1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 131488-103079

Using contact cleaner in tube sockets

My ARC VT100mkii which I just got, has a crackling from one of the channels. The tubes are new. When I first installed the tubes, it was fine. The following morning, I powered it on, and the crackling started. I swapped tubes with the other side and it was fine for a while. This evening, it started again. Will using contact cleaner damage the sockets? It is quick drying cleaner.
sgonzalez33
wgutz
85 posts
 
I chased a very similar noise for about a year on my tube pre-amp. Even replaced the tube sockets with gold plated versions. About $1,000 later it was ultimately a bad ground.  
twoch
186 posts
 
Duder, did you switch tubes  switch channel's. 
 Is the cracking now comning from different 
Channel.  You should  Hope it is.  
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
It sounds to me like a resistor. I've never heard caps make noise without a signal on it. Leaking caps also do horrible things to tubes you can actually see. Bad resistors can and do make noise just warming up. And they're easy to "sniff" out with the right probe. 
More to discover