ampage Tube Amps / Music Electronics	For current discussions, please visit Music Electronics Forum.

ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

Painting Transformers

:

5/9/2000 9:22 PM

Painting Transformers

I'm in the process of designing/building a little single ended stereo power amp using two EL84s for output tubes. I have two OTs to use for this that are your basic plain OTs without end bells to cover the windings and brown tape/paper around the windings. For cosmetic reasons I was thinking about painting the OTs black. Is there any reason why I should NOT do this? If not, does it matter what type of paint I use?

Thanks for any help!

Steve

5/9/2000 9:48 PM
Patrick	I did the same thing with a little SE guitar amp I built using a salvaged SE OT from a small Bogen PA. The tranny was paper wound, but non of the windings were exposed, so I painted it flat black, with no negative results. I would think you only have to worry if there might be a possibility of any paint you use melting the varnish insulation on the windings.

5/10/2000 4:12 AM
Bryan James	unforunitly i don't have the web address here. but i know that the zen power amp. (stero single-end) they put there output chassis inside the chassis (there's OT is as you discribe). depending on the height of your chassis, and the height of your OT your could do the samething and not worry about painting it. just an idea. -Bryan

5/10/2000 1:55 PM
Steve Jones	Actually I had seen that and considered that. I'll have to measure the chassis and think about it. As I remember on the Zen amp one reason given for that was for shielding of the trannies by the chassis. For those that are interested, the on-line assembly instructions for the Zen amp are at: http://decware.com/zkit01.htm Thanks Bryan, Steve

5/10/2000 2:58 PM
Bryan James	i get lucky every once in a while with a good idea what tube you useing for output? was just noticeing that all the current schematics i've seen for single end amps are usually below 5watts. is there a reason for this? what about a single end amp with kt88??

5/10/2000 3:36 PM
Steve M.	Bryan, Check out this page: http://www.infomaniak.ch/~bonavolt/audioel.htm#Amps Several 6550/KT88 SE amps. All are hifi amps, but could be a good starting point. Steve

5/10/2000 6:19 PM
Bryan James	thanks just what i was looking for

Page 1 of 2