CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

dturco · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:12 pm Post subject: Tape for aquadags?

OK, I am hearing some static discharge while the P/J is on. The noise is coming from the blue tube, it is not the H/V, at least I do not think it is I sat and watched the tubes in the dark and never see any arcs of any kind but I do hear every 3-4 minutes a snap. Not very loud just consistent. It was not there before.

Now when I put the tubes in I put the aquadags on each tube, form fitted them around the tube, but the tape's hold was less then stellar, so I put packing tape over the copper foil tape to hold them in place. I don't think this is working out too well.

I just went out and bought some high voltage putty that I want to use as an adhesive and filler but I still want some extra insurance of tape.

So what to use?

jbmeyer13 · Joined: 03 Dec 2010 Posts: 1135

It's funny because I hear a snap every so often and have never noticed any sparks. It sounds more like it's coming through my right front speaker as opposed to the PJ.

Why are you taping the tubes; i.e. is this something you are experimenting with or have been advised to do?

My PJ sits on top of a carpeted riser platform and I wonder if static electricity is coming up through the carpet...

dturco · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:33 pm Post subject:

Nope not an experiment. I just put in new tubes,and transferred over the original aquadags which were held on by tape. That old tape is no longer sticky.

Maybe I should have used the PT-22 thread but I thought it should have its own thread as a specific arcing issue.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:35 pm Post subject:

I use plain old duct tape. Cut it in 1/2 lengthwise. Sticks really well.

dturco · Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:44 pm Post subject:

Alrighty then. I bought some of that too, I just didn't want to admit it.

Duck tape to the rescue ....again Thumbs Up

tse · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 1014 Location: Sweatbucket, Fl.

Do a search for "copper tape" on ebay and you will have plenty of choices. Evidently the EMI shielding copper tape with conductive adhesive that is used for grounding the dag is also used for shielding guitar pick-ups. The edge of the tape is like a knife, it'll cut you if you are not careful.

Scott

dturco · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 12:15 am Post subject:

Thanks Scott. I did that, then I went to an electronics store and asked for copper grounding tape and got the blank stare back. I explained what it was for still, the blank stare. We have this glue here, or this putty. The putty looked more correct to me.

This was not a radio shack place either they had Nichicon caps on the wall and all of the little resistors too. I had been there before but never really knew what all those little dohickies were. Anyway no copper tape there.

Lazy and did not want to wait to online order, but I guess better safe than sorry, and having to do it a third time.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

I bought some copper tape and then the static tape that was OEM for the tubes. I found them at newark I think, maybe mouser.

If I have the original invoice or packaging I'll post it here after I get home from work.

Athanasios

Decibel · Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 904 Location: Roma - Italia

What's "aquadags"?

Question

dturco · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:21 am Post subject:

They are the little black wires that ground the tube glass to the Neckboards.

http://www.curtpalme.com/Marquee_LC_tube_replacement1.shtm

Pic 3.d.1

Just copper tape with wire soldered on. I have no idea why they are called aquadags at all.

See Tim's site [near pic 19] for the term aquadags

http://etechvideo.com/techtip8.htm

Perhaps a a trademark name? It sure isn't a liquid. Maybe the adhesive is the colloidal base?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/aquadag

Anyway that's what their called, by most Marquee guys.

Decibel · Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 904 Location: Roma - Italia

Thank you!
So aquadags there are in Marquee tubes only?

dturco · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 10:39 am Post subject:

Decibel · Joined: 31 May 2007 Posts: 904 Location: Roma - Italia

Thank you

tse · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 1014 Location: Sweatbucket, Fl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquadag

good description of aquadag.

Scott

dturco · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject:

tse · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 1014 Location: Sweatbucket, Fl.

It is just an electrically conductive coating. The copper tape can replace it.

Scott

dturco · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:28 pm Post subject:

Cool. My insomnia was in full swing last night. I searched for aquadags...

http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebsearch/GGmain.jhtml?searchfor=aquadags&tpr=&st=sb&id=ZUxdm082YYUS&ptnrS=ZUxdm082YYUS&ptb=BVbi_XNB4SkIG_28B_Uc8Q&ss=sub&gcht=&n=77cf6d2c&ps=aquadag

That extra letter makes for a big difference.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

3M also makes copper tape.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Static/Home/Products/ProductCatalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GDE40I2KG4TI91816000000_nid=X4XG6N4T2Cbe1XZ88QX242gl

dturco · Posted: Sun May 13, 2012 5:54 pm Post subject:

Reviving this older thread. I have had issue with H/V since putting in the PT-22 tubes. I have replaced the splitter, and all three H/V cables. I am still having issues with the H/V every now and then; a little pop, not a big deal just a tiny static pop every once in a while. But when I shut down in the dark, I can see the H/V surround the H/V cable boot like a circular fire, then a big crackle, then shutdown. I used Dow silicone and cleaned everything with alcohol before assembly.

Now here is what I think is going on. The PT-22's came out of an Ampro, which used a grounding bar, not the tape that the Marquee uses. I think that the lack of Aquadag is my issue. The old tubes had it under the boot area and all over the tubes. The PT-22's only had it where the grounding forks were.

Picture 1&2 clearly show no Aquadag on the tubes near the H/V cable. Pictures 3,4,&5 show the older tubes Aqudag layout.

Any Hypotheses?

http://photobucket.com/Aquadags

tse · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 1014 Location: Sweatbucket, Fl.

You don't want anything conductive around the anode cups. I think the 'dag that you see around the anode on the old tubes is on the inside. It connects to the anode. The 'dag on the outside of the tube needs to be connected to ground. Through copper fingers or through copper tape with conductive adhesive. Keep grounded stuff away from the anode connection.

Scott