Comments Please: Winding own audio power transformers

UncleJessie · 6th August 2003, 10:23 PM

Well, I've got a couple of diy projects ready to go but am holding off because I don't really want to drop $200 - $400 on each power transformer. If I can't scavenge some used ones, I'd like to try to build 'em myself.

Has anyone out there ever built their own power xformers? I'd like to get your feedback: the good & the bad, level of expectation, tips/references so that I can build my own, etc.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

-UJ

bmcevers · 8th August 2003, 06:41 AM

If you are planning on building a solid state amp you might want to check out the AVEL Toroidal transformers at partsexpress.com
An 800 VA model with several secondary voltages to choose from for about $70.

Good Luck!!

Jocko Homo · 8th August 2003, 12:50 PM

I assume that you are talking about a stacked lamination type. DIYing your own toroids is harder.

Jocko

SY · 8th August 2003, 01:04 PM

Jocko, how so? (Asks the guy who's never wound one)

Jocko Homo · 8th August 2003, 10:02 PM

How so to which one?? The techniques used for each are different. About the only thing in common is what size wire.....and the rule of thumb is 700 circular mils/amp. I need more info on what he is trying,and where he is at, to give specific advice.

Jocko

SY · 8th August 2003, 10:20 PM

No, I was just curious why a toroid would be harder to wind. Is it because you can interleave the EI laminations into a bobbin after doing the winding?

AJT · 9th August 2003, 12:14 AM

finding the core material for a torroid is one, then winding the coils is much harder for a torroid as you have to get you magnet wire around to core to start winding them, but winding torroids is more fun although difficult....

Jocko Homo · 9th August 2003, 07:28 AM

You have to make sure that the windings are evenly distributed across the core. The machines that wind them have software that calculates the pitch of the windings. Hard to do by trial and error.

Jocko

SY · 9th August 2003, 12:19 PM

Thanks, Jocko. Why is the pitch more critical for a toroidal core (assuming you're just using it for 50/60 Hz service)? Is it a specific critical value that depends on wire size, core geometry, or whatever, or is it a matter of just having the pitch be even throughout the windings?

Sorry for the dumb questions- this is an area where my experience is zero. And I've seen some wind-it-yerself toroid kits and wondered if I should do it...

Jocko Homo · 9th August 2003, 03:53 PM

Toroids aren't supposed to radiate right? Wrong, they do.......some. An unbalance in the winding distribution will make it worse. One guy who winds them for me says that it can make them hum a little more if you do. Never tried it, so I can not verify that he is not being a wise guy like we tend to be (sometimes).

Toroids of course hum if there is any DC on the line. But it is also dependent on how tight the tape that makes up the core is wound. Something that no one who makes them has much control over. So.....they take all steps possible to make sure that they don't make them worse. Or else wise guys like us who buy them will complain.

More than we usually do.

Jocko

Jocko

6th August 2003, 10:23 PM	#1
UncleJessie diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The land of beautiful women	Comments Please: Winding own audio power transformers Well, I've got a couple of diy projects ready to go but am holding off because I don't really want to drop $200 - $400 on each power transformer. If I can't scavenge some used ones, I'd like to try to build 'em myself. Has anyone out there ever built their own power xformers? I'd like to get your feedback: the good & the bad, level of expectation, tips/references so that I can build my own, etc. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks. -UJ

8th August 2003, 01:04 PM	#4
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	Jocko, how so? (Asks the guy who's never wound one) __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

8th August 2003, 10:20 PM	#6
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	No, I was just curious why a toroid would be harder to wind. Is it because you can interleave the EI laminations into a bobbin after doing the winding? __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?

9th August 2003, 12:14 AM	#7
AJT diyAudio Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Palatiw, Pasig City	finding the core material for a torroid is one, then winding the coils is much harder for a torroid as you have to get you magnet wire around to core to start winding them, but winding torroids is more fun although difficult.... __________________ http://www.elab.ph/forum/index.php?topic=32688.0

9th August 2003, 12:19 PM	#9
SY diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chicagoland Blog Entries: 1	Thanks, Jocko. Why is the pitch more critical for a toroidal core (assuming you're just using it for 50/60 Hz service)? Is it a specific critical value that depends on wire size, core geometry, or whatever, or is it a matter of just having the pitch be even throughout the windings? Sorry for the dumb questions- this is an area where my experience is zero. And I've seen some wind-it-yerself toroid kits and wondered if I should do it... __________________ If there's a sucker born every minute, where do the rest of them come from?


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8th August 2003, 06:41 AM	#2
bmcevers diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: SoCal	If you are planning on building a solid state amp you might want to check out the AVEL Toroidal transformers at partsexpress.com An 800 VA model with several secondary voltages to choose from for about $70. Good Luck!!

8th August 2003, 12:50 PM	#3
Jocko Homo Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: As far from the NOSsers as possible	I assume that you are talking about a stacked lamination type. DIYing your own toroids is harder. Jocko

8th August 2003, 10:02 PM	#5
Jocko Homo Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: As far from the NOSsers as possible	How so to which one?? The techniques used for each are different. About the only thing in common is what size wire.....and the rule of thumb is 700 circular mils/amp. I need more info on what he is trying,and where he is at, to give specific advice. Jocko

9th August 2003, 07:28 AM	#8
Jocko Homo Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: As far from the NOSsers as possible	You have to make sure that the windings are evenly distributed across the core. The machines that wind them have software that calculates the pitch of the windings. Hard to do by trial and error. Jocko

9th August 2003, 03:53 PM	#10
Jocko Homo Banned Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: As far from the NOSsers as possible	Toroids aren't supposed to radiate right? Wrong, they do.......some. An unbalance in the winding distribution will make it worse. One guy who winds them for me says that it can make them hum a little more if you do. Never tried it, so I can not verify that he is not being a wise guy like we tend to be (sometimes). Toroids of course hum if there is any DC on the line. But it is also dependent on how tight the tape that makes up the core is wound. Something that no one who makes them has much control over. So.....they take all steps possible to make sure that they don't make them worse. Or else wise guys like us who buy them will complain. More than we usually do. Jocko Jocko

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