Operating An Amp In 7-watt Mode?

Orange Amps Technical Q&A's

Moderator: bclaire

Post Reply
adkguy07
Rocker
Posts: 252
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2016 3:46 pm
Location: Upstate New York

Operating An Amp In 7-watt Mode?

Post by adkguy07 » Sat Mar 09, 2019 10:49 am

I use a Dark Terror and for home use I primarily have been using it 7-watt mode. Is the
amp only using one EL-84 power tube in triode mode when doing so? If that’s the case, would
it be wise to swap the tube in use with the other EL-84 every now and then to prolong tube life?


adkguy07

Jondog
Duke of Orange
Posts: 7234
Joined: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:16 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Operating An Amp In 7-watt Mode?

Post by Jondog » Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:16 pm

No, it would require a completely different output transformer and wiring to operate as single ended. Orange uses a specially designed power transformer that has an extra tap connected to the switch on the front to lower the voltage in the amp creating less power/wattage in 7w mode. Both tubes are always running. Their El84 amps that switch from 30 to 15 watts do shut off two tubes to get half power, so in that case if they were always run at 15 watts, it might make sense to swap tubes.
Image

adkguy07
Rocker
Posts: 252
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2016 3:46 pm
Location: Upstate New York

Re: Operating An Amp In 7-watt Mode?

Post by adkguy07 » Sat Mar 09, 2019 2:22 pm

Thanks for that! I guess that I was worrying a bit too much.


adkguy07

makjoh
New Member
Posts: 35
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 1:18 am

Re: Operating An Amp In 7-watt Mode?

Post by makjoh » Sun Mar 10, 2019 12:50 pm

Good info Jondog! I wasn't aware of that, as I was also pondering the same question....something new to be learnt everyday on the Orange forum :o

adkguy07
Rocker
Posts: 252
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2016 3:46 pm
Location: Upstate New York

Re: Operating An Amp In 7-watt Mode?

Post by adkguy07 » Sun Mar 10, 2019 1:39 pm

I was worrying also. The reason for,that was my prior stock EL84 blew taking out a fuse with it.
After retubing afterbthe repair, I was wondering if in the 7-watt side that I'd be letting myself in for more troubles with this Dark Terror.


adkguy07

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 57 guests