Is rectifier tube arcing a problem?

The rectifiers you note are not "slow start" and I would wait a minimum of 5+++ minutes (depends upon the circuit design) before re-powering the amp.

The power supply caps need to drain stored energy in order for the circuit/design to withstand the inrush current of re-powering the unit.

This said, arcing tubes are not a good thing.

DeKay

Should...

Not the case with my Audion and Bottlehead amps (I’ve blown fuses on both).

Also had the crap shocked out of me by various vintage amps that had been powered down for 8-24 hours (just for fun - because I knew better;-).

Better safe than sorry, plus what’s the hurry?

DeKay

If this is "only" happening when you power down one of the amps and then restart it within a very short period of time, just wait longer (5-10 minutes).

If it happening @ other times, then it needs to be looked into.

I would not reuse a rectifier that I observed arcing, but I've always had plenty of spares.

I found a schematic of the power supply section @ the Steve Hoffman Forums, but could not link it.

I Googled your amp + rectifier and it came up on the first page of hits.

DeKay

From what I gathered surfing the WWW 5U4G is the only rectifier recommended for your amps in stock form.

I've only come across them with guitar amps of which a few local guys preferred the 5U4G (over the GB version).

This is of course apples to oranges as far as your AN's go.

Try and find the thread (threads) @ the Steve Hoffman Forums pertaining to your specific amps as there were gobs of posts/pics/info that I did not read through in detail (including power supply/slow start mods).

As they are kits I doubt that well thought out modifications would decrease their resale value down the road.

From the few pics I viewed they looked easy to work on (unlike my old Audion 300B amp that resembled the innards of my TV7 tube tester;-).

I would start by confirming that your units are actually built to the original AN specifications and then go from there.

Yes, it's possible that your old production tubes are duds as I've always found rectifier tubes difficult to test with my old TV7/Hickok 539 testers in that they always tested good until they didn't (same thing with 12ax7 tubes on the same testers).

DeKay

Some/most of it is beyond my tech knowledge as well, but I do understand the basics of it.

I've relied upon techs/friends to update my tube gear in the past and I gleaned a tiny bit of understanding from doing so

This would be good info for your local repair person to read/consider.

Until 10 years ago I did not know what the tiny transformers a friend installed on my Dynaco ST70's, being used as mono blocks, were for (power supply chokes).

He performed the modifications in 1979, and said that the stock mono/stereo switch/circuit was a bad joke.

The improvement in sound quality from the mod was not a slight one.

DeKay

fiesta:

"Finally, some real help for this problem. Thanks for helping to solve problems that the wannabees simply cannot."

You have contributed nothing useful to this thread (instead you have performed as a cheerleader with your +/- opinion of those who have contributed useful info/avenues of thought).

DeKay

Fiesta:

"Your multiple comments here were of no value."

Really?

I first commented on the start/inrush as well as pointed out a source (though I did not know how to forward/link it) to a schematic of the power supply.

And, yes...

I do have a problem with your comment. 

DeKay

fiesta:

Not going to happen on my end, so your decision is all on you from here on.

You remind me of a recently new "member" who posted that my abbreviation of Audiogon as A’Gon was "pretentious".

DeKay