Mains step-down transformers with multiple outputs

[Howard]

Hi. Has anyone come across transformers similar like this on ebay? https://taweber.powweb.com/store/wpdlxfmr2sch.jpg

[R.G.]

The Weber isolated-outputs transformer is well known.

Go google "geofex.com spyder" for where this started.

[Howard]

Yupp. Thats where I found the link to the above Weber. Though affordable, one might find somehing similar further east..

[wavley]

Yupp. Thats where I found the link to the above Weber. Though affordable, one might find somehing similar further east..

Or you could help support some of those who have made this hobby possible by buying an affordable part.

[Howard]

I support that thought indeed. However, there are shipping, customs & VAT"s that take the joy away from many purchases. I.e. into Norway there is current a USD 32 customs-free limit for online purch from abroad. So in addition to already relatively high freight-rates overseas, an additional 25$ customs fee  plus 25% VAT hits us.  It hurts somewhat.. To my defence, I do follow your prinsiple also in other aereas of life, i.e we always buy our groceries locally when we go away for the weekend, instead of bringing stuff from the supermalls. It is important to support local traders, or else they will dissapear.

[R.G.]

I support that thought indeed. However, there are shipping, customs & VAT"s that take the joy away from many purchases. I.e. into Norway there is current a USD 32 customs-free limit for online purch from abroad. So in addition to already relatively high freight-rates overseas, an additional 25$ customs fee  plus 25% VAT hits us.  It hurts somewhat..

Governments are at best symbiotic, when they provide only what individuals cannot do for themselves - national defense, roads, etc. But when they grow bigger than that, it's almost irresistable for them to become parasites, not symbiotes.  They then take for themselves all they can without actually killing the host. The host's health suffers.

[Howard]

Here taxes & VAT, s are fairly high, that is an average of 30% tax and 25% VAT. But then we all have free health-care, education and secured pensions. Of course all these benefits are on the dayli political agenda, some of those the spiralling costs that call for even further raise in f&t.

[duck_arse]

.... But then we all have free health-care, education and secured pensions.

funny you should mention those three. we just had a budget, and they are the main topics. all cuts, of course.

[merlinb]

I support that thought indeed. However, there are shipping, customs & VAT"s that take the joy away from many purchases. I.e. into Norway ...

It would be helpful if you added your location to your profile, so people don't assume you're an American who just wants to pay less.

[Howard]

I recently paid a visit to your part of the world, and smuggled home yet another slick six-string signal generator, thus upholding the need for even more stompboxes. I think we left some $5000 behind in NYC. That may not include being ripped of by Yellow Cabs. They obviously feed of novice tourists like ourselves. Still I am most offended by this act. Actually I wrote an article , dripping with sarcasm yet still very humorous (or so I thought) about the incident, that I posted to all NYC area papers - in sequense, in order to satisfy my need for redress or , even better - revenge. Didnt pay off. Old news I guess. Which again has nothing to do with my seemingly preference to pay as less as possible for parts to crowd up my workbench. Point taken and whereabouts included in the signature

[R.G.]

Here taxes & VAT, s are fairly high, that is an average of 30% tax and 25% VAT. But then we all have free health-care, education and secured pensions. Of course all these benefits are on the dayli political agenda, some of those the spiralling costs that call for even further raise in f&t.

Our tax load is pretty close to 50% once you add up the federal, state, and local income taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes.  We *don't* get free health care, education, nor secured pensions, in the way you mean them. Of course, you don't either -  you pay for that health care, education, and pensions.

We get health insurance - and tax penalties if we don't buy it; we get education that is primarily funded by local property taxes, but with content mandated by the "common core" curriculum requirements. This makes those that can affordand pay for private education on top of that if we can afford it. We get "social security", which is a minimal, subsistence level of support in old age.

We know from the experience of the Soviet Union that making the total taxes be 100% and parcelling out "benefits" doesn't work over the long run, at least the way they had it set up.

Maybe the Laffer curve was not as silly an idea as modern tax and spend supporters like to say.

[Jdansti]

I recently paid a visit to your part of the world, and smuggled home yet another slick six-string signal generator, thus upholding the need for even more stompboxes. I think we left some $5000 behind in NYC. That may not include being ripped of by Yellow Cabs. They obviously feed of novice tourists like ourselves. Still I am most offended by this act. Actually I wrote an article , dripping with sarcasm yet still very humorous (or so I thought) about the incident, that I posted to all NYC area papers - in sequense, in order to satisfy my need for redress or , even better - revenge. Didnt pay off. Old news I guess. Which again has nothing to do with my seemingly preference to pay as less as possible for parts to crowd up my workbench. Point taken and whereabouts included in the signature

Not all of the US is like NYC. Ask anyone who's been to Texas (and many other states) how friendly and honest most of us are.

[R.G.]

I agree. For a few *decades* I viewed NYC as basically uninhabitable. You saw it in it's massively cleaned-up, rehabilitated condition. Oddly, my in-laws like the new NYC and go there for vacations. To each his own, I guess.

It's sad that a place comes to prey on visitors. Embarassing. 

[Mustachio]

Good and bad, human nature knows no borders... Or something like that.

On the other hand, this transformer with the 8 isolated outs looks really cool. Looks like the WPDLXFMR-2 is a dollar cheaper then the -1 model now and will work the same. I didn't find much like it in a quick search of the internet's but maybe there's some out there. I like the smaller cheaper transformers RG talks about in the Spyder write up. Gives some flexibility if you need to power some things at higher voltages and with as many outputs as you need with less effort I guess.

I eventually need to build a power supply , I really liked the look of the one you where building in the steel channel RG. Hoping I get time in the good weather to build myself up a nice pedal board and include a power supply for it soon.

[GGBB]

Good and bad, human nature knows no borders... Or something like that.

On the other hand, this transformer with the 8 isolated outs looks really cool. Looks like the WPDLXFMR-2 is a dollar cheaper then the -1 model now and will work the same. I didn't find much like it in a quick search of the internet's but maybe there's some out there. I like the smaller cheaper transformers RG talks about in the Spyder write up. Gives some flexibility if you need to power some things at higher voltages and with as many outputs as you need with less effort I guess.

I eventually need to build a power supply , I really liked the look of the one you where building in the steel channel RG. Hoping I get time in the good weather to build myself up a nice pedal board and include a power supply for it soon.

I recently finished designing an isolated and regulated 9V DC PS with 6x100mA and 2x250mA outputs with plans to build two of them.  I used 4 dual 12V secondary transformers. But when I added up the cost of parts, it wasn't saving me enough money to be worth the effort.  For about the same price I picked up a used Voodoo 2 Plus (which has the same number and size of outputs in a smaller box).  It would have been a fun project, but I just don't have that much spare time and would rather build pedals.  You may want to keep that in mind if price is a factor.

[Mustachio]

 If ? price is a factor.. haha

This is me >

The main problem is I really enjoy DIYing stuff like this so ill probably end up building one. The single transformer with 8 iso outs is looking nicer and nicer now. That Voodoo Lab brick does look nice though. I think ill have to cross that bridge when I have enough to pay the toll.

Has Howard found anything cost effective in his neck of the woods yet ?

[Howard]

I may have posted this img before, cant even keep track of my own posts. The transformer question derived from having 10 of these circuits layimg around for a while.  I must admit I hadnt thought this through well enough, as I had an Idea that these circuits would give me isolated outputs, even with a single transformer or a DC input. I belive it was Aqua Audio that made me aware of the oposite. BTW check out his ubercool products. With reg to transformer I have not found any other than the otherwise excellent Webers. However,  I have got a quota for torodial transformers at a  reasonable price, made at a Norwegian owned production line in Asia. Would require no more than 50 pcs to be ordered...

[Howard]

Now while the isolated output does serve a purpose, personally I have only experienced problems when using dig FX on switch-mode PSUs.  Using a linear PS with a daisy-chain works with several dig and analog FXs. However I have multiple linear12VDC PSUs capable of several amperes, whilst my linear 9V is 0,3A. The 1590BB will take 5 of these circuits, so I will probably make one for 12-24VDC input for the joy of it .

[R.G.]

It's worth mentioning that isolated grounds are not always needed. In many cases, a simple daisy chain from the power supply to every pedal works great, and causes no problems. I have the experience of literally thousands of instances of this.

[Howard]

Here is the psu "prototype". The 1590BB is a nice casing for the 5 x 7809 regulator pcb's.