Valve orientation ?

[Audio Al]

Come on you people who know , a question for you

Why were all older valve amps built with vertical valve positioning , and in current models they are positioned horizontally , as in Croft valve amps and other makes

I can see that heat disipation on vertical valves would be even heat loss ,
However on modern amps surely they would run with a cool side and a artificialy hot side ?

Would this be detrimental / have a affect on the valves ??

[montesquieu]

plenty old amps had horizontal valves?

[Primalsea]

I think older power amps were built to be put in boxes, so having the valves vertical just made it easier for replacement. Mostly pre amps and radios that were to be on display just had the valves inside anywhere they would fit with enough clearance to dissipate enough heat. The format just kind of stuck.

This is just a guess.

[User211]

Generally those running horizontal valves were/are held inside cases, no?

It is just safer and probably cheaper as no valve cage is required.

I honestly don't think you've spotted a trend, though. As Tom implied.

[walpurgis]

I have left and right monoblock power amps. The valves in my left monoblock are horizontal and in the right monoblock they are vertical. Can you figure that out?

[Audio Al]

I have left and right monoblock power amps. The valves in my left monoblock are horizontal and in the right monoblock they are vertical. Can you figure that out?

Err Nope

[Stryder5]

Is it a case (sorry) that generally the trend is for lower height enclosures, so the valves are mounted horizontally?

Smaller enclosures less cost for manufacture?

[walpurgis]

Err Nope

They are a mirror image pair that can be stood or laid down. Like this.

[Audio Al]

They are a mirror image pair that can be stood or laid down. Like this.

My head hurts , now I have 45 degrees to contend with as well

[Jazid]

Valves sometimes require an orientation, with the filaments running vertically, especially directly heated power valves.

The reason is that as the filaments heat up they expand and sag. If oriented horizontally the filament can sag and touch the grid or even the anode. This can make things go pop.

All valves have a recommended orientation in their datasheets, for most indirectly heated and small signal valves it is specified as unimportant. Upside down is a poor choice for obvious reasons but acceptable for testing purposes.

Some directly heated valves may also be used horizontally as long as they are rotated so that the filaments cannot sag onto the other elements.

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