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Thunderbird Club

#125,281
JIO said:
I love peeps who know their chosen field inside & out! :thumbsup: I have no idea what a toroidal transformer is (other than being a transformer) :)
Click to expand...
standard (EI) transformer....named EI because the core is made of an E side that accepts the windings and an I cap that completes the assembly (and magnetic circuit but ignore this)....
upload_2019-8-21_22-53-57.png


toroidal transformer.. named toroidal because the core is shaped like a toroid (doughnut shape)...
upload_2019-8-21_22-55-5.png


although both do the same thing in transforming electrical energy the toroidal wins because of it's slimmer, shorter form factor allowing the amps to be slimmer in the 19 inch rack mountable format. 2U instead of 3U or 1U instead of 2U and so forth....make sense? incidentally, the one in the Spyder is toroidal as well...
 
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#125,283
Chucky Stiletti said:
standard (EI) transformer....named EI because the core is made of an E side that accepts the windings and an I cap that completes the assembly (and magnetic circuit but ignore this)....
View attachment 3515812

toroidal transformer.. named toroidal because the core is shaped like a toroid (doughnut shape)...
View attachment 3515813

although both do the same thing in transforming electrical energy the toroidal wins because of it's slimmer, shorter form factor allowing the amps to be slimmer in the 19 inch rack mountable format. 2U instead of 3U or 1U instead of 2U and so forth....make sense? incidentally, the one in the Spyder is toroidal as well...
Click to expand...

Toroidals are also lighter, less prone to hum, cooler, & more efficient. But they are more expensive and any DC imposed on the AC will upset them.
 
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#125,284
Chucky Stiletti said:
toroidal transformer.. named toroidal because the core is shaped like a toroid (doughnut shape)...
View attachment 3515813

although both do the same thing in transforming electrical energy the toroidal wins because of it's slimmer, shorter form factor allowing the amps to be slimmer in the 19 inch rack mountable format. 2U instead of 3U or 1U instead of 2U and so forth....make sense? incidentally, the one in the Spyder is toroidal as well...
Click to expand...

Ahhh - thanks for the tutorial Chuck! (Engle and Miles) I leaned something new before calling it a day! Yes, I thought that is what was being referred to and yes - I recognized it as one like in my 550 Spyder. (which has been operating brilliantly since you repaired it! :thumbsup:) Next time I eat a dough toroid I'll think of this! :)
 
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#125,285
Miles_ONeal said:
Toroidals are also lighter, less prone to hum, cooler, & more efficient. But they are more expensive and any DC imposed on the AC will upset them.
Click to expand...

Cooler for sure - my Ashdown 550 Spyder (w/2 relatively silent fans) runs really cool and has no discernible hum. My SWR 400s on the other hand runs hot and the fan volume/presence is noticeable. Can't slag it otherwise - it's bulletproof and it delivers!

So how can DC be imposed on the AC? I don't want to upset it!
 
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#125,286
Gaolee said:
I should have a whole lot more physical issues than I do. I chalk it up to a prehistoric genome and inbreeding. Ozzy Osborne and Keith Richard must be relatives. Causes of their damage are different, but you get the idea. I can play a Thunderbird nearly indefinitely. The upright causes my hands to cramp if I don't drink enough water, but that's about it. Knees, back, shoulder, elbows, etc. all hurt, but they don't stop me from doing anything. Or anything dumb, for that matter.
Click to expand...

Is that an upright Thunderbird?
 
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#125,287
TerribleTim68 said:
I guess I'm in? That's my Goth T-bird on the far right, top row -
View attachment 3515538


I'll be honest, not a fan of the 3-point bridge on this thing. I can NOT get the action down low enough to make it work well for me. In fact, of all my personal basses, this one probably has the highest action of them all.
Click to expand...

So, you obviously play Country and Western with that collection.
 
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