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Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?

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Posted on February 12, 2017 at 11:36:31
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10047
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 I was thinking about another use for the lighting transformers today, a means of saving space and weight. Essentially, I'm looking for a better way to power 12V and 6V IDH tubes, especially those that draw substantial current - 6AS7s, 6BL7s, quads of 6W6s, etc. If the ~12VAC (or modified 6VAC) output of the electronic transformer were fed to a bridge rectifier, then to a LC filter, the result would be a much smaller and more efficient system than the conventional linear filament transformer.
In this application, the input of the lighting transformer wouldn't need the typical modification discussed here regarding the line filter capacitor and fusible resistor. The transformer could operate essentially as-is, and filtering the 60kHz output should be very simple. I like the fact that typical switching supplies produce DC, and that they're regulated. However, they're much larger than the lighting transformers, and they won't fit well (if at all) under the 1.5-2" chassis I want to use.

Quite a few people here have experimented with the halogen transformers for ultrasonic heating. Have any of you tried rectifying and filtering the output for the purpose described above?



 

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RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 12, 2017 at 12:44:29
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 How would that be different from using a small 120 primary /12 volt secondary regular transformer hooked up to a bridge and LC filter? Some of them are pretty small too.

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 12, 2017 at 13:22:02
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10047
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 Conventional filament transformers capable of 6-10A aren't small. None that I've seen will fit in a shallow chassis.




 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 12, 2017 at 12:23:08
RayP
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Posts: 727
Location: Maryland
Joined: June 30, 2005
 Since they are indirectly heated tubes, why do you want DC? I know that some prefer to feed such tubes with DC but I wonder why you would do that when using high frequency AC.

And no, I have not tried what you suggest.

ray

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 12, 2017 at 14:51:18
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10047
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 When it comes to HF AC heating, I'm bothered by the capacitance between the filament and cathode in IDH tubes. It's not clear to me that this can be ignored, that a null can be achieved or maintained. All things considered, it seems there might be less risk to the DC approach.

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 12, 2017 at 15:53:54
RayP
Audiophile

Posts: 727
Location: Maryland
Joined: June 30, 2005
 It would be interesting to try all three approaches and see what you prefer when you listen. I'll have to try it sometime next month when I am back in town.

DC
AC 60 Hz
AC whatever MHz

ray

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 12, 2017 at 18:11:43
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 Please do post your results.

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 12, 2017 at 18:25:20
RayP
Audiophile

Posts: 727
Location: Maryland
Joined: June 30, 2005
 I am off to India for three weeks, but I think I can do this when I come back using my old Tubetaster line stage if I modify it a little. It is a work of art and a joy forever.

ray

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 03:01:40
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 And what, pray tell, will you be doing in India?

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 05:14:10
RayP
Audiophile

Posts: 727
Location: Maryland
Joined: June 30, 2005
 I have been retired for 7 years and each year in addition to other travels, I go off by myself for some sort of trip, usually for a few weeks. My wife enjoys the period home alone, particularly the quiet. When I meet various couples during my journeys and they ask about my wife and I mention her attitude, a light comes into the wife's eyes and they understand precisely.

I am just doing a 22 day tour in northern India. When I was in Turkey two years ago, some other travelers told me to go there. I will blog the trip at the link below.

ray

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 10:22:42
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 Sounds like you are really enjoying your retirement. Have fun. When you get back remind me and I will show you how to build a squirrel proof bird feeder. As with most things, when you finally figure it out it is very easy to do. I battled them for months until I finally came up with my current design. No problems anymore.

 

another take on squirrel 'proofing', posted on February 14, 2017 at 09:43:13
PakProtector
Audiophile

Posts: 12365
Joined: May 14, 2002
 A 25 Cal, Benjamin Marauder is a much more satisfying feeder protection device, and squirrels are waaay too tasty to ignore...:)
cheers,
Douglas

Friend, I would not hurt thee for the world...but thou art standing where I am about to shoot.

 

Tree Rats, posted on February 14, 2017 at 10:56:53
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10047
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 They like to chew on the house, so I've been knocking them out of the trees with a Gamo for several years. Don't care to eat them though...






 

RE: Tree Rats, posted on February 24, 2017 at 03:38:38
PakProtector
Audiophile

Posts: 12365
Joined: May 14, 2002
 The quarter bore Marauder allows a significant reach increase over springers, gas ram or otherwise...:)
cheers,
Douglas

Friend, I would not hurt thee for the world...but thou art standing where I am about to shoot.

 

squirrel-proof?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 11:36:01
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 10912
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 We have a bird feeder outside our kitchen window, on a post. My wife has an eternal battle with the squirrels who have managed to either eat or climb around any barrier she places on the pole to prevent their climbing up to get the food. Which is ridiculous on their part, since the birds splash food all over the ground where the squirrels are welcome to it. However, they are greedy little bastahds.

 

RE: squirrel-proof?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 18:08:15
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 Watch for future posts. When Ray gets back from India I will posts pictures and a description of how it's done. Easier than one might think.

 

it's not flying-squirrel proof !, posted on February 13, 2017 at 18:53:19
elblanco
Audiophile

Posts: 3486
Joined: August 20, 2004
 .

 

never seen one in this neck of the woods, posted on February 14, 2017 at 03:36:39
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 nt

 

they are nocturnal and more populous than "normal" squirrel -nt-, posted on February 14, 2017 at 05:50:58
elblanco
Audiophile

Posts: 3486
Joined: August 20, 2004
 j

 

We had one living in our chimney..., posted on February 14, 2017 at 07:50:24
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 10912
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
 Late one night I was watching TV in the total darkness, when I perceived something run across the room between me and the flat screen, very very fast. And it disappeared into our living room. We subsequently figured out it was an animal that periodically was invading our pantry for food while living in our chimney. My wife eventually trapped it in the pantry, using a Have-a-Heart trap provided by our hardware store. She drove it out into the country and released it. It was a bona fide flying squirrel. She thought it was so cute she hated to let it go. Just like Rocky.

 

Two Words: RAT ZAPPER! , posted on February 13, 2017 at 19:40:50
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10047
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 see da link...


 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 10:24:36
RayP
Audiophile

Posts: 727
Location: Maryland
Joined: June 30, 2005
 Now that would be very interesting. Does it involve zapping them with high frequency AC?

ray

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 18:06:13
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
 Now there's a thought!

 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 07:05:29
Triode_Kingdom
Audiophile

Posts: 10047
Location: Central Texas
Joined: September 24, 2006
 Sounds like fun! I visit China every few years, usually for a month or so. It's great to get a different perspective on the world once in a while.


 

RE: Halogen Lighting Transformer w/ Rectifier & Filter?, posted on February 13, 2017 at 07:12:00
RayP
Audiophile

Posts: 727
Location: Maryland
Joined: June 30, 2005
 My experience is that every country has something different and interesting.

And of course, 90% of the people I meet are very helpful and friendly, especially when I smile.

ray

 

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