Tubes sparking?!

[Ampersand]

Hello all,

I've noticed one of the 12B4A tubes in my Ear+ purist sparks a few seconds after start-up. Is this normal, or an indication of a faulty tube? Nothing about the amp's sound indicates that there is anything wrong however. The tube looks fine, glows, and seems to work after the intial spark. This is my first/only piece of tube equipment, so I'm in unfamiliar territory.

Thoughts?

 

[braillediver]

European tubes will flare up on the filiment under the tube on start up.

If it does it at other times then there's problems but a flare up after turn on is probably normal.


Mitch

 

[Ampersand]

^Well, it only sparks just after start up (3 or so seconds after turn-on), but it's a sylvania. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't sylvania an american company, with osram sylvania being european. I can't ever remember.

I also take it this spark isn't harmful to the amp?

 

[Ampersand]

I'm still looking for more opinions.

Bump for the friday night crowd.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

Do you hear an audible pop from the flash? The power tube in some LDII+ has a habit of flashing and making an audible pop on start up and it's generally agreed to be a bad thing on that particular model.

Maybe you could use this as an excuse to get some upgrade tubes.

 

[shaizada]

The initial spark happens to many European tubes and even others. This normally happens after a cold start. When the tubes have warmed up and you turn off / turn on the amp again, it won't happen

Its normal and really there isn't anything to worry about. Have fun!

~G