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transformer buzz

E

eromlignod

Jan 1, 1970
0
Guys:

I am designing a device that will be used in a musical recording
studio environment. It involves a transformer (1 kVA) that buzzes.
The primary is 120 Vac and there are several low-voltage/high-current
secondaries--about 2V @ 2A ea.

Is there a standard, reliable, simple way to eliminate this buzz?

Don
 
I

Ian Stirling

Jan 1, 1970
0
eromlignod said:
Guys:

I am designing a device that will be used in a musical recording
studio environment. It involves a transformer (1 kVA) that buzzes.
The primary is 120 Vac and there are several low-voltage/high-current
secondaries--about 2V @ 2A ea.

Is there a standard, reliable, simple way to eliminate this buzz?

Vacuum impregnation with lacquer.
Where is the buzz coming from?
 
N

N. Thornton

Jan 1, 1970
0
Guys:

I am designing a device that will be used in a musical recording
studio environment. It involves a transformer (1 kVA) that buzzes.
The primary is 120 Vac and there are several low-voltage/high-current
secondaries--about 2V @ 2A ea.

Is there a standard, reliable, simple way to eliminate this buzz?

Don


Hi Don. Yes, put it outside.

There are other approaches that can be tried with varying success:
1. paint it to stick the core laminations together
2. whack the core lam edges with hammer and chisen to jam them
3. place TF on sound absorbing thing
4. Place in labyrinthine carpeted box with a silent cooling fan

With 1,3,4 take adequate precautions against fire risk.


Regards, NT
 
Y

Yzordderex

Jan 1, 1970
0
You can try banging in a small piece (or pieces) of hardwood shim
between the core and windings. Sometimes it's the windings moving
around that creates the buzz.

73
Bob
N9NEO
 
B

Ben Bradley

Jan 1, 1970
0
In said:
Hi Don. Yes, put it outside.

There are other approaches that can be tried with varying success:
1. paint it to stick the core laminations together
2. whack the core lam edges with hammer and chisen to jam them
3. place TF on sound absorbing thing
4. Place in labyrinthine carpeted box with a silent cooling fan

5. Use a toroid core transformer.
 
T

Tweetldee

Jan 1, 1970
0
eromlignod said:
Guys:

I am designing a device that will be used in a musical recording
studio environment. It involves a transformer (1 kVA) that buzzes.
The primary is 120 Vac and there are several low-voltage/high-current
secondaries--about 2V @ 2A ea.

Is there a standard, reliable, simple way to eliminate this buzz?

Don

If the buzzing is audible, and is a result of the transformer laminations
being loose, and if the transformer has holes in the corners of the
laminations, it's probably an easy fix. Install machine screws in each of
the holes (along with appropriate washers and nuts, of course), and tighten
until the noise is under control.
There's also a chance that the buzz is a result of the winding bobbin being
loose. If this is the case, get a couple of thin wedges of wood and drive
them between the core and the bobbin.
Cheers!!
--
Tweetldee
Tweetldee at att dot net (Just subsitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
 
S

Spajky

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am designing a device that will be used in a musical recording
studio environment. It involves a transformer (1 kVA) that buzzes.
Is there a standard, reliable, simple way to eliminate this buzz?

mount it inside a metal case on fine rubber washers & fill it with a
very liquid sewing machine oil ... you wont hear it anymore ...

-- Regards, SPAJKY
- http://freeweb.siol.net/jerman55/HP/Spajky.htm
Celly-III OC-ed,"Tualatin on BX-Slot1-MoBo!"
E-mail AntiSpam: remove ##
 
G

George R. Gonzalez

Jan 1, 1970
0
eromlignod said:
Guys:

I am designing a device that will be used in a musical recording
studio environment. It involves a transformer (1 kVA) that buzzes.
The primary is 120 Vac and there are several low-voltage/high-current
secondaries--about 2V @ 2A ea.

Is there a standard, reliable, simple way to eliminate this buzz?

Don

Something doesnt add up here, unless you have 250 secondaries!

You could have the transformer vacuum-impregnated with lacquer,
or some more advanced thermally-conductive potting epoxies.
Or choose a different transformer design.
 
R

Roy McCammon

Jan 1, 1970
0
eromlignod said:
Guys:

I am designing a device that will be used in a musical recording
studio environment. It involves a transformer (1 kVA) that buzzes.
The primary is 120 Vac and there are several low-voltage/high-current
secondaries--about 2V @ 2A ea.

Is there a standard, reliable, simple way to eliminate this buzz?

Don

If you are intending to operate at 60Hz,
then try using a transformer rated for 50Hz,
or use a primary voltage about 10% low (use
a 140V tap on 120V for example).

Power transformers are designed to run close
to or maybe a little into core saturation. That
saves metal and weight, but can cause audible
hum. Using a lower frequency transformer or
derating the primary voltage will give you a little
margin. Might help.
 
T

Tweetldee

Jan 1, 1970
0
eromlignod said:
Hi George:

Actually, there are 219 secondaries. It is a self-tuning piano. Take a look:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A10F9385B0C718CDDA80894DB404482

or here:

http://www.qrsmusic.com/Press/pr02032501.htm

Don

Don, now that I understand what the objective is, let me recommend a
different approach. Chuck the transformer and use a switching power
supply.. They operate at frequencies that are out of the audible range, and
will run cooler than a transformer. If you rectify the transformer outputs,
and the end result is a DC source, then the switcher would serve your
purpose well.
Of course, if you need the 2V/2A at 60Hz, then you may be stuck with the
transformer approach. Since it's obvoiusly a custom build, then you should
be able to specify a maximum noise level from the transformer, and let the
manufacturer worry about the design & construction details.

Good luck on your project... sounds like it may actually work. Do you have
a prototype yet?
Cheers!!
--
Tweetldee
Tweetldee at att dot net (Just subsitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
 
S

Spehro Pefhany

Jan 1, 1970
0
Of course, if you need the 2V/2A at 60Hz, then you may be stuck with the
transformer approach. Since it's obvoiusly a custom build, then you should
be able to specify a maximum noise level from the transformer, and let the
manufacturer worry about the design & construction details.

A toroidal transformer might be a better fit for the job.

But a switching supply would mean that ripple on the supply would be
much less likely to cause the strings to vibrate audibly, possibly at
harmonics of the mains frequency.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
 
S

Spajky

Jan 1, 1970
0
Great idea, if you want to create a big fire hazard. You need
transformer oil.

it is expensive & the first one is also mineral one & sure does not
burn before 200°C (IMHO before reaches that temp means that the house
burned already down by some other reason...)

-- Regards, SPAJKY
- http://freeweb.siol.net/jerman55/HP/Spajky.htm
Celly-III OC-ed,"Tualatin on BX-Slot1-MoBo!"
E-mail AntiSpam: remove ##
 
A

Active8

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi George:

Actually, there are 219 secondaries. It is a self-tuning piano. Take a look:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A10F9385B0C718CDDA80894DB404482

or here:

http://www.qrsmusic.com/Press/pr02032501.htm

Don
aside from fixing the buzz, this sounds like something where you'd wan't
to control the current through the strings, but not by controlling the
voltage that produces the current. figure as the string temp rises, so
will the resistance and the strings aren't the same size. it might make
the processor's job easier or at least the job of designing the
processor.

raise a controlled V, and I,R, and T raise. the higher R would lower the
I and T. maybe that doesn't really mess things up. that's a physics prob
i never considered. but if you apply a controlled constant current
source, it stands to reason that the current controller would adjust for
the increased R and the controller's job is easier.

so if you haven't already thought of this...

feel free to send money :)

BTW, you mention a guitar pickup with a magnetic core. actually, it's a
magnetized core with magnetic pole pieces. the magnetic vibrating string
alters the magnetic field. but you knew that.

good luck and brs,
mike
 
A

Active8

Jan 1, 1970
0
it is expensive & the first one is also mineral one & sure does not
burn before 200°C (IMHO before reaches that temp means that the house
burned already down by some other reason...)

nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
 
S

Spehro Pefhany

Jan 1, 1970
0
Great idea, if you want to create a big fire hazard. You need
transformer oil. Its made for the job, and is a lot safer. Still, I
wouldn't want it inside my home, or shop.

You can pick up some kinds of used transformer oil really cheap. ;-)

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
 
E

EROMLIGNOD

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Mike:

Actually I recently found that an ordinary ferrite-core inductor works great
for pickups. You can permanently magnetize the core by passing it through a
magnetizer/demagnetizer. I have found that the core only needs a very weak
field to produce the signal I need.

Actually, the crappier the signal the better. As the pickup gets cheaper and
cheaper, the signal loses its overtones until you are left with an almost
perfect fundamental sine wave, which is what I want. It would make a terrible
guitar pickup, but then an actual guitar pickup would be terrible for what I
want.

I can get the inductors for $0.35 ea. and solder them to a PCB in the exact
pattern to place them under the strings precisely. I solder my multiplexing
chips to the same PCB.

Thanks for the help!

Don
 
A

Active8

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Mike:

Actually I recently found that an ordinary ferrite-core inductor works great
for pickups. You can permanently magnetize the core by passing it through a
magnetizer/demagnetizer. I have found that the core only needs a very weak
field to produce the signal I need.

i just meant that magnetic and magnetized are 2 different things. iron
is magnetic, but it isn't magnetized unless you align the magnetic
domains in the same direction.
Actually, the crappier the signal the better. As the pickup gets cheaper and
cheaper, the signal loses its overtones until you are left with an almost
perfect fundamental sine wave, which is what I want. It would make a terrible
guitar pickup, but then an actual guitar pickup would be terrible for what I
want.

I can get the inductors for $0.35 ea. and solder them to a PCB in the exact
pattern to place them under the strings precisely. I solder my multiplexing
chips to the same PCB.

Thanks for the help!

Don
makes sense. figure that the fundamental is the stronger signal and a
pick up with a weak magnetic field won't be as sensitive.

brs,
mike
 
B

Ben Bradley

Jan 1, 1970
0
Tweetldee said:
Don, now that I understand what the objective is, let me recommend a
different approach. Chuck the transformer and use a switching power
supply..

This is not only an excellent idea, but I wonder how the current
(or power) into each string is controlled now. You need something like
a linear device (power transistor or FET) per string, and it would
dissipate up to half a watt, and you'd also lose substantial power
through a bridge rectifier that would power each circuit.

I might use an off-the-shelf off-line switching supply that gives
10 to 25 volts (dependent on the max input voltage of the other
regulators I use) at the needed 250 watts, then use a small
2-amp-output switcher for each string. There seem to be lots of small
switching regulators that will give the required output (0 to 2V at up
to 2A) from Linear Technology, TI and such. I'd sync up the
oscillators of all the regulators so there's no chance of audible
difference frequencies being generated.

To your original question, are you sure the buzz is from the
transformer, and there's absolutely no buzz or hum from the wiring or
the strings themselves? Running (filtered and regulated, not pulsed)
DC through the strings would fix that.
They operate at frequencies that are out of the audible range, and
will run cooler than a transformer. If you rectify the transformer outputs,
and the end result is a DC source, then the switcher would serve your
purpose well.
Of course, if you need the 2V/2A at 60Hz, then you may be stuck with the
transformer approach. Since it's obvoiusly a custom build, then you should
be able to specify a maximum noise level from the transformer, and let the
manufacturer worry about the design & construction details.>
Good luck on your project... sounds like it may actually work.

I also have to admit it's a pretty neat idea.
 
E

EROMLIGNOD

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Ben:

Thanks for the ideas. The power is controlled with pulse-width modulation
switching a TRIAC on and off on induvidual duty cycles. I'm kind of proud of
the way I did it, so I'll tell you.

I daisy-chained a row of Fairchild 74F675A sixteen-bit
serial-in/serial-parallel-out shift registers. It's like having one giant
224-bit shift register. It also has an output register so when the 224 bits
have shifted into place, they can be clocked into the register and held while
the next word is shifted in. I connect each of the bits to the control line of
a TRIAC for each string in the piano that connects the string to the voltage
source.

By feeding successive words to the shift register in a cycle I can control the
PWM duty cycles of all of the strings simultaneously using only a serial
output, a serial clock and a store clock line. In other words, I feed 100
numbers of 224 bits each to the shift in a repeating cycle. So if I wanted
string #48 on the piano to be on 62% of the time I would feed a 224-bit number
that had a "1" in the 48th place. Each number after this would also have a "1"
in the 48th digit until I reach the 62nd number and then I would start feeding
0's to the 48th place until the end of the cycle. In this way string #48 is
held "on" for 62 words and "off" for the remaining 38 words, or a 62% duty
cycle.

I store the big words in 16-bit stacks in memory--one stack for each of the 100
PWM words. I simply pop each stack and feed the bits to the serial line and
then strobe the store clock to transfer the word to the output register and go
on to the next word, and so on. What do you think?

I don't have any trouble with the strings vibrating. They are simply
conductors with no core, so there are no magnetostriction problems. If there
were the wires in you house would hum!

Don
 
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