Transformer saturation & leakage

[Lucius]

I'm getting the parts together for a Mono ESL to run Full Range. I will use another channel in the Pre out to an active X-over,high pass to nowhere, low pass to the woofer
to get low end. I have an Iron Core transformer for the ESL.
If the transformer saturates what will it sound like. If there is much Leakage, what will it sound like?

Regards

Lucius

 

[maudio]

If the transformer saturates it will basically short circuit your amplifier. Unless your amp has decent overcurrent protection that sounds like fuses and/or output transistors blowing... Better avoid that.

If you're using a woofer for the low end and an active crossover anyway what's the point of running the ESL fullrange? Much better to connect it to the highpass section of your crossover. That increaes ESL headroom, lowers IM distortion, avoids resonance problems and greatly decreases the risk of core saturation.

Leakage (you mean leakage inductance I assume) in the transformer affects high frequency response. At a certain freq the output peaks (depending on presence of resistance in prim/sec circuit) and then drops. At which frequency that happens is a function of leakage and total load capacitance.

 

[Lucius]

" Unless your amp has decent overcurrent protection that sounds like fuses and/or output transistors "

That wouldn't sound very good..... Thanks

 

[MikeBettinger]

" Unless your amp has decent overcurrent protection that sounds like fuses and/or output transistors "

That wouldn't sound very good..... Thanks

Ahhh, sounds like another purist. Good!

We can't protect ourselves from stupidity at the expense of the finer points that make music sound real. Try my protection method; If it sounds bad turn it down.

Just an observation after a long day of forced corporate stupidity....

Regards, Mike,

 

[Lucius]

"Try my protection method; If it sounds bad turn it down."

I'll take your advice on the 1st part of the question but will it work on the leakage question? Seems to me that spike will still be there.

Lucius

 

[moray james]

re the saturation issue...

Jin strickland of Acoustat always used a one ohm wire wound resistor in series with the low frequency transformer to prevent saturation problems. A good idea to keep your amps safe.

 

[maudio]

Yep, and when carefully choosen that resistor also dampens the transformers resonance peak.

Don't make it too large or you will loose high frequency response. See attached graph to get the idea (R stepped from 0 to 5 ohms in 1ohm steps)

 

[Lucius]

Thanks for all the replies. I just bought a better transformer. Will still use that little resistor though.

Lucius

 

[Brian Beck]

Acoustat always used a one ohm wire wound resistor in series

The Quad 63 used something similar.