Page 20 - Triwatt Custom Lead Amp Builder's Guide

(4) Insulate the input and output jacks from the chassis.
The safety ground wire from the mains is separate from the signal ground. Run a wire from the
AC ground to the chassis near where the AC power enters the chassis.

Insulated jacks
To insulate the input and output jacks either use plastic insulated jacks or metal jacks with
insulating washers. Some people prefer the increased durability of metal jacks. Insulating a metal
jack requires a shoulder washer with a 3/8’ internal hole that fits a ½’ panel hole.

Minimizing transformer interference

To minimize coupling between the power transformer and output transformer orient them so their
plates are at right angles. If possible, place them at opposite ends of the chassis.
Keep the input stage wiring short and away from the output stages. This minimizes the possibility
of oscillations caused by coupling of the output signal into the input.
Mount the grid resistors as physically close to the grid pins as possible.
Use a twisted pair of wires for the tube filament wiring. Route it away from AC lines and close to
the chassis.

Wiring

The traditional method of constructing amps involved mounting the components on tag board or
fiberboard. This is the technique that is used for Trinity Amplifiers and is the recommended
approach for service and reliability.

Assembling the amp

Before You Begin
When you first receive your kit, remove all of the parts from the shipping box and place them on a
well-lit, clean surface. Check all of the parts against the parts list and verify that you have
everything before you begin. Contact us at once if you are missing anything, or if something
appears to be damaged.

Tools

To assemble the amp you need:
25 watt pencil tip soldering iron
60/40 rosin core solder
wire stripper
wire cutter
needle nose pliers
screwdrivers (Philips, standard)
multi-meter with minimum 500V range

TrinityAmps TRIWATT Builders Guide Ver. 2.31.docx- 20 -