Capacitor microphone PSU - design question

Question

I'm restoring a capacitor microphone PSU. Schematic is as follows

I have an EE question about the existing circuit. [Whatever the answer, I'm going to replace the upper 4-5V heater supply with a 7805 (and the lower part with a TL783 jacked up to 120V output), i.e. this is not a repair question.]

It is arranged via the current-sense resistor, the 9V1 zener, and the OC26 (germanium) pass-transistor as a constant-current source. Considering there is a valve in the microphone and considering the low signal levels prevailing, it surprises me that it isn't a constant-voltage source. Would that be for example because of techology limitations at the time (1964)? say even just crude parts count? Or is there a technical reason concerning valve heaters that I'm not aware of?

The schematic is quite interesting. Note the huge and bootstrapped 180M grid resistor on the valve, to match the high-impedance output of the microphone capsule (only a few pF I believe).

For reference this is a Phillips EL 6154/01, aka AKG N60A.

This is an aside to your main question, but I hope you're planning for [good protection](http://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/148340/how-to-protect-lm317-from-output-short) for that LM317; at 120V it will be floating a lot above its rated in-out max difference. — Fizz, Oct 06 '15 at 05:31
@RespawnedFluff Yes indeed, reverse diodes everywhere. The whole device is a rather lethal contraption. I wouldn't care to hold a microphone with 120V inside it. In fact I had forgotten, but I'm really using a TL783, which is better at these voltages. — user207421, Oct 06 '15 at 05:36
I think it makes sense to use a current-source for powering the tube's filament as it probably has the same properties as a lightbulb filament in that it has a lower resistance when cold. If you would power it from a 7805 I would take precautions to limit the current when you switch the microphone on. Probably a power resistor might suffice. Why limit to current ? Because that might increase lifetime. Ordinary lightbulbs also tend to break at power on when cold. — Bimpelrekkie, Oct 06 '15 at 07:38
If the problem is the current inrush at switch on, the solution would be CTN inrush 33 ohms in serie with the primary of the power transformer. It will limit current inrush in capacitors and heaters. After few seconds, the CTN is "hot" and its impedance falls under a ohm. — greg, Oct 06 '15 at 07:57
Sorry a CTN is in French. A NTC is a thermisor with high impedance when cold (opposite of PTC) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermistor — greg, Oct 06 '15 at 15:19

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited Jan 13 '17 at 00:16

The OC16 based current source is good because the valve gets DC for the heater and inrush current issues stated in the comments are covered. Sure it's not the worlds greatest current source but mains variations aren't that great so it will be fine. Remember that in 1964 transistors were much more expensive so "better" but more complicated current source circuits stayed within Academia.

Your voltage source proposal is actually better than an ideal current source as long as you limit inrush current by whatever means using the previous comments as a guide. Steady state tube operation is best on a voltage source because the increasing resistance with temp characteristic of the filament assists thermal stability. Remember that temperature is the more important parameter than current or voltage.

Now you want to regulate your HT .... Fine why not? Remember that in 1964 high voltage transistors were unobtainium so the RC filtering was the cheap reliable way to get the ripple and hence hum down. If you regulate the HT you achieve lots of ripple rejection if the reg is worth its salt. Ripple rejection is much more important than V out accuracy. In fact why don't you just do a simple pass transistor and not have to worry about jacking up anything?

Capacitor microphone PSU - design question

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