I am building an HV power supply for a 3CX3000A7 valved (tubed) linear amp a pal and I are converting. The supply will be circa 5kV at 1.8 amp. I am hoping to use an array of electrolytics with close tolerance bleeder resistors across each one for smoothing after a full wave rectifier. I am getting conflicting advice from two obviously very clued up guys. I am in no position to judge who is right or wrong, or which way to go. Maybe I should toss a coin
One guy says having a vast amount of stored energy in the bank is asking for trouble if something goes wrong, and the extra capacitance won't aid the smoothing any significant amount. The other says having a load of capacitance enhances the smoothing and makes for a better amp used for SSB or CW as it helps keep the HV from changing up and down as the loads change.
Let's put some figures on this
Guy A: 15 off 470uF 450 volt electrolytics in series, with 50k ohm 5 watt bleeders across each cap. Total capacitance circa 31uF, rated voltage 6750 volts
Guy B: 16 off 2300uF 450 volt electrolytics in series with 100k ohm 3 watt MOF resistors across each cap plus a 6A10 diode across each cap in case a rectifier diode block fails.
That's circa 143uF capacitance and a rated voltage of 7200 volts. And a lot (about 2000J?) of stored energy.....
Both put their case well, what do I do?
Thanks!