To trim or not to trim -- transformer leads

[Phil_S]

I'm ashamed to post this in the technical section. That's because any sensible person would trim the leads and go to the next task. Tho' I've been building for a decade or so, when it comes to transformer leads, I have trouble cutting them off. You know, like the smoke, it's hard to put back once it's done. Well, not as bad as putting the smoke back.

I just installed an OT on a SE build and the leads are way long...and there are lots of them 5K, 7K primary, 4-8-16 secondary. That makes 7 with the 0 leads. So, just how short can I reasonably cut them? How much slack for "service" do you leave?

[briane]

I usually leave at least 3-4 inches - then in future if re-used can always be extended with some wire and shrink wrap.

I dont think long leads will affect the tone of the amp - unless your ac drifts over the preamp.

[xtian]

I have the opposite problem, being Virgo and compulsively tidy. I trim everything…sometimes too short. Though I don't mind hooking, soldering and shranktubing wires to make them longer when needed.

[rdjones]

I'm ashamed to post this in the technical section. That's because any sensible person would trim the leads and go to the next task. Tho' I've been building for a decade or so, when it comes to transformer leads, I have trouble cutting them off. You know, like the smoke, it's hard to put back once it's done. Well, not as bad as putting the smoke back.

I just installed an OT on a SE build and the leads are way long...and there are lots of them 5K, 7K primary, 4-8-16 secondary. That makes 7 with the 0 leads. So, just how short can I reasonably cut them? How much slack for "service" do you leave?

If you have a particularly interesting transformer, but not sure if it's found a permanent home chassis, bow-tie the leads with wire ties.
Even with a truly 'permanent' install I think a bit of slack is reasonable assuming attention is paid to noise abatement.

rd

[M Fowler]

I don't cut my unused leads short either. I make sure one is shorter then the other, trimmed, shrink tubed, and tied.

Never know what I might do with those leads later

Lately I like installing switches and running dual HT or dual OT primary.

[sepulchre]

In the amp I'm working on now I'm glad I didn't cut the rectifier 5V lines. I might be using them to run a relay. Never can tell what you don't know, you know.

[rp]

You can always shove a bit into the bell. Not sure if that's unsound for noise but I've done it. Some have more room than others though. I found it isn't too hard to splice new leads and hide the joint in the bell too, so I now trim away, but only after I confirm the amp works well.

[overtone]

I confess to hiding them in the bell too!
Shrink-wrap the ends, spaghetti sleeve them and fold them in so that they can be picked out if plans change.
I do have one really great 18W OT form IG without bell covers, so the excess is tied up in a gay looking bow. Looks really daft and unfinished, but sounds fine.

Best, tony

[M Fowler]

In the amp I'm working on now I'm glad I didn't cut the rectifier 5V lines. I might be using them to run a relay. Never can tell what you don't know, you know.

On my last PCB style Express I provided two eyelets on the board for the 5v leads just incase I wanted to add something later.

Mark

[Phil_S]

This is a MPS OT10SE. I confess to cutting the leads and soldering last night. They were 10" leads. I cut 5.5" off the brown (5K primary to the 6L6 plate), didn't cut the blue (7K primary), and the 4 secondary leads were trimmed a bit less. All remaining lengths are still serviceable. There is slack in all of them. I may have to trim and relocate the red B+ lead. I'll know more after I try out the amp (again)!

Don't ask. This is a mutant on the AX84 octal fatness. Initially, it was a total failure. Using a 6SL7 instead of 12AX7 probably cranked it down more than just a notch and I'm not looking forward to re-biasing that tube (under the output jacks.) I think more is learned from failure than success.

Now that I finally have a proper OT in it, I'll find out if it actually has problems or not.

BTW, the PT is a hefty Telefunken that I scored on eBait for cheap!

[Structo]

I like the idea of preserving the leads and stuffing them in the bell.

But, I would like to see if the added coils of wire there cause any noise problems or are they shielded by the bell enough to silence it.