Power Transformer rant

[eddie25]

I'm getting really frustrated buying power transformers recently.

I'm pretty much fed up with ClassicTone being way over voltage on everything. I know they want to make them like the originals, but the wall voltage has changed people! They also rate them fully loaded! Barely anyone wants 500V on EL34 screens, or 460V on 6V6 anymore. I want my tubes to last a little. Their Sunn PT will give you around 530V at load and that's with a GZ34. What is that at idle, 580V?

Hammond seems to have less available choices, odd ratings, are more expensive, and can also be difficult to predict voltages. I can never remember if they are rated loaded or unloaded.

Then you have Edcor that would clean up the market if they just actually had these things available. I've had like 100 Edcors in their shopping cart and only ordered once because I just can't wait 5 weeks to start a build. I don't see why they just can't keep a stock of some standard versions.
(Here's an idea: take ClassicTones popular models and decrease the voltages by 10%, and increase the mA's by 10%, with a reliable 6.3 (or less), they will fly off the shelf)

Is there anyone else I'm missing?

[Reeltarded]

I agree on the voltages thing. Someone needs to get a handle on that one. It's fizzy.

[Blackburn]

Have you heard of Heyboer?

[eddie25]

Those are made to order as far as I know, or you can get premade ones from Mojo, which seem to also be stricken by outdated design high voltage-itis, or the need for a tube rectifier.

I'm just having a hell of time getting something that's standup that will get me 425-450V with a solid state rectifier and can handle a 50 watt design. There's like 20 options for anything between 450V and 520V.

[Bob S]

Not to mention filament voltages.
Seems like 6.3 has to be 6.8 to 7 these days.

[M Fowler]

Better then not having any transformer manufacturers to choose from.

Can't say I've had tube problems because of high screen or plate voltages. If the tubes burn up they burn up, change them and give the tube manufacturer hell.

You can try Pacific, Jensen, and others.

[martin manning]

Mark, I know you have used a lot of MC transformers; what has your experience been with voltage levels as compared to the circuit values published for the vintage transformers?

[cbass]

Are the edcor,s voltages loaded or unloaded .are the heaters coming in close to6.3

[cbass]

What does classic tones express PT give at idle?

[M Fowler]

I haven't noticed voltages being excessive but my wall is 118vac and maybe that is why.

I've used MC iron in Silvertone 1482, Magnavox tweed, 5E3, 5f6a, 5b6, Trainwreck Express, Marshall Plexi 100w, Marshall JCM 50w, Marshall JTM 45, BF Twin Reverb, BF Bassman, Princeton Reverb, Dumble variants, Octal Reverb Rocket, and many more types of circuits.

MC is my first choice if they don't have what I want I look at Mojotone's Heyboer iron, Triode's Dynaclone, or rjguitar's stuff (Heyboer, Edcor or Pacific).

Mark

[M Fowler]

What does classic tones express PT give at idle?

I don't have my voltages saved for the MC Express, sorry.

The MC Express iron is huge compared to the Heyboer Express iron.

[cbass]

Our wall voltage is around 123-125.I built a couple of bucking transformers fo r my vintagevamps works perfect

[cbass]

What does classic tones express PT give at idle?

I don't have my voltages saved for the MC Express, sorry.

The MC Express iron is huge compared to the Heyboer Express iron.

Man that thing is fat

[ToneMerc]

Almost every PT I use I get custom wound by Heyboer which I will setup for modern voltages, it eliminates the WTF factor. The MCI complaints I have seen across amp building forums, there are several here.

TM

[ER]

Edcor has always been worth the wait for me.