Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: joesatch on January 13, 2022, 03:09:18 pm

Title: Are Fender and Marshall Transformers interchangeable?
Post by: joesatch on January 13, 2022, 03:09:18 pm
Let's say i wanted to replace a JTM45 Power Transformer but have come across a Fender PT rated somewhat similarly but very cheap in price. Would this work? Same with the OT ?
Title: Re: Are Fender and Marshall Transformers interchangeable?
Post by: sluckey on January 13, 2022, 03:32:16 pm
yes yes
Title: Re: Are Fender and Marshall Transformers interchangeable?
Post by: pdf64 on January 13, 2022, 04:35:01 pm
Fender PTs often seem to have their ratings expressed in a different way to Marshall. So make sure to compare like with like. eg the typical Marshall 700V@150mA is probably a ‘point on the curve’, rather than the max load.
Title: Re: Are Fender and Marshall Transformers interchangeable?
Post by: Willabe on January 13, 2022, 05:20:50 pm
So make sure to compare like with like. eg the typical Marshall 700V@150mA is probably a ‘point on the curve’, rather than the max load.

Would you define 700V@150mA is probably a ‘point on the curve’?

I don't think it is understood by many here including me.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Are Fender and Marshall Transformers interchangeable?
Post by: pdf64 on January 13, 2022, 06:01:12 pm
I meant that 150mA probably isn’t the max rated current. So 700V@150mA means that when loaded at 150mA, the voltage will be 700V. At lower loads, the voltage will be higher, at higher loading, it will be lower. A typical 2xEL34 with a 3k5ish primary OT and a HT voltage of about 420V at max unclipped output will probably draw more than 150mA.
Title: Re: Are Fender and Marshall Transformers interchangeable?
Post by: dwinstonwood on January 13, 2022, 10:43:38 pm
A typical 2xEL34 with a 3k5ish primary OT and a HT voltage of about 420V at max unclipped output will probably draw more than 150mA.

As much as I've read on OPT's this is still a point of confusion for me. Is there an "explanation for dummies" for how and why OPT primary impedance affects power tube current draw? If I used a 6,600 OPT with two 6V6GT's would the current draw be more of less if I used an 8,400 OPT?
Thanks!
Title: Re: Are Fender and Marshall Transformers interchangeable?
Post by: PRR on January 14, 2022, 12:27:00 am
> If I used a 6,600 OPT with two 6V6GT's would the current draw be more of less if I used an 8,400 OPT?

Dummy thought experiment:
 
300V across 6600Ω is 0.045A
300V across 8400Ω is 0.036A

Those are not final answers. There's two sides to the Push-Pull winding, and we assume sine-waves not steady DC. But the trend is right.