where can i get transformers in the UK?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jump to Latest
R

razorrick1293

Member
Joined 2010
#1
Hello,

Could anyone help me in telling me where i could buy mains and output transformers in the UK? i know of sowter and airlink, but sowter seem very expensive, and im not too interested in toroidals. but is there anywhere that sells hammond transformers or anything like that without having to pay excessive amounts for shipping?
 
#4
Bluebell audio is what I use - there are some nice transformers in the Hammond range, including interstages like 126C and plate chokes like 156C which are good with two in series for tubes like 26. Good chap to deal with.

Sowter are too expensive, so are Audio Note. For those prices I'd go straight to O-netics in Seattle. VVT are a bit underwhelming - 10 Henries primary inductance for a SE OPT. Danbury make some useful transformers - their old 6.6K PP OPT as stocked by Maplin was excellent sounding, and their 10H, 100mA choke is handy - the one Maplins used to do.

Antrim transformers have been taken over by Trans-Tronic. They do toroidal transformers including PP OPTs, which somewhere in the depths of time were designed by Menno van der Veen. No idea of prices - Antrim were expensive.

Toroids - Valve amplifier transformers, PSU, Power supply units, Output, Push pull

Andy
 
#6
Ah yes, the old Maplin kit - back in the days when you could walk into a high street shop and buy EL34s, valve bases and output transformers. Coincidentally I was in a Maplin just this morning and it's all cheapo consumer electronics. How times change!
 
#8
Gilgy said:
Ah yes, the old Maplin kit - back in the days when you could walk into a high street shop and buy EL34s, valve bases and output transformers. Coincidentally I was in a Maplin just this morning and it's all cheapo consumer electronics. How times change!
Click to expand...

I agree,

Another place gone down the pan!
You even struggle to get their 2watt resistors with higher voltage rating!

Things are down to mail order now!

Regards
M. Gregg
 
#12
Ardee said:
Majestic are good but if you just want cheap and cheerful try VVT.

'Vvt Ltd' design and make Wound Components including Transformers, Chokes and special Coil Winding.
Click to expand...

VVT is what I used here:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/tubes-valves/189653-cf-ccs-can-made-simpler-3.html
and I'm quite pleased with that.
I used drop-through transformers and the sizes given for chassis cut-outs weren't correct so beware of that!
Transformer bells needs to be painted but taking them off is a nightmare. Thinner and patience eventually made it possible.
Other than that I'm happy. Happy with prices, final looks AND with performance.

rgds,

/tri-comp
 
#14
Maplin is useless for anything other than extension cords these days; if you ask for anything remotely exotic like an FM aerial coupler they solemnly go and look it up in the Good Book (the Maplin catalogue). I asked what the difference was between two voltmeters and the reply was: 'This one's yellow.'
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom