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Old 13th Dec 2011, 7:03 pm   #621
Dekatron
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Linkoping, Sweden
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Andy,

Have you thought about the short circuit current which will be fed through the tracks on the PCB for Anode, Screen and Heater voltages? To me the tracks look a bit thin and since you are using a dual layer PCB it might be hard to replace the rotary switches or other components or repair the tracks in case of a failure.

I know that the Anode and Screen voltages are short circuit protected, but if that fails the full voltage/current might be fed through the circuit. The heater voltages do not have the same protection and a fuse might blow slower than a thin track.

Making the tracks wider will not only protect them from being destroyed but it will also decrease the voltage drop if they are long, like on the switch PCB.

Another way of connecting rotary switches to a PCB is to make the PCB simpler with just wide tracks with holes for wires connecting the switch to the PCB. The rotary switch can then be mounted at the front panel and the PCB right behind them. Or the rotary switches can be mounted at the back of the PCB , with shafts through the PCB and screwed to the PCB. This way just letting the shafts through the front panel with a few screws with distances securing the PCB to the front. Both of these ways of mounting them will make it easier to repair or exchange them if it will be necessary. De-soldering Switches from a PCB is harder than soldering wires to the switches or PCB.
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