reason of your own? Stopping the squealing is a good one.

For reasons one through three, you get just as good a result from rewiring the standby switch so it mutes the input to the power amp. It's safe and effective.
I don't "believe" in science. I trust science. Science works, whether I believe in it or not.
User avatar
Guy77
Posts: 957
Joined: Sat May 31, 2014 2:46 am
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by Guy77 »

I have been using this setup a lot and have not experienced any issues.

bridge rectifier - filter cap - standby switch - choke and ot center tap.

2R also does similar setup.

Cheers

Guy
Steveo
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:29 pm

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by Steveo »

Guy77 wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 5:24 pm I have been using this setup a lot and have not experienced any issues.

bridge rectifier - filter cap - standby switch - choke and ot center tap.

2R also does similar setup.

Cheers

Guy
Do you hit the ht fuse at any point from your standby switch?
pdf64
Posts: 2807
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:23 pm
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by pdf64 »

Just to note that the 2204 has a 2 phase rectification.
User avatar
Guy77
Posts: 957
Joined: Sat May 31, 2014 2:46 am
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by Guy77 »

Steveo wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 6:20 pm
Guy77 wrote: Mon Aug 23, 2021 5:24 pm I have been using this setup a lot and have not experienced any issues.

bridge rectifier - filter cap - standby switch - choke and ot center tap.

2R also does similar setup.

Cheers

Guy
Do you hit the ht fuse at any point from your standby switch?
No I do not. I just noticed you are referring to a 2204 amp which I have not built many of. Maybe someone that has more experience with that will chime in.
sluckey
Posts: 3229
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:48 pm
Location: Mobile, AL
Contact:

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by sluckey »

I don't think I've ever seen a 2204 with a bridge rectifier.
Steveo
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:29 pm

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by Steveo »

No sorry, i messed that up. Its just the normal 2204 2 phase in this amp.

I think will try the normal marshall style of standby as sluckey suggested, just got to order a switch.

Thanks all!
Steveo
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:29 pm

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by Steveo »

I installed the new switch but im getting a short loud electrical type hum when i take the amp off of standby. Only lasts about a second or so. Maybe its the in rush to the first filter cap? Its louder at 120vac than at 90vac. The filter caps are only a year old.

The standby switch is now wired like a normal marshall 2204. The DPST is between the PT and the diodes.
pdf64
Posts: 2807
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:23 pm
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by pdf64 »

Is the bias circuit energised whilst the amp is in standby mode?
sluckey
Posts: 3229
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:48 pm
Location: Mobile, AL
Contact:

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by sluckey »

It is if he wired it IAW the original schematic.
pdf64
Posts: 2807
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:23 pm
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: Best standby switch wiring in 2204

Post by pdf64 »

sluckey wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 10:09 pm It is if he wired it IAW the original schematic.
I dunno, Marshall were wiring their 50 watters like that for maybe a decade, including the first 2 iterations of the 2204 (JMP era) https://el34world.com/charts/Schematics ... l_2204.pdf
Post Reply