• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Noob Power transformer question

My last big project used salvage transformers that are entirely too large for the application.
Each one is on a mono amp but probably has the current to run 3x channels.
When I run em up to full power, the supply doesn't sag because the transformer, even at full output power is still loafing along waiting for some real work to come along but it never does.
Transformers stay nice and cool and the music stays clean at high power.
Always always always buy the biggest, baddest, most over specced transformer your budget will allow.
It's the part that actually makes a difference!
Giant capacitors are a waste of money, but Giant power transformers are in my opinion money well spent.
You already own this so that should settle it!
 
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Yeah the op never stated in any sort of useful terms, what he or she was building.
A Darling?
I don't have a clue what that is.
Next time tell us what you're building in a format which conveys useful information about the current load it will put on a transformer.
For example:
"I'm trying to build a push pull, stereo amplifier using 4x 6bq5 power tubes."

That tells folks information they can use to answer thecquestion and doesn't require them to go searching for information to be able to answer your question.

Assume nobody else knows your pet names for your wife/dog/girlfriend/amplifier...
 
The OP was going to use a power transformer suitable for 60 plus watts for a 2 watt amp. Nothing wrong just a waste of a nicer future project transformer.
Not really a waste as I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't blow up the amp from overpower. I am just breadboarding the amp to see if i like the sound. I may breadboard a number of amps before building one for keeps. I'm really good at putting things together from a schematic or plan but a electronics engineer I am not. I am not comfortable with the math, actually i do not even know when to use a particular formula for a specific task. Still working my way through that. Im a hands on learner and have no one close by to help me learn the way i learn best, so I'm doing the best i can with what i have, ME!! Lol
 
Yeah the op never stated in any sort of useful terms, what he or she was building.
A Darling?
I don't have a clue what that is.
Next time tell us what you're building in a format which conveys useful information about the current load it will put on a transformer.
For example:
"I'm trying to build a push pull, stereo amplifier using 4x 6bq5 power tubes."

That tells folks information they can use to answer thecquestion and doesn't require them to go searching for information to be able to answer your question.

Assume nobody else knows your pet names for your wife/dog/girlfriend/amplifier...
Im sorry for not phrasing my question to your exacting standards. Maybe next time you should just ignore my post if it bothers you so much.

Not a pet name at all. It has been discussed on many forums, google Darling amplifier and youll get at least a half dozen schematics.
Besides which my question was somewhat generic. "Schematic calls for 300-0-300 200ma period. Will a 300-0-300 330ma be an issue." Pretty straight forword question.
Unfortunately it got a bunch of different answers. Also i stated im a noob so some leeway should be expected as i may not even know the proper way to ask a pertinent question. I certainly wouldn't lambast someone for asking a question not up to my standards, just because i want to be big man on the forum.
 
And people line up to build this?
I honestly don't know if they line up to build it, but reviews were that it's a sweet sounding amp and i just happened to buy a box of tubes that included a dozen 1626 nos tubes. But its not the only amp i was looking at, and a number of them use 300-0-300 150-200ma power transformers, so i have the Stancor beast in my junk box and wondered if i could safely use it. Thats all, i didnt have a single amp that i wanted to build yet, i want to breadboard a couple of designs to see which one sounds good to me then build that one.
 
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20250501_144142.jpg

Already started the breadboard process.