indicators for bad rectifier

[frquent flyer]

Concerning rectifiers, What are the symptoms of a bad rectifer tube?

[Blue Strat]

Blowing a fuse every time you try to power up, silver getter has turned white (as in any tube), everything powers on but no signal through the amp, no plate voltage or any other voltage (except bias supply voltage) in the amp.

[Prairie Dawg]

Originally Posted by Blue Strat

Blowing a fuse every time you try to power up, silver getter has turned white (as in any tube), everything powers on but no signal through the amp, no plate voltage or any other voltage (except bias supply voltage) in the amp.

And lightning bolts inside the tube.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by Prairie Dawg

And lightning bolts inside the tube.

Arcing, yes! This can also be an indication of a problem downstream (shorted power supply capacitor or power tube) and not always a "bad rectifier" symptom.

[frquent flyer]

Thank-you and thank-you and thank-you!!!

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by frquent flyer

Thank-you and thank-you and thank-you!!!

So, what's happening?

[frquent flyer]

The last time that I had a problem my friend thought it was the rectifier tube,I didn't and none of the things descibed here happened. I 'm just trying to learn something.

[Blue Strat]

Originally Posted by frquent flyer

The last time that I had a problem my friend thought it was the rectifier tube,I didn't and none of the things descibed here happened. I 'm just trying to learn something.

What were the symptoms and what did it turn out to be? Other people are trying to learn too.

[TimmyP]

I've also had ones that had low B+, or dropped the B+ as the current draw increased.

[frquent flyer]

My problem turned out to be a pre-amp tube which I replaced with a trusty Tung Sol.It was my more knowledgeable friend who thought ..Rectifier.