5e3 build

Haven't posted on a while but I just ordered a 5e3 kit from Weber last night. They said its a 3-4 week lead for the cab to be built so now im just waiting.

I went with a brown bootleather covering with a wheat grill it'll give it a more custom boutique look as aposed to the normal tweed

Split the order. Have them send the chassis kit. You'll have the chassis done when the cabinet shows up.

According to FedEx it will be here Tuesday. This is my first amp build so other the the general electronics and soldering tips, any tips for a 5e3 like where to run wires chassis grounding tips etc. I'm sure there are plenty of threads on them but just curious before I go digging

Cool , I don't have any advice to offer , just built a 5F1 , first build . But I have a 5E3 kit waiting on my bench :) , take plenty of pics , I'll be following :)

According to FedEx it will be here Tuesday. This is my first amp build so other the the general electronics and soldering tips, any tips for a 5e3 like where to run wires chassis grounding tips etc. I'm sure there are plenty of threads on them but just curious before I go digging

+1 on the photos.

If for some reason you have any difficulties, many a member will be able to analyze your photos and offer suggestions.

Tubedepot.com has a great video on soldering and other tips

we'll make sure you get it running. do you have any previous electronics knowledge? In particular make sure you read about the hazards and precautions in dealing with high voltage. you can google many places with info.

Yes plenty of electronics and soldering knowledge I actually have an engineering degree in electronics. I just know there tricks for like heater wires and things like that that I have read but don't remember anymore

Its here! I will unpack it and take pics later when im off work

Here are a few pics (hopefully ive never attached from the phone app before) everything appears to be there and the bootleather covering came out beautiful the pics done do it justice. Hopefully I will start populating the board tonight if the little one cooperates and goes to sleep.

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cab looks nice

Thanks. So looking through all the little parts it seems they substituted a 20uf cap for one of the three 16uf caps. Is this ok and if so which position should I put it in

The 20uF is an upgrade/improvement. It goes in the first position. Nearest one to the Power Transformer.

Thanks thats what I figured. I have all the components on the board not soldered, as soon as I get the baby down out comes the hakko ill take more pics as i go along as well

That cab is sweet :smile:

So here is loaded board before and after soldering. My solder joints could have been prettier but they are good enough for my first amp build.

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I am still looking at that cab. Wow!

Yeah the cab is amazing and it looks even better in person instead of my phones camera pic

+1 on that cabinet!

I was also surprised that the kit came with waxed cloth hookup wire. I fully expected cheap PVC coated wire so I was happily surprised I just ordered some nos Russian 6v6gt matched tubes and have an ever growing assortment of new, nos, and used 12ax7s and 12au7s to play with

Board is in one the pots inputs are wired up all thats left is the tube sockets, switches , lamp and transformers which seems like the easy part at this point

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So I'm almost done the wiring worked on it last night only a few more solder connections. Quick question what do you guys do with the transformer leads do you cut them down to length or leave the full length and same for the unused leads mine are really long but I left them full length cause I might upgrade the transformers later and want to be able to use these for a future project

Hi,
I'm not an expert, but I think that for the wires coming off the board you want them to not have a lot of excess. Cut them to length. I routed them like the layout diagram. This is where you will pick up noise if you aren't careful. I think of every wire that carries audio as a potential antenna.

Regarding the transformer wires, most of mine were just about the right length. I think a couple had a little excess, but I left it because the ends were nicely tinned when I got it. (laziness, I guess). I think that I had a couple of wires that went to ground that were way to long and I shortened them.

So i just finished everything up turned it on tubes light up but no sound not even a hum or crackle

Did you try the standby switch? It might be in backwards. That fooled me the first time.

I think o found the problem I followed the Weber layout which is wired for a 5y3 but I'm using the copper cap that Weber supplied which is wired a little different on the rectifier socket ill fix it later and hopefully that solves it

I'm worried I nay have fried the copper cap or tubes by running it with the rectifier hooked up wrong I have spare tubes I used the cheapies for the test fire but I done have another copper cap should I worry or should it be ok