Tube Fire What Next?

Ha ha!  I've had a tube fire as well.  It is quite spectacular, particularly if you have company when it happens. No problem.  It MAY be (as it was in my case) bad connection with tube sockets (although my fire was not inside the tube.)  Clean the pins (may as well replace that tube), and if necessary, use a toothpick or something to tighten the connections (I know--I'll be reviled--but my tube stuff is not high-end enough to make it untouchable).  If the connections are bad, you will probably hear occasional static, and if you don't act, a full-on fire is the next step.  Biasing looks like it should be easy with that amp; just google it.

It can happen. I've seen it happen myself a few times. Can be a pretty dramatic show going on in there, blue arcs, red hot metal and all. Perfectly safe, just so you know. These things are designed so the fireworks stay inside the tube. Worst case, usually, a resistor located directly under the tube inside the amp will burn out. Something you can replace yourself very easily if you can operate a screwdriver and solder.  

Your tubes are about a year old. Buy a new matched set and replace them all. Toss the burned out tube, put the rest in the boxes the new ones just came in, set them aside for spares for next time.  

Melody, if yours is like mine https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 they have a couple little holes on each side, one with a tiny little screw in there. If you look real close at picture #4 of my amp they are just barely visible on the left corner of the amp. Yours should be something like that. 

Turn the amp on, let it warm up a half hour or so. You can let it idle or play music, doesn't matter, the amp just needs to be warmed up and stable before setting bias. 

You will need a volt/ohm meter. Does not have to be very good or expensive. The amp is labeled with the correct reading. Set your meter to read volts, stick the black probe in the center, red on one side or the other. Turn the little screw to get the correct voltage. Its a very fine adjustment so sometimes might have to be quite a few turns, or none at all, just depends.  

Do each tube on each side. Does not matter in what order. Nice to get them perfect but that really does not matter very much either. This was not your problem by the way. Even if bias is way off. Too high bias will shorten tube life but tubes can blow like yours did, or not, regardless of where bias is set. Its just the nature of the beast.  

That's it. You are done. Enjoy your new tubes. Depending on how much and how loud you play they will usually last at least a year, to even 3 or more. You can replace them proactively but that really will not get you much. I have had tubes last 5 years. I have had tubes last less than 5 weeks. It is what it is. Which is worth it, because it sounds so nice when it works, eh?

You may have been running the amp too hot. Ensure biasing does not cause the tube plates to glow red. Check in the dark.

Thanks everyone. Millercarbon my melody has the same set-up so thanks for pointing that out. Just to be crystal clear when I bias the amp the amp should be plugged in and turned on, correct?
Noromance, thanks for that comment. in the future I will check. 

Pull the old, check the pins, tighten if needed, install the new, (give them a good visual).

It's never a bad idea to back the bias off a bit (Counter Clock Wise), FIRST. Then TURN the machine ON, and warm it up, 10-15 min.

LOOK!! Make sure your new valve are not red plating for the first 10 minute or so.. pay attention.. Now do what millercarbon said. Set your DMM (digital multi meter) or an analog.. I don't use analog meters,  EVER.. Set to mA.

Turn the volume DOWN all the way.. ok. They say it doesn't matter, it may.. or may not. To be on the safe side.. Turn the volume down...

Be sounding like heaven in no time..

Recheck in 24 hours.. Keep it tuned up..

Regards

Yes. Plugged in, turned on, and warmed up. 

For now while its missing a tube I would leave it unplugged. Unlike SS amps that don't care tube amps don't like to be on without being connected to a speaker. Its overkill, but just to be safe I turn off and unplug when changing tubes or speaker cables.  

When its warmed up half an hour or so the black neg lead goes in the center and the red goes to one side or the other. You want a really small screwdriver like for glasses. Do it right and the probes will hang in there leaving a hand free to turn the screw. That's my preferred technique as otherwise you're trying to hold two probes with one hand while twidding the screwdriver with the other which is a dexterity test I have passed but would rather cheat my way out of, if you get my drift.

Actually the tube arced. This usually happens when the tube has aged out, or has been damaged. The usual culprit is a sort of paint on the cathode of the tube, which can flake off, and it is conductive. This is the genesis of the arcing.


I would replace the tube and see how the amp behaves. In some amps, the arcing can cause resistors in the amp to be damaged, in which case the amp might not work correctly when the tube is replaced (it won't bias up, the tube might turn cherry red or it might sound distorted). If you can set the bias that's good; play it and see how it sounds. If that's OK, the amp is OK and you just need to be sure that your tubes are biased correctly.


This can happen even if the tubes were biased correctly, since its a function of the condition of the cathode coating and not really anything else (although if over-biased can lead to failure).

Atmosphere and millercarbon, thanks for walking me through this. Now I have a choice do I replace the 1 tubestore preferred series el 34 or try something new. Previously it was recommended to me that I try the Mesa boogie NOS el34 but at around $400 quad that’s above what I can afford. So if I go with the new quad route I am torn between trying out Gold lion kt77 for $150
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genalex-Gold-Lion-Platinum-Matched-QUAD-KT77-KT-77-Four-EL34-6CA7-24hr-Burn...
or waiting for Germany to allow shipments to US and try the NOS Siemens for $220. https://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-EL34-power-tubes-RFT-SIEMENS-NOS-EL-34/313301404657?hash=item48f2380bf1:...
thoughts?