Designing an output transformer using a power toroidal transformer

Hello.
I tried to purchase a commercially available product as an output transformer to operate a full-range ESL, but I was hesitant because it was expensive.
Please tell me how to design an output transformer that uses a toroidal transformer for power supply and what precautions should be taken.
It may be easy for those who are familiar with electricity. I felt it was difficult to trade off in various aspects.

That's my understanding for now.
As a basic usage, the primary and secondary are reversed from the original usage of the power supply toroidal transformer.
When using a 50VA 230V/6Vx2 transformer for each of the front and rear stators, the calculation is about 1:76.
That's about it.

Are there any common transformer combinations that you can say, "I can't go wrong with this set"?
What are the transformer specifications, usable capacitance, and maximum input?
For full range:
For treble:
For base:

By using 4 or 6 transformers, using the LV side in parallel and the HV side in series, you can boost the voltage even higher. Does the number of transformers increase the corresponding capacitance?

Is the approximate corresponding capacitance determined from the combination of transformers used?

What is the allowable turns ratio? Up to 1:120? What kind of problems will occur if it is exceeded?
Can you calculate the frequency to roll off? Are there any problems with low frequencies?

Can a transformer whose dielectric strength is unknown be used as an output transformer? Are there required safety standards?

It is not the case that the higher the rated power, the better. Is there a standard for selecting the rated power of the transformer?
 
Speaking broadly:

1:150 turns ratio is about the upper limit of off-the-shelf transformers if you want wide bandwidth, even with multiple transformers driven in a series/parallel configuration. A segmented panel is also necessary in many cases to limit the load at high frequencies. Most of my experience with this approach was using Hammond tube output transformers. They've also gotten more expensive over the years, but I'm not sure what kind of price tag scares you :)

If trying to do a full-range panel with high drive level, toroidal transformers don't don't handle bass as well as EI. My experience here was with Plitrons vs. Hammonds and Tranex.

There are some users here that are very versed in transformer specifics. Some log-in a little infrequently though, so you may need to give it some time. There are also several threads with discussions about transformers. Here are a few to get you started:

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/esl-transformer.55950/

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...mer-for-step-up-measurements-part-1-2.202638/

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/please-rec-step-up-transformers-for-esl.64312/
 
I tried to purchase a commercially available product as an output transformer to operate a full-range ESL, but I was hesitant because it was expensive.
Please tell me how to design an output transformer that uses a toroidal transformer for power supply
There is a reason behind high price, don´t you think? .... absolutely different beasts.

Power transformers are excellent as OTs .... if you stick to 50-60Hz only, and to boot you drive them from a very low impedance (such as Mains line).

Too low inductance so too low impedance at low frequencies, forget driving them from tubes and expecting any Bass.
At the same time, internal parasitic inductance will murder highs.
 
Hello, thank you for your reply.

I searched and read the past diyaudio logs in my own way, but the content was case-by-case, and I didn't get a solid understanding.
Personally, I hoped that it would be easier for people like me, who have little knowledge of electricity, to have more comprehensive information.

to Mr. boyfarrell
You didn't write the details of the ESL you were aiming for, which makes your question vague.

to Mr. Mattstat
I see, the transformer turns ratio is less than 1:150.
The price of the output transformer is what I personally felt when I saw ER Audio.
Considered again.The full-range ESL element I am currently trying to make is 1650mmx163mm, d/s=2.7mm, 0.88nF. I plan to use the electrical segment.
However, in the future, we are also thinking about physically separated segments of 2-way or 3-way.
This question has become a broad question.
I will read the URL you gave me.


to Mr. JMFahey
I think so.
The output transformer on the market is assumed to be used for ESL, and it is guaranteed, so I am satisfied with the price.
Since the power transformer is used for unexpected ESL, if the strategy fails, it will be garbage.

to Mr. sonomanie
Mr. CharlieM's "The Jazzman MkIII" design is also good, and I admire it with a wonderful system!
 
Some 6/230V toroids have excellent bandwidth even for for fullrange use, others don't. The problem is you won't be able to predict this as the manufacturers won't specify this for a power toroid of course. Either wait for someone to tune in that can point you towards a specific type, or just buy one and measure it. If it's fine for your needs, buy the rest. Only transfomers with a single 230V winding will do, forget all with 2x115V windings.

For a fullrange panel you're looking at placing 4 primaries in series per channel at minimum. This setup will saturate at around 4*6 + 10% = 26-27V rms input @ 50Hz. At 30 Hz this will reduce to approx 16V, equivalent to 30W at 8 ohms. That's really the bare minimum you will need for a fullrange esl. With the 4 secundaries in serie as well that will result in an overall stepup of 1:76, which is low and will give very poor sensitivity. Don't expect your esl to play loud with this setup. I would go for 8 per channel doubling stepup.

Consider a (dipole) sub to cross the esl panel over around 100Hz, will make things so much easier for both panel and transformer. Overal sound quality will benefit as well.
 
The short answer is no.

The point is that core saturation is a function of Bmax (core material dependent), voltage and frequency. A mains transformer is designed to run close to the saturation point of the core at 50/60Hz and at the rated voltages. A bigger transformer will not allow for more voltage per winding, just more current. A 50VA 6V winding is rated at over 8A, more than sufficient. Keep in mind the average current will be relatively low with music compared to when used as a power transformer, so overheating is not likely to be an issue. In fact when you use 8 trannies in a 4-2 arrangement with 2 sets of 6V in parallel, the current per transformer is halved and even a 20VA would do.

In fact a larger transformer will have more winding area and capacitance and is therefore likely to perform worse when it comes to bandwidth.
 
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hello maudio.
I see, even toroids with the same specifications have different bandwidths. Differences in core materials have an effect.
I also learned that the rated power of the transformer should not be too high.
I would like to choose the toroidal I actually use by learning how to use it, the manufacturer and model number from successful cases.
Actually, you can't just import anything and get the toroid you want...

I would like to know the reference examples for full range, treble, and bass. I'm sure it will be useful for others besides myself.

My current personal goal is full range, but I'm considering 1:115 using six 230V/12Vx2 50VA.

The area below 100Hz becomes difficult, which is also the reason why we do not recommend full range for DIY.
Do you install a low-cut filter on the ESL side?
If you use filters in general, are they passive? Is it digital such as DCX2496?
 
Last time I tried 6/230V toroids is over 10 years ago, none of those models is still available. Back then some models were known to be usefull but I could not get those from my suppliers. Must be a thread about it here somewhere which models were ok. I tried two models and wasn't too excited about the results and ended up buying a commercial ESL model that needed a rebuild. First idea was to pull the transformers for a diy panel but I ended up rebuilding the commercial panels and am still using this ESL (Audiostatic).

I use a 3rd order 100Hz highpass filter on my ESL combined with a tuneable notch filter to suppress the ESL resonance which is around 40-50Hz, and a correction for the dipole cancellation that starts around 300 Hz. All analog active filters, seperate amps for ESL and subs. Nowadays I think I would choose a minidsp or so for the filtering, easier and more flexibility.
 
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You may need to import it yourself, or it may be difficult to obtain.
More often than not, you don't get the toroidal you want.

There are almost no ESL step-up transformers on the market, right?
You don't sell amplimo or Audio4 now, do you?
I only know ER Audio sells them.

I often see examples of "VTX-146-050-106" made by MULTICOMP, so it may be good.

I have been trying for over 10 years. wonderful.
I would like to acquire the knowledge to be able to select parts by my own judgment like Mr.maudio.

I also have an Audiostatic DCI whose diaphragm film has become unusable.
It may be quicker to fix this.
For now, I have a strong desire to build my own.
I will try to move forward little by little.
 
If you are using commercial toroidal transformers

The for non-segmented panels use a largish transformers - minimum of 50VA - rating to minimise the transformer inductance. Maximum step up ratio is about 60-80 for a large fullrange ESL, you can get more for a smaller panel. All of the commercial ESL transformers I've seen specs for are designed for these ESLs.

For segmented panels (using resistors between the segments), I've found that 15 VA torids are fine and much cheaper - they balance capacitance and inductance quite well. Maximum step up ratio for a full range segmented ESL is about 120-140.

In either case, get them with a SINGLE !!!! 230 V primary winding, or a single 115 V primary winding.

Do not buy Multicomp transformers, they have two 115 V primary windings and have a high capacitance and limit the bandwidth.


In either case, to get the step-up ratio and the input voltage rating you want put the 230 V windings in series as the output. Then series and parallel the low voltage winding to get the input rating you require.

For example 12V:230V 50 Hz transformers have a step up ratio close to 20. So for a 1:120 step up overall you need 6 transformers (3 each side of the HT) with all of the 12 V windings in parallel. The 12V rms will allow for ~18V peak at 50Hz, 36 V at 100 Hz (proportional to frequency). If you require ~1:120 with 24V rms input rating, use 12 transformers with 24V rating with the low voltage windings in parallel.

Happy hunting
 
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Or wind your own, if you can find some decent cores and you have generous amounts of spare time ;) You want to minimize capacitance and leakage inductance, which is quite a challenge ad the requirements contradict. More interleaving of windings gives lower leakage but higher capacitance. In general it's a balancing act that might take some trial and error. Ideal are large C-cores because they allow splitting the windings in two coils on the same core, plus they offer long bobbin length so you can minimize the number of wire layers. Choose the core as large as possible, limiting factor being the minimum number of primary turns required for sufficient inductance for the lowest frequency you aim for. Use lots of insulation between each layer of primary windings.
 
What is the specific size and capacitance of non-segmented panels, large or small panels where the maximum step-up ratio can only be selected about 60-80?
I don't mind if it's approximate, so please let me know.
I wanted to know how much you considered big and small.

It is good that the rated power of the transformer used in the electrical segment is smaller than in the non-segment!
Moreover, the rated power is 15VA!

Always use a single transformer for the primary side of the transformer.
For example, if the secondary side also chooses a single, what kind of effect will occur?

50Hz may be the realistic bass limit for ESL. I personally thought it was enough.

It is necessary to carefully read golfnut's remarks in the thread that mattstat pointed out the other day.
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/esl-transformer.55950/post-5351746
It will take me some time to understand. Read repeatedly.

I felt that how to use toroidal is very important for making ESL by myself.

Winding yourself is a high level! Great if you can do it!
I have considered a custom transformer, but I learned a very difficult thing with diyaudio.
 
I consider a 1 sqr m ESL with capacitance about 2 nF large. With this size, 1:60 step up ratio and achieving wide bandwidth with a non-segmented ESL (approaching 20 kHz) is hard. You will need low-resistance low-voltage winding, and good low-inductance and low resistance speaker leads too - which means faults nearly always let smoke out.

You can ease the transformer design by filtering out low frequencies and using a subwoofer, so that the transformer does not have to handle large low frequency voltage. The low frequency cut off for most ESLs is limited by the room anyway. The sound from the rear of the speaker is reflected off the walls and cancels with the front sound waves. Placing the speaker at an angle with the wall (toe in) helps. To get down to 100 Hz, the gap between the speaker and the wall needs to be about 1m, 2m for 50 Hz - you need a large room and speaker placement is not good for the WAF.
 
If you hear about 2nf in 1 square meter, you can go to a large size! I thought, but it's the limit that works for the time being. It is difficult in reality.

It is better to give up the bass without being greedy or use a subwoofer.
Certainly the room to be used needs a larger space behind the ESL.
What is "WAF" in audio terminology? I looked for it.
"Wife acceptance factor", right? Ahh! I see! I was impressed. This is important.

At the end of #13, I wrote about the case of using 6 transformers of 12V:230V 50Hz and the case of using 12 transformers of 24V:230V.
By halving the step-up ratio of each transformer and distributing them, magnetic saturation is suppressed and the rated input is doubled. Do you agree with the interpretation of

I will repeat the same question, but is there any meaning or effect in choosing a single toroidal for both the primary and secondary sides?
 
Chace...
The segmented ESL, using the RC transmission line for equalisation, is a line source so should ideally be relatively narrow and floor to ceiling. Mine is 380 mm wide x 2 m tall. If I had enough room, I would have liked one 0.5 m wide. Even a 0.5 m wide one has a smaller footprint than the ESL 63s.

Re transformers - you got it.

The choice is really one of ease of sourcing. Everyone can get get hold of a bunch of small toroids, which do a reasonable job of giving the right combination of leakage inductance and winding capacitance. If you can build a transformer to a design, it will be better.

Actually, the most compact transformer design for the segmented ESL is one with two bobbins on a single large UI core or C core . Bolserst built and described a nice one some time ago - sorry perhaps someone else who keeps good records knows which post. For example - something like 1:75 on each bobbin, then parallel the primaries, and series the high voltage secondaries for 1:150 with a centre tap. Put the low voltage winding against the core, and the low voltage end of the HV winding next to minimise the capacitance. Putting two windings on the same core doubles the input impedance. For a full range (40 to 50 mm sqr core) , its still a big transformer, but at least it lays flat and is about half the weight of a pair of EI cores doing the same job.
 
You made an ESL with a height of 2m! wonderful!
Isn't it difficult to stretch the film and wire?
Is it 3way? I would like to know the specifications such as crossover, wire pitch, d/s, etc.

Procurement is certainly more of an issue than toroidal selection.
I thought of it as a full-range ESL with electrical segments (panel size: 1650x163), which is my current goal.
The following toroids are readily available.

SET1: 230V/12Vx2 (15VA) https://us.rs-online.com/product/rs-pro/6718921/70647043/
Using 6, about 1:115, (standard)

SET2: 230V/11.8Vx1 (50VA) https://us.rs-online.com/product/rs-pro/6719189/70647120/
Using 6, about 1:117, (Single winding for both primary and secondary. Will the thermal switch on the input side have an adverse effect?)

SET3: 230V/18Vx2 (15VA) https://us.rs-online.com/product/rs-pro/6718928/70647045/
Using 12 pieces, about 1:153, (Is the boost too high?)
A maximum of 24 connections to the amplifier must be combined into one.
how do you put it together? Homemade PCB? Soldering?

nice one. Mr.Bolserst, you arrived at the custom transformer.
It looks like it's going to cost a lot of money, but the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment will be great!
If I can do it, I would like to try it.
For now it's just a matter of learning how to combine toroids.
 
Details on my ESLs here https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/another-segmented-esl.234975/

Its hard to know for sure without measurements and a circuit model, but I would guess that set 3 will work fine for a segmented ESL of that size, set 3 wont work that well for a single segment ESL. Set 2 might work OK for a single segment ESL.

Wire the 12 18V windings in parallel, and all 230V windings in series. The point midway along the high voltage winding (6 x 230V windings either side) should be the centre tap, as shown in the figure. BTW - most power transformers (i.e. made by reputable manufacturers) have primary-secondary insulation able to with stand 4 kV dc for a couple of minutes (its a standard spec in many countries).

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