Arc Welder Transformer used to power Amplifier

John Biles · 26th July 2005, 06:32 AM

Hello I am new to this Forum and would like to know if anyone else is using a Arc Welder Transformer to power their projects.

mine is rated at 3000VA and is centre tapped with 28v/28v after rectification om the lower setting or 40v/40v on the higher setting.
i have been using the transformer for 5 months with no problems.

I driven class A's with it and it doesn't get hot only warm even after 8 hours of use.

phase_accurate · 26th July 2005, 06:47 AM

How many people does it take to move/lift your amp ?

Regards

Charles

amplifierguru · 26th July 2005, 06:49 AM

Arc welders xformers are not usually well shielded or refined, like toroids. So expect high radiated fields so expect hum in the vicinity, but, worse EM fields...

3KW! Class A constant power loading.

Hate to ask, but anyone in your family got leukemia? yet?

Cheers,
Greg

John Biles · 26th July 2005, 08:00 AM

i can carry the transformer myself and i do all my testing away from the family and when i finally put the transformer into my home cinema amplifier project i am building, it will be well shielded and insulated as the last thing i want to do is kill myself or one of my family.

amplifierguru · 26th July 2005, 08:10 AM

That's good John.

You can't be too careful with cut core x'formers. Even a wall wart near your head when sleeping is dangerous as it's repetitive long term exposure.

How many watts Class A to keep you warm (winter in Australia for those in other climes)?

Cheers,
Greg

tarnationsauce · 26th July 2005, 08:25 AM

Talking of unusual places to find transformers, I have one from an old UPS battery backup power supply I'm using.

hienrich · 26th July 2005, 11:16 AM

I've also been tempted to this also,

since welding arcs have larger output voltages and currents as high as

300 amperes.

though very impractical......

and, just what Guru says welding arcs are not properly shielded and

some poor and maybe ineffecient cores that are used.

well, very tempting....... but not very recommendable

rgds,

hienrich

sparkybg · 26th July 2005, 11:21 AM

And output voltage will be very unstable. These transformers are intentionaly made this way. And they are more noisy usualy.

John Biles · 26th July 2005, 11:27 AM

the Transformer I am using actually came from a small gasless MIG Welder I Made the mistake of buying as it wasn't really up to the job of doing the welding i wanted to do and when i lent it to my brother, he wrecked it burning out the drive motor and it sat in the shed for along time until i decided to see what voltage it would be giving out at the secondarys.

As for hum appearing at the speakers, there's no more ( Very Little you only hear it when the volume is turned all the way up and you place your ear next to a speaker.) hum when using the amplifier with a normal transformer.

John Biles · 26th July 2005, 11:31 AM

one thing i notice is that with this transformer, when driving a heavy bassy loud piece of music, the voltage reading on my multimeter remained more stable then with a smaller transformer.

26th July 2005, 06:32 AM	#1
John Biles diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Victoria Australia	Arc Welder Transformer used to power Amplifier Hello I am new to this Forum and would like to know if anyone else is using a Arc Welder Transformer to power their projects. mine is rated at 3000VA and is centre tapped with 28v/28v after rectification om the lower setting or 40v/40v on the higher setting. i have been using the transformer for 5 months with no problems. I driven class A's with it and it doesn't get hot only warm even after 8 hours of use.

26th July 2005, 08:25 AM	#6
tarnationsauce diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oregon	Talking of unusual places to find transformers, I have one from an old UPS battery backup power supply I'm using. __________________ .

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26th July 2005, 06:47 AM	#2
phase_accurate diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Switzerland	How many people does it take to move/lift your amp ? Regards Charles

26th July 2005, 06:49 AM	#3
amplifierguru Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Earth	Arc welders xformers are not usually well shielded or refined, like toroids. So expect high radiated fields so expect hum in the vicinity, but, worse EM fields... 3KW! Class A constant power loading. Hate to ask, but anyone in your family got leukemia? yet? Cheers, Greg

26th July 2005, 08:00 AM	#4
John Biles diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Victoria Australia	i can carry the transformer myself and i do all my testing away from the family and when i finally put the transformer into my home cinema amplifier project i am building, it will be well shielded and insulated as the last thing i want to do is kill myself or one of my family.

26th July 2005, 08:10 AM	#5
amplifierguru Account Disabled Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Earth	That's good John. You can't be too careful with cut core x'formers. Even a wall wart near your head when sleeping is dangerous as it's repetitive long term exposure. How many watts Class A to keep you warm (winter in Australia for those in other climes)? Cheers, Greg

26th July 2005, 11:16 AM	#7
hienrich diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: City of Gentle People	I've also been tempted to this also, since welding arcs have larger output voltages and currents as high as 300 amperes. though very impractical...... and, just what Guru says welding arcs are not properly shielded and some poor and maybe ineffecient cores that are used. well, very tempting....... but not very recommendable rgds, hienrich

26th July 2005, 11:21 AM	#8
sparkybg diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sofia, Bulgaria	And output voltage will be very unstable. These transformers are intentionaly made this way. And they are more noisy usualy.

26th July 2005, 11:27 AM	#9
John Biles diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Victoria Australia	the Transformer I am using actually came from a small gasless MIG Welder I Made the mistake of buying as it wasn't really up to the job of doing the welding i wanted to do and when i lent it to my brother, he wrecked it burning out the drive motor and it sat in the shed for along time until i decided to see what voltage it would be giving out at the secondarys. As for hum appearing at the speakers, there's no more ( Very Little you only hear it when the volume is turned all the way up and you place your ear next to a speaker.) hum when using the amplifier with a normal transformer.

26th July 2005, 11:31 AM	#10
John Biles diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Victoria Australia	one thing i notice is that with this transformer, when driving a heavy bassy loud piece of music, the voltage reading on my multimeter remained more stable then with a smaller transformer.