Author Topic: Help with a Series I please... (Read 405 times)

lothartu · « **on:** August 09, 2003, 09:31:46 PM »

I have a Series I that came with the old DS5 box. The mono/stereo mini-flip switch broke a LONG time ago and Alembic was kind enough to send me a handwritten schematic so that I could get things rewired properly.

The broken switch is long gone and I have a new DPST switch that will work fine but there are two 1/4 watt 20k resistors listed as needing to be wired onto the switch.

Radio shack has 1/4 watt 10k resistors and 1/4 watt 22k resistors only, no 20k's.

Question: Should I wire two 10k's in series to create a 20k or should I just use the 22k resistors?

I have a basic understanding of electronics but this is an ALEMBIC and I don't want to stupidly screw something up.

ty in advance

hifibassman · « **Reply #1 on:** August 11, 2003, 12:36:39 PM »

I don't have any alembic schematics, but I have built some complex bass preamps before so...
I would say go with the two 10k's in series to be on the safe side, but we are not talking about high voltage or current here.. the resistors probably serve as some type of signal balancer by the fact that it requires two of the same, so I would say 22k at 1/4 watt level will not make much difference as far as line level circuits go. But if it was a part of the filter circuit i would say definitely go with the 20k as they said (very critical values). Those radio shack resistors have a 5 or 10% tolerance anyway so they can be off the mark by as much as 10% even though it says 10k or 20k. Hope this helps- but if Mica or anyone else with better knowledge about this chimes in by all means take their recommendations :-)

(Message edited by hifibassman on August 11, 2003)

kipknee · « **Reply #2 on:** August 11, 2003, 01:29:21 PM »

Depending on where you live, you might have better luck trying a different electronics shop. I have always found Radio Shack to be very limited in their stock of real electronics. Crack open the yellow pages and make a few calls. I'll bet you can find exactly the resistor you need.

kayo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 12, 2003, 08:53:03 AM »

I am not a tech ~ but I will say this ~

Why would you want to put a radio shack anything on an Alembic? Wouldn't you want to use top-of-the-line grade AAA military spec components on your ax? Isn't using radio shack pieces like throwing a Hyundai engine in a Ferrari?

elzie · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2003, 09:49:28 AM »

Hyundai is the leader in the ship building industry, isn't it???

Look, resistors from Radio Shack are made in the same factories as the resistors for Newark Electronics and such. The difference is, the tolerance rating. Radio Shack may be less likely to STOCK a 5% tolerance, but they could still order it.

Now, to the original question and tolerance. If you use a 22K R witha 10% tolerance, that can be anywhere from 20K to 24K. If you use two 10k R's with 10% tolerance, that can be anywhere from 18K to 22K.

In comparison, the original 20K resistor, if it had a tolerance of 10%, could be anywhere from 18K to 22K.

If you still have the original resistor, look at it to determine the tolerance. Look at the resistor and place the end where the color bands to the left. The fourth band from the left is the tolerance indicator:

A gold band will indicate +/- 5%
Silver is +/- 10%
An absence of either one will indicate +/- 20%

After you determine the tolerance, you can base your decision on how strict or close the tolerance was intended, or how important it is to be as close to 20K as required.

Paul

edwin · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2003, 09:17:03 PM »

the 22ks will be fine. I have built a couple of these power supplies and this part of the circuit is not that critical. It just mixes the two signals for the output. That being said, I agree with Kayo and I used 1% metal film resistors (1/2 watt) but that's just me.

Edwin

palembic · « **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2003, 02:05:10 AM »

Brother Paul the good one
how did you beame the Brother Paul the technical one??
I don't understand a word!

Paul the bad one

elzie · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2003, 04:57:22 AM »

Sorry Paul!

It's my job, that is until last Friday......
Does it show that I like this kind of stuff?

Paul, the one with too much time on my hands

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2003, 07:09:41 AM »

So what happened last Friday?

elzie · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2003, 08:15:28 AM »

I was fired, after 8 years on the job. And they did it by Fedex to boot! No phone call, no meeting, not even a severance.

Well, at least it's a new beginning somewhere better (I hope).

palembic · « **Reply #10 on:** August 14, 2003, 08:19:48 AM »

See my brother a new horizon of possibilities is opening for thee!
Keep-up!

Paul the bad one

PS: how was the shower?

David Houck · « **Reply #11 on:** August 14, 2003, 09:00:00 AM »

A new beginning; I like that response. Paul's A new horizon is good too. I hope this sudden change in employment status does not present short term problems in the food and shelter area.

elzie · « **Reply #12 on:** August 14, 2003, 09:08:55 AM »

I don't think so Dave, but apparently, I've been wrong before. Besides, my wife starts a new job next week.

The company I worked for is quite screwed up. If I told you some of the stories, you just wouldn't believe me. In my years, I have never worked in such a place and they really did me a favor.

I even started writing a book about it at Christmas time. Now I have the time to continue. Who knows, maybe it may get finished, or even be good!

Thanks for the support

Paul, the shower was good, but I was naked when you called and we don't need any pictures drawn here!

Paul, the lazy one

(Message edited by elzie on August 14, 2003)

lothartu · « **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2003, 09:12:03 AM »

Thank you all, I appreciate it.

I was able to dig up a couple of 5% 20k resistors and they appear to work ok.

Another question though...

With the two new resistors wired; the solo neck volume is equal to the solo bridge volume (good) but I get a slight volume boost when they are both active.

Does anyone elses Series I do this? It's been so long since my DS5 worked that I can't remeber if this is correct or not. If not then it's probably due to me using 5% instead of 1% resistors.

Side Note: Can anyone point me to an idiots guide for wiring up a DPDT switch? I just hardwired the DS5 for mono mode but it would be nice to have the switch back so that I can toggle to dual output stereo. (Actually I'ld just kill to have one of the DS5-R rackmounts to tell you the truth.)

ty in advance

jet_powers · « **Reply #14 on:** August 18, 2003, 02:40:28 PM »

Paul-

That sucks that you lost your job. Probably just as well from what you say. New opportunities and horizons for sure. I know all about it, I too lost mine. Only it was in March and there is just so little work here in Massachusetts right now and I have yet to land another job. I went to an interview recently and was told I was one of five people they chose to bring in from over 500 resumes received for the position. I don't know how much pride I can take in the knowledge that I was one of four people they chose to reject in person....

Enjoy a little time off and I hope your field is less crowded than mine. Good Luck.

John Paul