Probably a stupid question. I have a transformer that seems to be failing. That is, its voltage output, AC and DC, is lower than normal. I find no cause (which doesn't mean I've thought of everything) other than it's failing. But I always thought transformers either work or they don't. I wasn't aware they could weaken gradually. Or am I way off base here?
Assuming it is, does anyone have an idea where to get another one. It's 10 volts and 10 amps. A high current filament supply transformer.
Assuming it is, does anyone have an idea where to get another one. It's 10 volts and 10 amps. A high current filament supply transformer.
Not sure what you mean by this - what DC output? Are you rectifying the heater supply? If so, it might help to describe the circuit you're using.
Yes, it's a heater circuit on a tube preamp. The Transformer feeds a voltage regultor. Usually the DC off the rectifier and going to the regulator is around 10 volts. The regulator drops it to 6.1. Now the DC going off to the regulator is about 6.4, which does not supply enough drop voltage.
The AC voltage on the bridge seems low, too. About 10. I think it was higher once.
I'm still trying to see if something is wrong in the circuit that I missed, but I'm running out of possibiities. I haven't found a short, the input cap is okay, etc. but my question was basically about the transformer itself. I had always thought they worked or they didn't. I wasn't aware that they could weaken gradually--if they can.
The AC voltage on the bridge seems low, too. About 10. I think it was higher once.
I'm still trying to see if something is wrong in the circuit that I missed, but I'm running out of possibiities. I haven't found a short, the input cap is okay, etc. but my question was basically about the transformer itself. I had always thought they worked or they didn't. I wasn't aware that they could weaken gradually--if they can.
Hi,
Transformers dont degrade over time, but they can overheat and possibly short out secondary windings causing the voltage output to change.
If you remove all load from you transformer you should get about 11/12v at a guess, just a bit higher than the rating of 10v. If thias is the case which it probably will be the transformer is fine and you may just be drawing more current than you were before when the voltage was higher.
Regards
Craig
Transformers dont degrade over time, but they can overheat and possibly short out secondary windings causing the voltage output to change.
If you remove all load from you transformer you should get about 11/12v at a guess, just a bit higher than the rating of 10v. If thias is the case which it probably will be the transformer is fine and you may just be drawing more current than you were before when the voltage was higher.
Regards
Craig
your (bridge? - you don't say!) rectifier may have failed and you are only getting 1/2wave rectification.
Any chance of 'scoping it?
Any chance of 'scoping it?
Craig405 said:
Their cores can degrade - it doesn't lower the output voltage, but the consequent core saturation causes plenty of leakage flux.
I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it causing hum bars (induction directly into the neck of the CRT) but a search coil and replacement of the transformer proved the point. Since then, I check transformers with the search coil...
Is it possible the primary of your tranny isn't getting its full voltage: either because the mains voltage is low or because there is too much resistance somewhere in the feed to the primary?
The post advising me to check the transformer without a load wins. I thought I had done this, but I hadn't. Transformer is good.
Now all I have to do is figure out what the blank is wrong with this regulator. It's been a problem for a long time.
Thanks, all.
Now all I have to do is figure out what the blank is wrong with this regulator. It's been a problem for a long time.
Thanks, all.
Maybe there is not anough DC voltage to supply regulator ? Too low filter caps ? What regulator do you use ?
It's been working for years, with some intermittent failures--the case as I write. I'm pretty convinced at this point that the problem is mechanical. As someone pointed out, something is drawing current, and given some history, it has to be in the cable I built for it. Anyway, it's an LT1085, I think.
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