Is it possible to fry an OPT? Yes.
Running a tube amp without a load is a bad idea because the voltage swing on the primary leads can be very high.It might arc over in the output tube(s),or arc over on the transformers primary windings and ruin the OPT.Some amps may even oscillate or show other odd behavior with no load attached.
Another potential cause of a fried OPT is over current.This might happen from running the output tubes with too much bias current,or if one (or both) of the output tubes lose bias voltage,and go 'full tilt',thus running way too much current through the OPT primary and tube(s) until finally something gives. The excessive current draw may even stress the power transformer(and the rest of the PSU) to the point of failure.
Running a tube amp without a load is a bad idea because the voltage swing on the primary leads can be very high.It might arc over in the output tube(s),or arc over on the transformers primary windings and ruin the OPT.Some amps may even oscillate or show other odd behavior with no load attached.
Another potential cause of a fried OPT is over current.This might happen from running the output tubes with too much bias current,or if one (or both) of the output tubes lose bias voltage,and go 'full tilt',thus running way too much current through the OPT primary and tube(s) until finally something gives. The excessive current draw may even stress the power transformer(and the rest of the PSU) to the point of failure.
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