[ARC5] Solid State 6AL5

[Robert Nickels]

On 2/8/2018 2:00 PM, Peter Gottlieb wrote:
>   looking at the voltages I realized I needed three diodes for each plate!

An important point to remember (don't ask me why) - solid state 
rectifiers used in a  full-wave rectifier (full wave with center tap, 
not a bridge) must have PRV rated at least 2.8 times half of the rms 
secondary voltage (i.e. the voltage you measure from CT to either 
end).     That's because the center tap creates essentially two AC 
sources which are equal in voltage but 180 degrees out of phase with 
each other.      Diodes in a half-wave or bridge rectifier only need a 
PRV rating equal to 1.4 times the secondary voltage.

Especially when converting to solid-state, strongly consider adding 
inrush current limiting by means of a properly sized NTC thermistor 
device.  Be nice to those unobtainium transformers.

73, Bob W9RAN