did i get lucky??

[nyazzip]

i have been testing OPTs with clip leads for the past week.....today i walked away from my SE amp, and i came back a half hour later to silence....upon investigation, i noticed the clip lead that connects B+, and the lead that connects the plate had drifted together and made contact. neither the PT or OT were hot, and everything still works. is this surprising? shouldn't it have hurt the OP tube at least?

[Gingertube]

Well yes you did get lucky - lucky that the short was across the output tranny primary which is harmless and not from B+ or the anode connection to 0V or some other point which would cause fireworks.

Shorting across the output tranny primary does not change the tube current, that is still dependent upon the biasing arrangement, either fixed or auto (cathode). Current draw from the power supply also stays the same.

Cheers,
Ian

[nyazzip]

yep i've been waiting for those clip leads to bring me trouble....i was in the shower at the time so who knows what might have happened!
i will count my blessings