World-Designs-Forum  

Go Back   World-Designs-Forum > World Designs > WD Amplifiers
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Gallery Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

WD Amplifiers For discusson of World Designs Amplifiers

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 22nd June 2013, 11:48 AM
Shane's Avatar
Shane Shane is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 1,475
Default Switched vol pot for KEL84

Having my KEL84 on a shelf at face level makes reaching the rear-panel mounted mains switch (why put it there?) a bit of a trial, especially for the vertically challenged members of the family. I don't want to start drilling holes in the front panel for new switches, so does anyone know if it's possible to get a volume pot with a mains switch attached that won't compromise sound quality too much? I've done the shunt mod, but it still needs to be a half-decent one.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 22nd June 2013, 01:36 PM
bob orbell bob orbell is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: kettering northants.
Posts: 2,731
Default Re: Switched vol pot for KEL84

I looked at that some time ago Shane, but could only find mono pot's with a switch, how about a simple mains IR remote at the plug top? Maplin do them quite cheap, just a thought. BOB
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 22nd June 2013, 06:21 PM
Richard Richard is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Notts
Posts: 5,357
Default Re: Switched vol pot for KEL84

Yes I think they've all but disappeared now. Some 25 years ago I needed to replace the one on my Quad 33 which I'd had from new and Quad were a bit hesitant about sending out just the pot as they said they had stock for servicing but not enough to send out as spares. They did agree in the end and even then I had to ream out the hole to fit as they'd had to change brands. The mains switch on the rear is a daft idea imo and I put one on the front of my WD88 a while back. The alternative of course is just to leave the rear panel one switched on and switch power at the mains...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 22nd June 2013, 07:17 PM
Greg.'s Avatar
Greg. Greg. is offline
WD Archivist
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Bristol, UK
Posts: 3,582
Default Re: Switched vol pot for KEL84

I personally like the switch close to 'Mains In' at the rear of the chassis, but I don't have access problems. I prefer not to have to deal with possible hum problems caused by mains wire travelling to the front of the chassis and then back again to the transformer, although I acknowledge this can be managed with little difficulty. It's worth noting that this is not just done by WAD/WD. Several main stream manufacturers also do it this way.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 23rd June 2013, 11:27 AM
david david is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: London
Posts: 360
Default Re: Switched vol pot for KEL84

There's no reason why you can't implement a front mounted mains switch without any hum issues. My 300b Wad clone has this arrangement and hum is inaudible even with 90db sensitive speakers.
David
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 23rd June 2013, 12:34 PM
Shane's Avatar
Shane Shane is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Glorious Devon
Posts: 1,475
Default Re: Switched vol pot for KEL84

I can't really see that hum is going to be an issue. Induced hum is produced by ac current flow, regardless of voltage, and the highest mains frequency ac currents in KEL84 are to be found in the EL84 heater wiring which is draped all over the circuit board with no ill effect, so two 6" lengths of mains lead in the corner of the chassis would seem to be fairly insignificant. I could be wrong, but it's worth a go.

I've been doing a bit of research on t'interweb and discovered that the Tocos pots that HiFi Collective sell, and which seem to be getting good press, are available with a switch according to the manufacturers' website, but so far I've failed to find anyone who can supply one. I wonder if a cheeky email would result in a sample?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:20 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright World Designs