| Hot power transformers [message #63549] |
Wed, 28 July 2010 00:33  |
JiminyCricket
Messages: 50
Registered: July 2010
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Baron |
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I noticed the other day that my boyfriend's power transformer, (which he uses for his amps), was quite warm to the touch. He says it sometimes gets quite hot. Is this normal?
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| Re: Hot power transformers [message #63552 is a reply to message #63549] |
Wed, 28 July 2010 09:36  |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18793
Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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Yes, it's normal. Obviously, there is a point where too much current draw through the coils (which are what cause heating, that and the direct heating of the core laminations from eddy currents) can be too much, and something might give. But in general, yes, power transformers get hot. Manufacturer's usually don't spend money on oversized parts, so they are used somewhat near their limits, not necessarily at the max, but definitely not loafing along.
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| Re: Hot power transformers [message #63589 is a reply to message #63549] |
Sat, 31 July 2010 22:52 |
Adveser
Messages: 434
Registered: July 2009
Location: USA
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Illuminati (1st Degree) |
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I would consider a chassis getting so hot that it is a safety issue to be a defect. That said, I wouldn't worry about it. The only advice I have is the same thing they tell you with every electronic. Just give it enough space and ventilation on each side of the chassis so that it isn't accumulating heat.
Tubes and the metal heatsinks they use ARE a concern, but transformers shouldn't be getting quite that hot. I mean in generally tube people know that stuff is gonna be hot, but it is not expected that the residual heat from transformers to be such a burn hazard so any decent company is gonna make it impossible without opening the case to be burned or shocked.
I don't know, there may be companies that don't but the above is based on my experience only. This solid state amp is the closest I have ever seen to a transformer getting "too hot." My laptops' transformer gets about as warm.
http://adveser.webs.com/
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| Re: Hot power transformers [message #63603 is a reply to message #63549] |
Sun, 01 August 2010 21:56 |
Adveser
Messages: 434
Registered: July 2009
Location: USA
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Illuminati (1st Degree) |
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Thanks for the info. It should be a bit more obvious to me, but yeah a Transformer having to dissipate as much as 13 volts just to work properly is gonna generate a lot of heat.
Wouldn't that be the same as hooking up a capacitor to a battery as far as heat?
http://adveser.webs.com/
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(Maybe this is my obsession - I worry about my laptop when it feels hot too!).
