Crap!!! What do I do now?!?!?!

[Hailstorm350]

I was going to build an 8 output Power supply using the Transformer from Weber, but I sent him an e-mail and received this back:

Hello, I am wondering how large the PDLXFMR-1 transformer is.
Also I was wondering how I am supposed to mount it inside of a typical
metal box.

Seriously?
You use metal standoffs. That's pretty standard in a lot of electronics to keep the cost down. We are producing an 8 channel adjustable power supply for pedals and I thought I might make the transformers available to the public so hobbyists and others could make their own
power supply.  On the picture of the transformer on our transformers page, the mounting hole spacings and the thickness of the winding body is shown.

However, I can see it is too much of a challenge, something I honestly didn't think about. So, I will take them off our website.
Sorry to cause the confusion.

As far as the 9 volts, yes, it would be useless if you aren't used to designing power supplies. Again, I apologize for the confusion.
We had no problem implementing all of the windings of the supply, including the 9V, and didn't have any problem mounting the transformer.

I think I take too much for granted at times and cause a lot of problems for those interested in our products.

Ted

Crap!!! What am I going to use as a transformer for my project now?
I don't want to use the single transformer things as they take up too much space in my opinion.

Any suggestions?

thanks,
Ken :cry:

[sir_modulus]

I'd suggest the flat pack transformers from Small bear.

Cheers,

Nish

[R.G.]

Crap is right. The one commercial source for a multiwinding transformer has decided that beginners are too much trouble and is withdrawing the transformer from public sales.

Great. Just peachy.

What am I going to use as a transformer for my project now?
I don't want to use the single transformer things as they take up too much space in my opinion.

Your options are the following:
(1) Talk him out of withdrawing it
(2) Use multiple small ones, as the transformer you can get is a thousand times better than one you can't get
(3) modify a flatpack
(4) modify a toroid
(5) Modify/wind a E-I core transformer
(6) hire/convince someone to do 1-5 for you.

I recommend against (5); too dangerous for a beginner, and too time consuming to do right. (4) is going to be quite difficult to find a core and primary corpse to start work on. You are familiar with (3) from my writeup. (2) is what you do if you can't do 1, 3,4,5, or 6.

I don't include giving up in the list.

Actually, there is something else. You could use a 12V wall wart for a DC supply, and then use CMOS logic and MOSFET drivers to chop the 12V and feed it into the primary of Mouser Hy-Q audio transformers and make a few watts each of 9V isolated that way. That's smaller, but just about as expensive as doing (2).

[bwanasonic]

Crap is right. The one commercial source for a multiwinding transformer has decided that beginners are too much trouble and is withdrawing the transformer from public sales.

Great. Just peachy.

I have to say the tone in that email does not sound like any of the dealings I have had with Ted. Maybe he was having a bad day, or maybe he just got an email from someone testing their power supply in the bath, wondering why the lights went out? He should just have a disclaimer that he's not responsible if you fry yourself, and don't email him asking which wire goes where, etc. If he lists the specs for the item, including dimensions, etc, that should cover his end. It also seems like the email quote was edited, as Ted responds to a question not included in the post here. There might be more to the story...

Kerry M

[Hailstorm350]

sorry, I realize I did not put up the e-mail I sent to him, It was really quite small and Humble.
Here it is:

Hello, I am wondering how large the PDLXFMR-1 transformer is.
Also I was wondering how I am supposed to mount it inside of a typical metal box.
Could you possibly supply me with some more detailed pictures of this item so that I can determine how to mount it?
I am very interested in purchasing one of these, and I want to make sure it will work before purchasing it and building something with it.
Also I am wondering how I am supposed to use the 2A 9V winding if it can't be rectified without internal voltage drops, rendering it useless because it wouldn't be 9V anymore.
Thanks,
Ken

That's it, both e-mails were not edited.  The second one is exactly as he sent it, and the first one as stated above is exactly as it was from my sent mailbox.  No editing here folks.
At the end of his response he ended with his big fancy blue TED signature.

Thanks guys, Comments/suggestions are still welcome!
Ken
[/quote]

[Hailstorm350]

Alright here's his response after my e-mail to him

Hey Ted, are you really sure that you want to remove the transformer from your list?

Yes, we have 250 in stock, but it appears it is too difficult for people to understand how to use it or implement rectifier-regulator circuits with it as well as recognize how to mount it. I think it would be better to just use them for our products.

Again, I apologize for the confusion.

Ted

He does appear a little unnerved doesn't he? that's too bad oh well, I'll figure out a way to learn how to wind transformers, or just use the separate ones.
Thanks guys,
Ken

[H.Manback]

I think I can answer the 9V bit, since that 9V is AC, the 9V is given as RMS, if you divide it by 1/2 sqrt(2) you get 12.72V Peak to Peak. Rectifying takes off about 1.4 Volts because of the diodes, which gives you just about enough to stabilize it. I just made a testing version using a secondary winding of 8.5 V, my chorus runs perfectly on 9V with it.

About the transformers, getting a transformer with enough secondary windings is a bitch. I had the biggest luck when I walked into my local electronic store, they had a bunch of toroidal transformers left from a dump party. Each has 2x110 primary and 10x16.7 + 1x8.5 + 1x18 as secondary windings. The 16.7 are a bit too high for my liking, but hey, beggars can't be choosers, especially because they charged â,¬5 for the thing (about $8 )

[BDuguay]

I belive the extra 9vac winding was meant for line 6 pedals that require 9vac at high amperage. My line 6 Delay Modeler use 9vac and the pedal itself has internal rectifying and regulating.
I just sent an email to Ted asking if it's not to late to still get one of these transformers for my self.
B.

[BDuguay]

Hailstorm350
If I'm unsucessful in getting my own transformer from weber, and you'd like to sell yours, I would gladly buy it from you. Just a thought.
Let me know.
Thanks,
Brian

[Hailstorm350]

Brian, I don't have one either.  So if you'd like to buy one from me, You're out of luck because I don't make them!    Sorry

I belive the extra 9vac winding was meant for line 6 pedals that require 9vac at high amperage. My line 6 Delay Modeler use 9vac and the pedal itself has internal rectifying and regulating.
I just sent an email to Ted asking if it's not to late to still get one of these transformers for my self.
B.

I believe you are correct, seeing as how my Digitech GNX2 Pedal's adapter came undone, I took it apart, and after noticing there was no regulator or even rectifier section, I remembered that the output listed on the box was 9VAC 2.1Amps!!!
Thanks people, I do believe that I will be going with the 10 Xformer deal from mouser and just deal with the enclosure issue.  It souldn't be too big of a deal, I was just hoping and crossing my fingers for a single transformer to do the work for me  
If anyone stumbles across another alternative, please let me know as I would love to take a look at another possibility.  I'm gonna try to get this done within the next 3 weeks, so any suggestions are welcome!

Thanks guys,
Ken

[Peter Snowberg]

Be sure to check out "flat-pack" transformers with dual isolated secondariers. If you use bridge rectifiers you can cut that down to 5 transformers.

[Hailstorm350]

Peter, Where do you get those?

[Peter Snowberg]

Look in the current Mouser catalog on pages 1374, 1375, 1378, 1379, & 1381.

[bwanasonic]

What transformer configuration does the Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 use? I must admit though, as fundamental and basic as power supplies are, it's a case where I'd be more inclined to purchase a well designed product than attempt a DIY solution. If my DIY octavia craps out on a gig, no biggie. But if the power to my whole board bites it, it will be a much bigger PITA. I'll test my PS chops on a bench supply at some point, but I doubt I'll be gigging with a homemade PS anytime soon. I have a long way to go assembly skills wise.

Kerry M

[BDuguay]

I repaired a pedal power from voodoo labs ( the first version, not the pedal power 2) for a friend of mine. It turns out one of the nuts holding the IEC connector (AC in) to the chassis had come off inside and was rolling around underneath the PC board making contact with the transformers outputs, shorting them, and gradually taking out each output one by one. This supply utilized a single proprietary transformer that has 8 secondaries all feeding their own rectifiers and regulators and filter caps. I removed the transformer and repaired all the windings that had 'fried' open from the shorting, put it back in and it works once again. Quite a simple power supply to make as long as you have the transformer.
B.

[Hailstorm350]

Peter, those are Soldering supplies and things.
I have the current catalog with the grey kindof cover.  
I will look around some more but that's what's on those pages.  Sure you have the most recent one?

Ken

[Peter Snowberg]

:oops: Whoops!

Make that the...... DIGIKEY catalog. (Jan-Apr 2005; I knew it was a current catalog. Hehehe)

There are lots of transformers with dual secondaries out there. Any of them will work.

[Hailstorm350]

ok, thanks

I should be looking for a dual secondary Xformer that has 12.6Ct out right?
Or is it 12 V or 11V or what specifications should I be looking for.  I know the Amperage measurements I will need so that's taken care of.
Thanks,
Ken