The full-wave center tap rectifier (sometimes called full-wave
diametric) on paper appears completely symmetric. But as usual, the
devil is in the details.
The PS HV winding is usually wound serially, that is the 2nd half is
simply wound over the first after a CT connexion has been brought out.
As a result, the 2nd half has a higher resistance than the first half.
For the simple low cost PT I’ve used for these tests the halves of the
HV secondary measure 189R & 206R.
If you look carefully inside the glass of a directly heated rectifier
such as the 5U4, 5Y4, Etc you will see the heaters inside each plate are
connected in series to their outside 5 volt supply. So each heater is
2.5 volts at rated current. Better a short high current heater than two
long thin 5 volt heaters at ½ the current, both for mechanical strength
& the peak current emission required for capacitor input filters.
Altho most windings on PS PTs are color coded to ID their intended use,
there is usually no polarity information given. As a result it is
possible the heater winding will be connected either series aiding or
series opposing to the HV winding, sofar as the rectifier is concerned.
It would seem that a 5 volt supply would have little effect while in
series with the applied HV. But the p-p voltage difference is 14 volts.
The rectifier diodes are conducting only on the peaks of the HV supply
into the following cap. The EI characteristic of the diodes is not
linear but rather follows the 3/2 power law. That further accentuates
the extra 5 volts.
Go to this link & see page 4 for the EI curve og the 5U4 rectifier-
http://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/093/5/5U4GB.pdf
This can result in a large difference in the resulting 60 Hz (50 Hz)
component at the output of the rectifier, depending upon which connexion
polarity relation occurs. The following filter section, whether LC or RC
is not as effective at removing this ripple as for the 120 Hz (100 Hz)
it is meant for.
A CT on the 5 volt heater supply goes only part way in respect to the
problem described. The test results showed 6 to 8 db improvement over
the CT remedy depending on how the circuit was connected.
Another partial fix would be to add an equalizing resistor to the
winding half of lower resistance.
But the simple fix requires no other parts at all save the current
sampling resistor in the HV CT lead to the first filter cap. Then try
reversing to Rectifier heater supply leads for the best result.
All this doesn’t matter a lot if the amplifier is PP, since common mode
voltages are for the most part rejected. But the PP is never perfect.
With the SA I've seen IM sidebands at 880, 940, 1060 & 1120 Hz when a
1000 Hz test signal was applied to an otherwise good PP Amp.
This simple rectifier fix can help a lot in a SET amp where 2/3 to ¾ of
the 60 Hz (50 Hz) can show up in the loudspeaker, possibly at a
resonance. Getting the last few mv out near a speaker resonance could
make a significant improvement.
Hope this will be useful information for someone.
Cheers, John
--
John L Stewart
yeah, that's quite possibly true for CHEAP transformers. But it's just
as easy to use 2 parallel windings then put 'em in series for
(effectively) a center tap. Even cheapo radio shack transformers (the
ones I've seen) appear do that. No reason why NOT to do that if the
intent is a CT for a full-wave rectifier tube filament (or a low voltage
full wave rectifier even).
> As a result, the 2nd half has a higher resistance than the first half.
> For the simple low cost PT I’ve used for these tests the halves of the
> HV secondary measure 189R& 206R.
etc. - yeah, that kind of imbalance would induce SOME ripple/hum into
the circuit, and require larger capacitors + series inductors to get rid of.
>
>> The PS HV winding is usually wound serially, that is the 2nd half is
>> simply wound over the first after a CT connexion has been brought out.
>
> yeah, that's quite possibly true for CHEAP transformers. But it's just as
> easy to use 2 parallel windings then put 'em in series for (effectively) a
> center tap.
** So the Boob knows nothing about transformers either.
> No reason why NOT to do that if the intent is a CT for a full-wave
> rectifier tube filament (or a low voltage full wave rectifier even).
** So the Boob did not even read the post he is now crapping on about.
It says " PS HV winding .... "
.... Phil
----------------------------------------------------------
Opinions are for lawyers, solicitors & politicians. Big Fat Bob is none
of these. So lets leave it to him to present proof that the common PT
used in tubed amps really does have equal resistance HV halves.
Bob, pls be sure to state the PT manufactuerer & p/n along with the
resistance data so we can cross check.
Cheers to all, John
--
John L Stewart
you are still an idiot. you shouldn't be up this late. your mommie
told you to go to bed early, as 6-year-olds need their sleep.
troll harder, your 'fail' level is showing.
what, 2 trolls? Lucky ME! I will feed you, and hug you, and call you
George.
> So lets leave it to him to present proof that the common PT
> used in tubed amps really does have equal resistance HV halves.
whether or not a particular transformer was constructed in a particular
way is up to the engineers. How _I_ would do it, on the other hand, is
to parallel the windings. And I don't see this as being all that
difficult (in fact, it would PROBABLY be easier). I believe Hammond
advertises at least SOME of theirs as having parallel windings. I have
also found parallel wound secondaries on at least one old transformer
that I took apart [to try to repair, no good on that attempt, still
interesting] and seen OTHER cases (old radio shack transformers) where
secondary windings ARE obviously in parallel, and others where they are
not. One way to tell, look at the CT wire. Sometimes you can tell just
by looking at the direction the transformer wires wrap away from the
terminals. In other cases, the spec sheet will tell ya. But then
again, if you're trolling, your brain is off [so you won't figure this
out on your own].
** So the BB Boob knows NOTHING about transformers either.
> No reason why NOT to do that if the intent is a CT for a full-wave
> rectifier tube filament (or a low voltage full wave rectifier even).
** So the BB Boob did not even read the post he is now crapping on about.
** Don't hold your breath waiting for that ....
... Phil
you are SO full of crap. Troll harder next time. You've invented new
levels of 'fail'.
>
>> No reason why NOT to do that if the intent is a CT for a full-wave
>> rectifier tube filament (or a low voltage full wave rectifier even).
>
> ** So the BB Boob did not even read the post he is now crapping on about.
>
> It says " PS HV winding .... "
>
and I still say you're an idiot. quit wasting bandwidth with your
ad-hominem attacks. And while you're at it grow a brain. There's no
reason why you can't use parallel windings on a power transformer. In
fact, I say it SHOULD be done that way. Apparently, so do THESE guys:
http://www.hammondmfg.com/300Pseries.htm
"concentric wound for for low stray field and low noise"
** So the BB Boob knows NOTHING about transformers either.
> No reason why NOT to do that if the intent is a CT for a full-wave
> rectifier tube filament (or a low voltage full wave rectifier even).
** So the BB Boob did not even read the post he is now crapping on about.
It says " PS HV winding .... "
> There's no reason why you can't use parallel windings on a power
> transformer. In fact, I say it SHOULD be done that way. Apparently, so do
> THESE guys:
>
> http://www.hammondmfg.com/300Pseries.htm
>
> "concentric wound for for low stray field and low noise"
>
** ROTFLMFAO !!!!!!!!!!!
Someone tell the fuckwit how wrong he is - AGAIN !!
..... Phil
In a concentric winding, one winding is wound on top of the other with
insulation separating them. Could be a secondary wound on top of a primary,
or a secondary wound on top of another secondary. This is the usual and
rather conventional construction for an inexpensive power transformer.
A parallel winding occurs when two (or more) strands of magnet wire are
wound together. They may be then connected to form a centre tapped winding
with equal half winding resistances if you like, and this is often done on
low voltage transformers. It is NEVER done on a high voltage secondary and
I can assure you that Hammond would never construct a high voltage
centre-tapped winding in this way.
The words "high voltage" should be your tip-off as to why concentric rather
than parallel construction must be followed.
Balancing the resistance of HV windings is a piece of cake even with
concentric construction, without even changing the wire gauge...just costs a
bit more.
Doug Bannard, VE3SPF
eat my shorts. do you have anything BETTER to do? Apparently not. GET
A JOB. GET A LIFE. GET A CLUE.
Hammond 300's contain a number of parallel windings. research it. the
answer stares you in the face. They're wound for high performance and
low noise. I really didn't want to purchase one just to satisfy some
room-temp IQ troll, so I'll leave you the exercise of proving me wrong,
instead of acting like a kindergarten-level trollboy living in his
mommy's basement.
and even if the resistances vary by 10% or more, the voltage variation
will easily be filtered out.
How old are you, anyway? 13? have you ever been employed as an
engineer? Have you ever designed anything from scratch? Have you ever
had a patent issued with your name on it? have you ever earned more
than minimum wage?
leave out concentric, concentrate on 'low stray field and low noise'. I
was quoting their page.
[you ESTJ types need to stop circling around minor details]
** Kinda obvious really .....
> In a concentric winding, one winding is wound on top of the other with
> insulation separating them. Could be a secondary wound on top of a
> primary, or a secondary wound on top of another secondary. This is the
> usual and rather conventional construction for an inexpensive power
> transformer.
>
> A parallel winding occurs when two (or more) strands of magnet wire are
> wound together.
** A technique also known as " bi-filar " winding.
Much loved by the RF brigade.
> They may be then connected to form a centre tapped winding with equal half
> winding resistances if you like, and this is often done on low voltage
> transformers. It is NEVER done on a high voltage secondary and I can
> assure you that Hammond would never construct a high voltage centre-tapped
> winding in this way.
** For the simple reason that the enamel insulation between adjacent turns
would not stand up to the voltage stress ( same as the voltage of whole
winding ) for very long.
> Balancing the resistance of HV windings is a piece of cake even with
> concentric construction, without even changing the wire gauge...just costs
> a bit more.
** Resistors are cheap.
.... Phil
better to wind in parallel, and if high voltage arcing is a concern, put
the two halves on the same later IN PARALLEL such that # of turns AND
inductance AND wiring resistance match. Per layer.
Stop being an ass