So essentially I'm assuming people who wind transformers have a reason for not surrounding their transformers with a ferrous metal. Tribute transformers also potted their transformers in aluminium boxes afaik.
Thanks Horneman.
Good pictures reveal the details inside these Output Transformers (OPT's). Is it possible using Teflon instead of wood?
Teflon is resistant to temperature. Wood absorbs moisture, which can change its electrical properties and affect transformer performance. But the choice between wood and Teflon will depend on cost, mechanical properties, and specific application needs.
Good pictures reveal the details inside these Output Transformers (OPT's). Is it possible using Teflon instead of wood?
Teflon is resistant to temperature. Wood absorbs moisture, which can change its electrical properties and affect transformer performance. But the choice between wood and Teflon will depend on cost, mechanical properties, and specific application needs.
Teflon is soft and changes shape under pressure. POM makes more sense.
About metal channels and mounting strips: they create eddy currents and associated losses. See post #11.
About metal channels and mounting strips: they create eddy currents and associated losses. See post #11.
Correct! POM is a better choice due to its superior mechanical strength and stability. It also tends to be less expensive than Teflon. While POM has some trade-offs in terms of chemical resistance and friction compared to Teflon, its advantages make it well-suited for applications where maintaining clamping force and dimensional stability are crucial.
There are 3 TC500as on my local FB marketplace right now. I salvaged a few of the Sonys years ago and put pairs of the OPTs into circulation, including to folks in this thread. I have more projects and less time now and wish more would take up the mantle. You also get the "holey basket" Corals and the NEC 12AD7s that folks pay good money for. (Only one of the TC500as I parted out had been used much and had tubes that tested as tired.)
I sometimes ponder that these became popular back when there were few options for affordable OPTs. A few years ago, I recall folks paying as much for these as you could get Edcor GXSEs for, at least stateside. Maybe interest survives because OPTs have necessarily gotten a good bit less affordable.
Or maybe the Tamradios are truly special One of the many projects I'll probably never get to is stabbing some 45s into a Tubelab board and comparing between my only remaining pair these, a pair of GXSEs, and a pair of Monolith S-11s.
Fun DIY times needn't be expensive or difficult. It baffles me that there are stuffed Tubelab SE boards for sale here cheap. Put that together with parts from a Facebook marketplace TC500a, use the proceeds from the other parts to buy some tubes, and one could have a really neat SET amp for peanuts.
Paul
I sometimes ponder that these became popular back when there were few options for affordable OPTs. A few years ago, I recall folks paying as much for these as you could get Edcor GXSEs for, at least stateside. Maybe interest survives because OPTs have necessarily gotten a good bit less affordable.
Or maybe the Tamradios are truly special One of the many projects I'll probably never get to is stabbing some 45s into a Tubelab board and comparing between my only remaining pair these, a pair of GXSEs, and a pair of Monolith S-11s.
Fun DIY times needn't be expensive or difficult. It baffles me that there are stuffed Tubelab SE boards for sale here cheap. Put that together with parts from a Facebook marketplace TC500a, use the proceeds from the other parts to buy some tubes, and one could have a really neat SET amp for peanuts.
Paul
Hi Paul
You’re very lucky if there’re a few TC-500A up for grabs locally at FB marketplace
I’ve been checking forever and there’s none in my neighborhood.
Back in the days in 2020 you were selling the speakers (CHB:$75) and OPT ($50) for a very reasonable price, now the asking price triple…
I’ll keep searching, it is indeed the perfect SET amp + speaker for cheap.
Eric
You’re very lucky if there’re a few TC-500A up for grabs locally at FB marketplace
I’ve been checking forever and there’s none in my neighborhood.
Back in the days in 2020 you were selling the speakers (CHB:$75) and OPT ($50) for a very reasonable price, now the asking price triple…
I’ll keep searching, it is indeed the perfect SET amp + speaker for cheap.
Eric