some advice please on mains and vacuum tubes

[shoe]

http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/6sl7gt.pdf

These are the tubes I have,
stated voltage is 250v. Mains here in the UK is 240v,
and i'm not sure about plugging something which I have
wired-up myself into the mains. I'd do a 12V adapter
but obviously this tube is designed to work at a high voltage.

I also have the 6BA6, which is 6.3v ... safer option?
Im looking to build an analog distortion box to be used
as a send effect; amplification is secondary.

Some general guidance would be appreciated Thanks!!!

 

[keith1200rs]

Yes, that's a valve (or tube if you prefer) but you don't just plug it in the mains! You need a circuit diagram for what you want to do. At the very least it will contain a mains transformer, rectifier and smoothing capacitor. The 6.3V you mention is most likely the heater voltage. Most valves work at 100V+.

You might find more music specific valve related stuff on forums on musicrader.com - the main UK based magazine site. There are some good valve guys on there such as ECC83.

Keith

 

[shoe]

Thanks very much Keith,
I do have something planned for the circuit, I just have to get over my fear of high voltages first :S

 

[keith1200rs]

You are wise to be cautious!

Keith

 

[snafflekid]

It is always fun to look at tube datasheets. The Id-Vds curves are so crappy compared to mosfets!

Anyway, That 250V does not mean the mains voltage, which is AC. You need a DC voltage of 250V, and a slug of other components to get that voltage back down to something useful around 5V.

Could be fun though.