Very good work! the wonders of electronics I am a lover of this art. I thank God for the privilege of learning a little about this science. Thank you very much for the complements. What God bless you always.🙏🙌🌹🌿
Wow, thank you so much for these tutorials! I have had an interest in building my own transformer for many many years, read about them, but have always had a hard time looking for the parts, and wondering if I could do it. I think with your help I can now. Thanks!!
Love it. I'm just getting started out, and this has been a huge help. One question, did anyone ever contact you with local EI plate and bobbin sources in Canada/US? I'm not having any luck. Thanks again!
Thanks for your tutorials. I’ve been winding simple 1:1 bifilar EI core for the last several months thanks to you. Recently I started experimenting with winding a 1:4 input transformer using cut cores. The hardest part is making the bobbin.
Thank you Matt! I'm really happy to hear that! Yes, I prefer the ready made plastic bobbins. The larger ones can be made without too much hassle, but the smaller ones are very difficult to make. Maybe 3D printing is and option if you want a custom design, but I don't know what filament material should be used to avoid deteriorating later when exposed to potting and heating.
Delatsch yes I’m 3D printing the bobbins using a knockdown design. The panels print flat and then I assemble them. The cut cores are fastened together using a band.
nice to see how has grown your shop, i like that you supply now core material, does your future project include tutorials for chokes too ??, thanks for sharing :)
Thank you! Yeah, there will be more transformer parts and materials in the webshop soon. The choke spreadsheet and tutorials and even a phone app are almost ready. Check out my website in couple of weeks and it should be available really soon.
I don't think I have a video on testing these. I've originally optimised them for 6B4Gs but still didn't get around to buying them. I've tried it with 6L6s and the bass is magnificent, but I wasn't satisfied with the top end and it is underpowered for 6L6s.
Hi, I am very happy with the transformer winding app I purchased from your site a while back, I would like to know if you can help with the winding for cathode feedback data to add to the output transformers, as some of my designs have cathode feedback .. Thanks
that was a great demonstration! thanks for showing us! :) I can build even the former where the wire is going to be wound, but the FeSi sheets... where did you get them from? Its so hard to find... they look new!
Thank you! I get them locally here in Europe, but I have to order larger quantities. I am not sure if anyone is selling them in smaller quantities in US.
Nice work! Winding transformers and chokes is something Id like to try instead of buying very expensive transformers for my tube amp builds. I suppose there would be a lot of experimenting involved to get it right, but would be a great skill to have. Would you recommend a supplier of the magnet wire, EI laminations and Bobbins? Does your spreadsheet calculate bobbin size as well as lamination sizes? Would love to see some testing videos when you get around to it. Keep up the good work
Thanks! It calculates core cross section, so you just need to pick the closest one you have to square stack or slightly higher stack to make for less turns and easier to fit the wire. If you are in the US I don't know any suppliers there, if you are in the EU you can check out my website for wire, laminations and some other materials. I've finally made a nice testing setup, so soon I will be making some tests.
I might mention it in a video, but the point of impregnation the transformer is to mechanically secure the windings and laminations to avoid ringing of windings and rattling of laminations. Making it super impregnated and under pressure is not really necessary.
When you are winding the wire, does every turn lay next to the last, or do they sometimes overlap one another, does it effect performance if they overlap?. The windings do look even, but it's hard to see from the video.
Ideally it should be one next another, but when you are hand winding it is not really possible to do it like that unless you really have super human skills. Making overlaps here and there is ok and will not make significant difference in most applications. If they overlap the losses are increasing slightly so for power transformers you might get a bit lower voltage than you expected (but only in extreme cases) and for audio transformers it is more important because you would get greater sonic losses.
Of course have to always add that the most recorded vocal microphone of all time Neumann U47 had an output transformer that was hand wound also not perfectly and no one ever complained about its performance :)
Wow! That counter slash winding machine is a time saver. Where can you buy parts for transformers reasonable? I found one kit at jameco and I can get a new 24V transformer cheaper.
I get them in large quantities locally here in Europe. It doesn't really pay off to wind just a few, especially if you need standard low voltage transformers. Those can be found cheap. It makes sense if you are winding a lot of transformers and the ones with multiple taps and high voltage etc.
I've been building guitar amps for a year . I'm about to start my 8th build . Transformers are quite expensive, and I've been thinking I'd love to build my own if it is cost-effective. I imagine it would be quite an expense to set up my shop with nessasary tools and materials.. I'm wondering what I might spend on those setup costs. And once I have the tools I need, is it much cheaper to build my own? Any insight would be appreciated!
Well, if you manage to find a good source and purchase materials in bulk and plan on building a lot of transformers then it is a lot cheaper. The initial costs can be high, to get a good winding machine, quantities of several different sizes of core lamination, bobbins, insulating materials, different gauges of wire, lead wires in all the different colors etc. And also it will take some time and a lot of destroyed wire to master the winding. I think it pays off, but the biggest investment would be time and sourcing transformer parts is no fun. :)
Thank you, usually not, I reverse engineer some of the broken vintage audio and tube amp transformers to make the data sheet to be able to wind new ones. Repairing transformers takes more time than winding new ones and is not always possible.
Great information. I have heard that the best audio transformers have the primary and secondaries next to one another, basically winding both the primary and secondaries in each winding. Is this true? Also, where is the best place to source the parts you just made the transformer? Great videos. I can't wait to learn more.
Thank you. It all depends on the application. Winding bifilar or more windings at the same time works when not too many turns are required, because the stray capacitance becomes an issue. For high voltage tube applications it was avoided because if insulation oj the wire broke it coupd short primary to secondary, etc.
Thank you. Great answer. I have never thought about the capacitance. I will be buying your spreadsheet soon. My math skills are terrible so it will surely help.
Hi, i am winding my first output transformer , just wanted to know , the 43% tap is calculated from the big geming of the winding or from the CT(B+)? Thanks
Hello. I bought your transformer calculator. I’ve built few power and single ended output transformers with great results. Now I want tu build a push/pull and don’t know what number I should use for primary impedance. I want 1.5k from center to each side which makes 3k plate to plate. Should I use 1.5k or 3k? Thanks.
@@ramilrodriguez8340 That's a strange combination, I am not sure what the load impedance should be, I think it is not so easy to calculate. You should make a prototype with taps at 1.5K plate to plate then 2K and maybe 2.5K and find out what sounds the best.
@@Delatsch ok but what I need to know is if your app wants plate to plate impedance as an input number or center to plate? Is my question wrongly formatted? When I write the info that your app needs, one of the parameters is primary impedance. If I want 3k plate to plate which is 1.5k plate to center tap, which number should I write in the app, 3000 or 1500? Thanks.
I'd love to try my hand at transformer winding but EDCOR is currently not selling transformer winding supplies due to pandemic-related availability issues. Transformer laminations are available internationally, but you'll get hammered on shipping. Anyone got out there got a North American lamination source dealing in quantities less than a metric ton?
Howdy. Two possible sources. 1. I got this response. Dear Eugene, Sorry for the late reply. I've missed your email due to our summer holiday. We have such an EI cores like below. dongilcore.kr/product/ei.html We sell our goods to any one who needs them, small or big companies or even individuals. The only matter is quantity because small quantity can not be competitive to buyers in international business due to high transportation cost and other charges. Truly yours, Wondo DONGIL CORE CO., LTD #932, Sang Dong Acrotel, 54, Buil-ro205beon-gil, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea POSTAL Code : 14598 Tel : +82 505 719 6888 Fax : +82 505 718 6888 www.dongilcore.kr On Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 1:46 AM Eugene Pohjola wrote: DONGIL CORE CO., LTD; Sales Sirs, Ma'ams I am interested in a small amount of E lamination and corresponding I strips. Size: EI114 Grade: CRGO Quantity: A 100 mm stack of E laminations and a 100 mm stack of corresponding I strips. Do you sell to private persons ? Do you ship overseas ? Regards Eugene Pohjola (Finland, Europe) 2. www.don-audio.com/Edcor-EI63-12-Strand-M-6-29-Gauge-0014-0355mm-line-grain-oriented-silicon-steel-lamination Regards
I am living in Europe so I don't know of any sources in US. For SE transformer I would suggest buying a cheap optimum sized Hammond choke and reusing the core since it is easy to disassemble. For PP I would reuse old radio or TV transformer core you can find them for practically free and just need a bit of work to reuse it.
Howdy again. A third possibility. Check eBay for Line Transformer. I found a couple of posts of 100W or 50W items. The core should be audio grade since they are used in building central radio systems. Regards.
Using KT66 as in original would be very interesting since they sound a bit different from 6L6. Making direct copy of Partridge Williamson transformers is what many dream about because old stock is depleted and extremely expensive. I know winding sheets exists but i haven't checked Delatsch if he did it.
I haven't measured them precisely but low end is very good and goes down all the way to 20Hz, but the top end is not so good because I haven't used real interleaving. I will wind new ones soon and measure it properly.
10:20 The only thing I don't agree with is using "beeswax", this product is not designed to be used in the construction of transformers. the suitable product is "Dielectric Varnish" and there are several types for this purpose.
1. Sleeves too too thick. 2. Too much paper tape overlap into core window side thus thickening the build inside the window. 3. You need to see some practical designs. Open up a few and learn better building techniques.
Thank you for your input, but I think both are irrelevant, since you are not building up on the areas where the core is gonna go. It is on the open side of the bobbin, so you can have as much buildup as you like. As for the paper, you calculate the transformer to make all of it fit. I've opened up more of them than I would like to admit to. :) The only important aspects of transformer building are the sufficient insulation and potting. Everything else is just personal preference or cosmetics. Even the ugliest transformer will work forever if wound with enough and proper insulation and that's what practical transformer is.
Congrats, not only for the interesting work but also for the storytelling
Thank you Cagdas!
Very good work! the wonders of electronics I am a lover of this art. I thank God for the privilege of learning a little about this science. Thank you very much for the complements. What God
bless you always.🙏🙌🌹🌿
Wow, thank you so much for these tutorials! I have had an interest in building my own transformer for many many years, read about them, but have always had a hard time looking for the parts, and wondering if I could do it. I think with your help I can now. Thanks!!
Thank you!
Love it. I'm just getting started out, and this has been a huge help. One question, did anyone ever contact you with local EI plate and bobbin sources in Canada/US? I'm not having any luck. Thanks again!
Thanks for your tutorials. I’ve been winding simple 1:1 bifilar EI core for the last several months thanks to you. Recently I started experimenting with winding a 1:4 input transformer using cut cores. The hardest part is making the bobbin.
Thank you Matt! I'm really happy to hear that! Yes, I prefer the ready made plastic bobbins. The larger ones can be made without too much hassle, but the smaller ones are very difficult to make. Maybe 3D printing is and option if you want a custom design, but I don't know what filament material should be used to avoid deteriorating later when exposed to potting and heating.
Delatsch yes I’m 3D printing the bobbins using a knockdown design. The panels print flat and then I assemble them. The cut cores are fastened together using a band.
Nice! What filament do you use for 3d printing of the bobbins?
Delatsch experimenting with PLA and ABS for now. Since the bobbin panels are printed as flat individual elements the print time is fast.
So how did the tests go? Is there a follow up video of the test results?
nice to see how has grown your shop, i like that you supply now core material, does your future project include tutorials for chokes too ??, thanks for sharing :)
Thank you! Yeah, there will be more transformer parts and materials in the webshop soon. The choke spreadsheet and tutorials and even a phone app are almost ready. Check out my website in couple of weeks and it should be available really soon.
Hi, great and useful work, did you make the video where you test the transformers?
I don't think I have a video on testing these. I've originally optimised them for 6B4Gs but still didn't get around to buying them. I've tried it with 6L6s and the bass is magnificent, but I wasn't satisfied with the top end and it is underpowered for 6L6s.
Hi, I am very happy with the transformer winding app I purchased from your site a while back, I would like to know if you can help with the winding for cathode feedback data to add to the output transformers, as some of my designs have cathode feedback ..
Thanks
Very nice quality work. Greetings from sunny Jamaica.
Thank you!
that was a great demonstration! thanks for showing us! :) I can build even the former where the wire is going to be wound, but the FeSi sheets... where did you get them from? Its so hard to find... they look new!
Thank you! I get them locally here in Europe, but I have to order larger quantities. I am not sure if anyone is selling them in smaller quantities in US.
09:19 I suggest to put 8 phenolic insulation washers for each transformer to reduce losses.
Nice work! Winding transformers and chokes is something Id like to try instead of buying very expensive transformers for my tube amp builds. I suppose there would be a lot of experimenting involved to get it right, but would be a great skill to have.
Would you recommend a supplier of the magnet wire, EI laminations and Bobbins? Does your spreadsheet calculate bobbin size as well as lamination sizes? Would love to see some testing videos when you get around to it. Keep up the good work
Thanks! It calculates core cross section, so you just need to pick the closest one you have to square stack or slightly higher stack to make for less turns and easier to fit the wire. If you are in the US I don't know any suppliers there, if you are in the EU you can check out my website for wire, laminations and some other materials. I've finally made a nice testing setup, so soon I will be making some tests.
Can you make a video on the pro’s & con’s of vacuum impregnating with beeswax?
I might mention it in a video, but the point of impregnation the transformer is to mechanically secure the windings and laminations to avoid ringing of windings and rattling of laminations. Making it super impregnated and under pressure is not really necessary.
where do you buy your wire from?
I buy it locally. Check my website if you are in EU or nearby i have it for sale there.
When you are winding the wire, does every turn lay next to the last, or do they sometimes overlap one another, does it effect performance if they overlap?. The windings do look even, but it's hard to see from the video.
Ideally it should be one next another, but when you are hand winding it is not really possible to do it like that unless you really have super human skills. Making overlaps here and there is ok and will not make significant difference in most applications. If they overlap the losses are increasing slightly so for power transformers you might get a bit lower voltage than you expected (but only in extreme cases) and for audio transformers it is more important because you would get greater sonic losses.
Of course have to always add that the most recorded vocal microphone of all time Neumann U47 had an output transformer that was hand wound also not perfectly and no one ever complained about its performance :)
@@Delatsch Thanks for the reply. Makes sense. Best. M
Wow! That counter slash winding machine is a time saver.
Where can you buy parts for transformers reasonable?
I found one kit at jameco and I can get a new 24V transformer cheaper.
I get them in large quantities locally here in Europe. It doesn't really pay off to wind just a few, especially if you need standard low voltage transformers. Those can be found cheap. It makes sense if you are winding a lot of transformers and the ones with multiple taps and high voltage etc.
@@Delatsch Ok thanks! Awesome work man!
I've been building guitar amps for a year . I'm about to start my 8th build . Transformers are quite expensive, and I've been thinking I'd love to build my own if it is cost-effective.
I imagine it would be quite an expense to set up my shop with nessasary tools and materials.. I'm wondering what I might spend on those setup costs. And once I have the tools I need, is it much cheaper to build my own?
Any insight would be appreciated!
Well, if you manage to find a good source and purchase materials in bulk and plan on building a lot of transformers then it is a lot cheaper. The initial costs can be high, to get a good winding machine, quantities of several different sizes of core lamination, bobbins, insulating materials, different gauges of wire, lead wires in all the different colors etc. And also it will take some time and a lot of destroyed wire to master the winding. I think it pays off, but the biggest investment would be time and sourcing transformer parts is no fun. :)
Nice work you do, my question is do you do transformers repair jobs ?
Thank you, usually not, I reverse engineer some of the broken vintage audio and tube amp transformers to make the data sheet to be able to wind new ones. Repairing transformers takes more time than winding new ones and is not always possible.
Great information. I have heard that the best audio transformers have the primary and secondaries next to one another, basically winding both the primary and secondaries in each winding. Is this true? Also, where is the best place to source the parts you just made the transformer? Great videos. I can't wait to learn more.
Thank you. It all depends on the application. Winding bifilar or more windings at the same time works when not too many turns are required, because the stray capacitance becomes an issue. For high voltage tube applications it was avoided because if insulation oj the wire broke it coupd short primary to secondary, etc.
Thank you. Great answer. I have never thought about the capacitance. I will be buying your spreadsheet soon. My math skills are terrible so it will surely help.
Hi, i am winding my first output transformer , just wanted to know , the 43% tap is calculated from the big geming of the winding or from the CT(B+)? Thanks
Hi Prahlad, it's calculated from the CT.
@@Delatsch thank you kindly cheers
Hello. I bought your transformer calculator. I’ve built few power and single ended output transformers with great results. Now I want tu build a push/pull and don’t know what number I should use for primary impedance. I want 1.5k from center to each side which makes 3k plate to plate. Should I use 1.5k or 3k? Thanks.
What tubes and how many are you using in PP?
@@Delatsch 6 kt88’s at 550 plate volts. I need to know what your app wants for primary impedance number, plata to plate or center tap to plate?
@@ramilrodriguez8340 That's a strange combination, I am not sure what the load impedance should be, I think it is not so easy to calculate. You should make a prototype with taps at 1.5K plate to plate then 2K and maybe 2.5K and find out what sounds the best.
@@Delatsch ok but what I need to know is if your app wants plate to plate impedance as an input number or center to plate? Is my question wrongly formatted? When I write the info that your app needs, one of the parameters is primary impedance. If I want 3k plate to plate which is 1.5k plate to center tap, which number should I write in the app, 3000 or 1500? Thanks.
@@ramilrodriguez8340 The app uses plate to plate load impedance.
I'd love to try my hand at transformer winding but EDCOR is currently not selling transformer winding supplies due to pandemic-related availability issues. Transformer laminations are available internationally, but you'll get hammered on shipping. Anyone got out there got a North American lamination source dealing in quantities less than a metric ton?
Howdy. Two possible sources.
1. I got this response.
Dear Eugene,
Sorry for the late reply. I've missed your email due to our summer holiday.
We have such an EI cores like below.
dongilcore.kr/product/ei.html
We sell our goods to any one who needs them, small or big companies or even individuals. The only matter is quantity because small quantity can not be competitive to buyers in international business due to high transportation cost and other charges.
Truly yours,
Wondo
DONGIL CORE CO., LTD
#932, Sang Dong Acrotel, 54, Buil-ro205beon-gil, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
POSTAL Code : 14598
Tel : +82 505 719 6888
Fax : +82 505 718 6888
www.dongilcore.kr
On Thu, Jul 30, 2020, 1:46 AM Eugene Pohjola wrote:
DONGIL CORE CO., LTD; Sales
Sirs, Ma'ams
I am interested in a small amount of E lamination and corresponding I strips.
Size: EI114
Grade: CRGO
Quantity: A 100 mm stack of E laminations and a 100 mm stack of corresponding I strips.
Do you sell to private persons ? Do you ship overseas ?
Regards Eugene Pohjola (Finland, Europe)
2. www.don-audio.com/Edcor-EI63-12-Strand-M-6-29-Gauge-0014-0355mm-line-grain-oriented-silicon-steel-lamination
Regards
I am living in Europe so I don't know of any sources in US. For SE transformer I would suggest buying a cheap optimum sized Hammond choke and reusing the core since it is easy to disassemble. For PP I would reuse old radio or TV transformer core you can find them for practically free and just need a bit of work to reuse it.
Howdy again.
A third possibility.
Check eBay for Line Transformer. I found a couple of posts of 100W or 50W items. The core should be audio grade since they are used in building central radio systems.
Regards.
Using KT66 as in original would be very interesting since they sound a bit different from 6L6. Making direct copy of Partridge Williamson transformers is what many dream about because old stock is depleted and extremely expensive. I know winding sheets exists but i haven't checked Delatsch if he did it.
Much appreciated. What -3dB points did you get with these?
I haven't measured them precisely but low end is very good and goes down all the way to 20Hz, but the top end is not so good because I haven't used real interleaving. I will wind new ones soon and measure it properly.
10:20 The only thing I don't agree with is using "beeswax", this product is not designed to be used in the construction of transformers. the suitable product is "Dielectric Varnish"
and there are several types for this purpose.
You mean designed by the bees? Can you make one tested or scientific reason why beeswax shouldn't be used in the construction of transformers?
Great work! Where do you get the parts?
I get the parts locally from various places. If you are in Europe you can check my webpage where I sell the transformer parts:
www.delatsch.com
@@Delatsch Thanks👍
los buenos tranformadores esta hechos capa por capa
Master, excellent
Thank you very much!
1. Sleeves too too thick.
2. Too much paper tape overlap into core window side thus thickening the build inside the window.
3. You need to see some practical designs. Open up a few and learn better building techniques.
Thank you for your input, but I think both are irrelevant, since you are not building up on the areas where the core is gonna go. It is on the open side of the bobbin, so you can have as much buildup as you like. As for the paper, you calculate the transformer to make all of it fit. I've opened up more of them than I would like to admit to. :) The only important aspects of transformer building are the sufficient insulation and potting. Everything else is just personal preference or cosmetics. Even the ugliest transformer will work forever if wound with enough and proper insulation and that's what practical transformer is.
Good amateur job.....few years and you will really wind some ot....
Yeah, it's always good to hear from seasoned professionals. I hope to stay an amateur for life.
Ok, nice for a start but with this you never gone make a top transformer, to sloppy winding, to simple winding technique