I have a friend who understands electronics willing to help out when I build my TSE.
One question I have is this:
I want to build it to operate in the US and then when I move back to the UK in 2015 have it operate there.
Other than choosing a variable transformer which can be wired for either place (Hammond 3** for example) does anything else in the build need to change to allow for the shift in either voltage (I don't think so) or hertz (I have no clue)?
Thanks.
One question I have is this:
I want to build it to operate in the US and then when I move back to the UK in 2015 have it operate there.
Other than choosing a variable transformer which can be wired for either place (Hammond 3** for example) does anything else in the build need to change to allow for the shift in either voltage (I don't think so) or hertz (I have no clue)?
Thanks.
Having dual primaries is a given if the amp is to traverse the World & most all voltages.
However being that you may find US voltages that vary from region to region.....and the same for areas thru-out the UK.
Regulators thru-out your amp will be the logical choice. This will be more complicated for sure but it will ensure precise operation wherever you might go.
If you do go the "regulation route" you will have an amp that will cover the voltages from 100-127 to the overseas 220-240 & perhaps others, depends how you build your regulators.
___________________________________________________Rick..........
However being that you may find US voltages that vary from region to region.....and the same for areas thru-out the UK.
Regulators thru-out your amp will be the logical choice. This will be more complicated for sure but it will ensure precise operation wherever you might go.
If you do go the "regulation route" you will have an amp that will cover the voltages from 100-127 to the overseas 220-240 & perhaps others, depends how you build your regulators.
___________________________________________________Rick..........
As far as stuff on the secondary side of the transformer knows, the voltage is the same in either country.
A dual 115V primary transformer will be fine. The only thing that may be different between countries is if you use a soft start module - some components on it may be specific to whether it's running on 115V or 230V.
Also the fuse will need changing when swapping from UK to USA, as in the USA it will pull twice as much current from the wall.
A dual 115V primary transformer will be fine. The only thing that may be different between countries is if you use a soft start module - some components on it may be specific to whether it's running on 115V or 230V.
Also the fuse will need changing when swapping from UK to USA, as in the USA it will pull twice as much current from the wall.
I can't really see anything about that other than some words saying 120/240 primary. It's probably OK in that respect.
Maybe post up a link to the Hammond item you were thinking of getting.
Dual 115V primaries are pretty common. You wire the primaries in parallel for USA and in series for UK.
Maybe post up a link to the Hammond item you were thinking of getting.
Dual 115V primaries are pretty common. You wire the primaries in parallel for USA and in series for UK.
This is the text associated with the Angela part; I'll find a link to the Hammond shortly.
"Angela Universal Power Transformer For Monoblock Tube Amplifier Projects
120V/240V primary! 380-320-55 (bias tap) -0-320-380 at 200mA. 6.3VCT at 3.5A for power and input tube filaments! 5V at 3A for rectifier tubes. 5VCT at 1.5A for 300B filament. Electrostatically shielded. E-Z hookup with color coded leads. Weighs almost 11 pounds. Made in USA. Popular upright end bell type; mounting hardware included. Quiet, cool running and bulletproof.
Mounting centers approx. 3&5/8"X3"; mounting slots allow a nice range of adjustment. I measured 4.694"X3.754" and 4.669" tall on a sample transformer."
"Angela Universal Power Transformer For Monoblock Tube Amplifier Projects
120V/240V primary! 380-320-55 (bias tap) -0-320-380 at 200mA. 6.3VCT at 3.5A for power and input tube filaments! 5V at 3A for rectifier tubes. 5VCT at 1.5A for 300B filament. Electrostatically shielded. E-Z hookup with color coded leads. Weighs almost 11 pounds. Made in USA. Popular upright end bell type; mounting hardware included. Quiet, cool running and bulletproof.
Mounting centers approx. 3&5/8"X3"; mounting slots allow a nice range of adjustment. I measured 4.694"X3.754" and 4.669" tall on a sample transformer."
Hammond would be something from the 300 or 300P series
Hammond Mfg. - Universal Primary - "Classic" Power Transformers
If I am reading this correctly it has the wiring for multiple input voltages and one simply wires in that required for the country of use then changes the wiring for the next country.
Like I said, I'm not the electronics boffin my mate is but I said I would get the main parts sorted and then he would be the one to follow the schematic and do the clever stuff 🙂
So far I have chosen a pair of the Jason Audio 6123HS on the output side so the input is my next challenge.
I appreciate your ongoing support.
Hammond Mfg. - Universal Primary - "Classic" Power Transformers
If I am reading this correctly it has the wiring for multiple input voltages and one simply wires in that required for the country of use then changes the wiring for the next country.
Like I said, I'm not the electronics boffin my mate is but I said I would get the main parts sorted and then he would be the one to follow the schematic and do the clever stuff 🙂
So far I have chosen a pair of the Jason Audio 6123HS on the output side so the input is my next challenge.
I appreciate your ongoing support.
Rewiring your input voltages for various countries is fine & all but...what would happen if you suddenly were to be located to Japan for instance?
Japan has not only the rather lowest voltages but the Eastern side of the island runs at 50 Hertz, while the Western half has 60 Hertz.
As we know output voltages will increase with higher mains frequencies.
Design it with regulators so you have only one switch 100-127 and 220-240.
Will your amp work correctly with mystery voltages? What you get coming in on your primary will determine what you get on your B+, et.al. Regulators do away with all the possible un-certainties.
-------------------------------------------------Rick.............
Japan has not only the rather lowest voltages but the Eastern side of the island runs at 50 Hertz, while the Western half has 60 Hertz.
As we know output voltages will increase with higher mains frequencies.
Design it with regulators so you have only one switch 100-127 and 220-240.
Will your amp work correctly with mystery voltages? What you get coming in on your primary will determine what you get on your B+, et.al. Regulators do away with all the possible un-certainties.
-------------------------------------------------Rick.............
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Fortunately for me moving back to the UK IS my last move (it's home) 🙂
With that in mind would you still suggest using a regulator if only to accommodate the variation in the 240v mains supply in the UK, Rick?
With that in mind would you still suggest using a regulator if only to accommodate the variation in the 240v mains supply in the UK, Rick?
There was a guy here in the Forums who noticed his amps target voltages were not near what he was engineering for, till he measured his wall current (USA) he saw 145 volts..........?? Yes, the voltages are SUPPOSE to be regulated by our various nations grid system but it seems to fail.....often times un-noted, till one device or another fails.
Keeping within the "Keep It Simple Sucker" principle does have its benefits when we apply it towards our wonderful low part count SE tube amps.............but?
Reading the Morgan Jones book "Valve Amplifiers"..........Morgan summarizes a complete amp in schematic form....& he has full regulation thru-out. This goes against the 'Simple philosophy' grain, the "More complex, more likely to go wrong". If you really think about it........do you think your TV right in front of you has no regulation? How about your PC? Microwave, toaster, Vacuum cleaner? probably not. Yes our amps could probably take the variation but a 110 VAC to 145 VAC like the fellow I mentioned? When we build our stuff we tend to "build in" tolerances & capabilities far far "better" than commercial stuff (EG. 3W resistor for 600mW dissipation).
Ultimately it's up to you. Have you checked your wall current lately? I got 222VAC awhile ago, let me check it right now...We'll see just how close it is. 217.9.....
__________________________________________________Rick............
Keeping within the "Keep It Simple Sucker" principle does have its benefits when we apply it towards our wonderful low part count SE tube amps.............but?
Reading the Morgan Jones book "Valve Amplifiers"..........Morgan summarizes a complete amp in schematic form....& he has full regulation thru-out. This goes against the 'Simple philosophy' grain, the "More complex, more likely to go wrong". If you really think about it........do you think your TV right in front of you has no regulation? How about your PC? Microwave, toaster, Vacuum cleaner? probably not. Yes our amps could probably take the variation but a 110 VAC to 145 VAC like the fellow I mentioned? When we build our stuff we tend to "build in" tolerances & capabilities far far "better" than commercial stuff (EG. 3W resistor for 600mW dissipation).
Ultimately it's up to you. Have you checked your wall current lately? I got 222VAC awhile ago, let me check it right now...We'll see just how close it is. 217.9.....
__________________________________________________Rick............
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