OPT5
1.
Tubes can be 1 x 13E1, 3 or 4 x 6550, KT88, 6550, KT90,
4 x
EL34, KT66, 5881, 6L6GC, 3 x 300B, etc...
Ea = 375V, total Ia = 190mA.
PRL
= 1.8k
2.
SRL = 5 ohms, ( with options in
website text for other load matches.)
3.
PO = 25 watts
4.
Afe = 450
x sq.rtPO in sq.mm = 450 x sq.rt 25 = 2250 sq.mm
5. Core tongue dimension,
theoretical T = sq.root 2250 = 47.4mm
Choose core T = 44mm
6. Calculate
theoretical stack height, thS using the chosen T size.
S = 2,250 / 44 =
51.1mm,
choose 51mm to suit bobbin for 44 x 51mm, or T =1.75" and S = T = 2"
7. Adjusted Afe = 44 x 51 = 2,244
sq.mm
8. Confirm the height of the winding
window, H = 22 mm.
9. Confirm the length of the
winding widow, L, = 66 mm.
10. Primary winding turns,
thNp,
Np = sq.rt( PRL x PO) x 20,000 / Afe, turns.
= sq.root ( 1,800 x 25 ) x 20,000 / 2,244 = 1,890
11. Theoretical
over all dia of P wire including enamel insulation
= sq.rt ( 0.28 x L x H
/ Np )
= sq.root ( 0.28 x 66 x 22 / 1,890 ) =
0.464 mm
12. oa wire
size from the tables, try oa wire size = 0.462 mm, for Cudia = 0.400
mm.
13. Bobbin
winding traverse width = 66 - 4 = 62
mm
14. No of theoretical P
turns per layer, thPtpl, = 0.97 x 62 / 0.462 = 130 turns
15. Number of primary layers
= 1,890 / 130 = 14.5, round up to15 layers
16. actual Np = P layers x Ptpl, turns = 15 x 130 = 1,950
turns.
17.TL = ( 3.14 x H ) + ( 2 x S ) + ( 2 x T ) =
259mm
18. Rwp = ( Np x TL ) / ( 44,000 x Pdia x Pdia ) =
1,950 x 259 / ( 44,000 x 0.4 x 0.4 ) = 72 ohms
19. P
loss % = 100 x Rwp / ( PRL + Rwp ) P loss = 100 x 72 / ( 1,800 + 72 ) =
3.9%
20. P winding loss is less
than 4%, OK
21. Choose the interleaving pattern
from the list below for the wattage of the transformer.
Choose 4S x 5P but
with following interleaving pattern :-
2p - S - 4p - S - 3p -
S - 4p - S -
2p
Draw the bobbin wind up on paper or in MS paint
similar to what I have done.
Insulation details can be added when known and
confirmed for dimensions during final checks on winding height.
The
subdivision of secondary layers, the thick lines, can be included when the full
details
of the secondaries are known after step 30.
I have also included
the strapping details for CFB windings.
It is always assumed in all the OPTs
on this website that the winding lathe need only run in one turning direction.
The start and finish points of each winding are important, and each
consecutive primary layer is wound on
so that its finish point is the same
side as the start point for the next primary layer.
Where one winds across
right to left then returns with a layer on top left to right the
voltages
automatically add for the two layers.
All secondary layers start on the left
side and proceed to the right side of the bobbin.
If there OPT is used with
local CFB, the cathode winding consists in this case of 2 of 15 primary
layers
which are then seriesed to produce the correct phase and voltage for
connection between cathode and
0V to give 13.3% of local CFB.
The screen
taps available for UL are not critical for small multigrid tubes, and in the
case below are at 10-11, 33%,
8-9, 40%, 6-7, 60%, the
right value for 13E1, and perhaps 6550/KT88/KT90.
The insulation between
possible CFB windings and anode windings is the same as between
anode
windings and earthy secondary windings.
I hope this keeps things simple for everyone.
Fig1, possible design for OPT6

22. Choose i = 0.05mm
23. I = 0.5 mm
24. height of P+I+i = ( no of layers x oadia P wire ) + (
no x i ) + ( no x I )
= ( 15 x 0.462mm ) + ( 10 x 0.5mm ) + ( 8 x
0.05mm ) = 6.93mm + 5.0 + 0.4mm = 12.33mm.
25. Maximum total available height of all
windings on bobbin = 0.8 x 22 = 17.6mm.
26. max thSoadia = ( max wind ht - [ P+i+I ht ] ) /
no of S layers
= ( 17.6
- 12.33 ) / 4 = 5.27 / 4 = 1.317mm
27. Wire
tables give 1.279mm oa dia for 1.18mm Cu dia wire
28. Theoretical S turns per
layer, thStpl = Bww / thSoadia
from step 27
= 62 / 1.279 =
48.47 turns, so minimum turns per layer = 48 turns.
29. Calculate
the nearest full S turns needed for loads of 3.5 ohms, 5 ohms and 7
ohms.
Secondary turns = primary turns /
square root of impedance ratio.
OPT5, 1,950 P turns. PRL = 1.8k ,
for 3.5 ohms want 86 turns,
for 5.0
ohms want 103 turns,
for 7.0 ohms want 121 turns.
30. From step 15 we caculated 15 primary
layers.
In the P&S winding list in step 21 we selected the 4S + 5P
winding pattern.
Inspect the range of secondary arrangements where there are
4 secondary layers shown
on website pattern list in page on 'SE OPT
Calculation' / Tube OPT secondary subsections, Fig2,3,4&5.
31. Confirm the turn
selections in step 30. Examine 4A from Fig3/'SE OPT
calculations'. Using 48 tpl we could have :- The ratios are too low, since two load matches between 3 and 9 ohms are
wanted. Try 51 tpl, 1.12mm copper
dia, This gives one
usable 5 ohm load match with low winding losses which is a compromise
between The Fig1 above is for OPT5 to simply suit 1.8k
to 5 ohms only. To get two load matches between 3 and 9 ohms to suite 4 and 8 ohm
speakers, Choose option of 60 turns per layer. For 6.8 ohms, want 2 x 60 turns x 0.9mm Cu dia
wire. 33. S loss for 6.8 ohm,
Calculate 32 and 33 again but for 4.9ohm
option, OPT5 P loss from step 19,
%.............................................................................3.9% OPT5 P loss from step 19, %
..............................................................................3.9% At this point we have to make a decision whether its worth allowing up to 2.4
watts of the tube power to be wasted Using 60 tpl for the secondary of OPT5
instead of 51 tpl will cost us slightly more in wasted power The high secondary winding losses are simply a function of the absense of
sufficient copper wire dia But let's try using a core with a larger
window, and we'll call it OPT No 6.
There is a total of 6 windings with the numerical
relationships of 3 windings of N turns, and 4 windings of 3N turns.
For this
to be possible, the number of turns per full secondary layer must be evenly
divisible by 3.
4 @ 48 = 1.091 ohms,
3 @ 64
= 1.93 ohms,
2 @ 96 = 4.36 ohms.
4 @ 51t in parallel, = 1.23 ohms,
3 @ 68t in parallel, =
2.18 ohms,
2 @ 102t in parallel = 4.92 ohms.
having a match to both 4 and 8 ohms, but we don't have to subdivide
the secondary layers.
we could increase the S turns per layer.
To match to 7 ohms,
then Ns = 121.6 turns, so the the
Stpl = 60, so wire size would be 0.9mm Cu
dia instead of the 1.18mm Cu size we began with to give 48 tpl.
4 @
60t in parallel, = 1.7 ohms,
3 @ 80t in parallel, = 3.0 ohms,
2 @ 120t in
parallel = 6.8 ohms.
32. Calculate chosen secondary
option winding resistance, 6.8 ohm option,
Ns
.......................................................................................................................120
Eg,
wire Cu dia
mm...............................................................................................0.9mm
TL
from step 17,
mm.............................................................................................259mm
No
parallel S sections,
no.......................................................................................2
SRL.......................................................................................................................6.8ohms
Swr
= 120 x 259 / ( 2 x 44,000 x 0.9 x 0.9 ) = 0.436 ohms.
S loss % =
100 x Swr / ( SRL + Swr ) = 100 x 0.436 / 7.24 = 5.8%
S loss % = 100 x Swr / ( SRL + Swr ) = 100 x
0.239 / ( 0.239 + 4.92 ) = 4.63%
34. Total winding losses, chosen
options :-
S
loss from step 33, 6.8 ohm / 0.9 / 60 tpl
option...............................................5.8%
Total
loss...........................................................................................................9.7%
S
loss from step 33, 4.9 ohm / 1.12 / 51 tpl option,
.............................................4.7%
Total loss
.........................................................................................................
8.6%.
35. Are total winding losses
acceptable?.............................................................yes/no
and settle for 22.6 watts at the
secondary output, and proceed to build the OPT.
and use slightly more
labour, but perhaps its worth it!! leakage inductance and other checks will be
about the same for all of the
transformers we are exploring.
to fill the available winding space to get low
winding losses.
Eg, there are 4 layers of 0.9 mm wire instead of 4 layers of
1.4mm Cu dia wire.
SE OPT6.
Repeat steps
from step 5 above......
5. Core tongue dimension,
theoretical T = sq.root 2250 = 47.4mm
Choose core T =51mm
6. Calculate theoretical stack
height, thS using the chosen T size.
S = 2,250 / 51 = 44.1mm.
44.1 bobbins
are unavailable, but bobbins for 51mm x 51mm ( 2" square ) are available,
so
choose 51mm stack.
7. Adjusted Afe = 51 x 51 = 2,601
sq.mm
8. Confirm the height of the winding
window, H = 25 mm.
9. Confirm the length of the
winding widow, L, = 76 mm.
10. Primary winding turns,
thNp,
Np = sq.rt( PRL x PO) x 20,000 / Afe, turns.
= sq.root ( 1,800 x 25 ) x 20,000 / 2,601 = 1,631 turns.
11. Theoretical
over all dia of P wire including enamel insulation
= sq.rt ( 0.28 x L x H
/ Np )
= sq.root ( 0.28 x 76 x 25 / 1,631 ) =
0.571mm
12. oa
wire size from the tables, try oa wire size = 0.569 mm, for Cudia = 0.500
mm.
13. Bobbin
winding traverse width = 76 - 4 = 72
mm
14. No of theoretical P
turns per layer, thPtpl, = 0.97 x 72 / 0.569 = 122 turns
15. Number of primary layers
= 1,631 / 122 = 13.36, so round up to14 layers
16. actual Np = P layers x Ptpl, turns = 14 x 122 = 1,708
turns.
17.TL = ( 3.14 x H ) + ( 2 x S ) + ( 2 x T ) =
282mm
18. Rwp = ( Np x TL ) / ( 44,000 x Pdia x Pdia )
= 1,708 x 282 / ( 44,000 x 0.5 x 0.5 ) = 44 ohms
19. P
loss % = 100 x Rwp / ( PRL + Rwp ) P loss = 100 x 44 / ( 1,800 + 44 ) =
2.4%
20. P winding loss is less
than 4%, OK
21. Choose the interleaving pattern
from the list below for the wattage of the transformer.
Choose 5S x 4P but
with following interleaving pattern :-
S - 3p - S - 4p - S -
4p - S - 3p -
S
Draw the bobbin wind up on paper or in MS paint
similar to what I have done.
Insulation details can be added when known and
confirmed for dimensions during final checks on winding height.
The
subdivision of secondary layers, the thick lines, can be included when the full
details
of the secondaries are known after step 30.
Fig2.

22. Choose i = 0.05mm
23. I = 0.5 mm
24. height of P+I+i = ( no of layers x oadia P wire ) + (
no x i ) + ( no x I )
= ( 14 x 0.569mm ) + ( 10 x 0.5mm ) + ( 8 x
0.05mm ) = 7.96mm + 5.0 + 0.4mm = 13.36mm.
25. Maximum total available height of all
windings on bobbin = 0.8 x 25 = 20.0mm.
26. max thSoadia = ( max wind ht - [ P+i+I ht ] ) /
no of S layers
= ( 20.0
-13.36 ) / 5 = 6.64 / 5 = 1.328 mm
27. From the wire tables try 1.18mm Cu
dia wire which is 1.279mm oa dia.
28. Theoretical S turns per
layer, thStpl = Bww / thSoadia from step
27
= 72 / 1.279 = 56.29 turns so try 56 turns per layer.
29. Calculate
the nearest full S turns needed for loads of 3.5 ohms, 5 ohms and 7
ohms.
Secondary turns = primary turns /
square root of impedance ratio.
30. From step 15 we
caculated 14 primary layers.
In the P&S winding list in step 21 we
selected the 5S + 4P winding pattern.
Inspect the range of secondary
arrangements where there are 4 secondary layers shown
on website pattern list
in page on 'SE OPT Calculation' / Tube OPT secondary subsections,
Fig2,3&4.
31.Examine 5A from Fig4,'SE OPT
Calculation'
There is a total of 5 layers with 8 windings with the
numerical relationships of 4 windings of N turns, and 4 windings of 4N turns.
For this to be possible, the number of turns per full secondary layer must be
evenly divisible by 4.
56 turns is divisible by 4.
we could have :-
5 @
56 = 1.95 ohms,
4 @ 70 = 3.05 ohms,
2 @ 140 = 12.2
ohms.
Unfortunately 3.0 and 12.2 are too low and a little too
high,
since 3.5 and 7 would be the ideal preference.
For 3.5 ohms we need
75 turns, and for 7 there are 106 turns needed.
Examine 5B
from Fig4,'SE OPT Calculation'
Each layer must have its total turns
divisible by 6,
Tpl could be 54 turns 1.18mm Cu dia wire for a full layer,
6 @ 45 = 1.25
ohms,
5 @ 56 = 1.93 ohms,
3 @ 90 = 5.0 ohms.
This is the ideal solution
if we wanted a match to only 5 ohms.
Tpl = 66 turns of 1.0mm Cu dia,
6 @ 55 = 1.86 ohms,
5 @ 66 = 2.68
ohms,
3 @ 110 = 7.46 ohms.
This arrangement does give us two load matches
between 3 and 9 ohms.
Try 5C. Tpl must be divisible by 12, so try 60 tpl, 1.0mm Cu dia.
The wire
would have to be slightly spread out across the bobbin because
the oa dia =
1.093, and 60 turns tightly packed is 66mm, and the bww = 72 mm.
But 1.06 mm
Cu dia wire is a size on my charts, and should be used; its oa dia = 1.155mm
so 60 turns = 69.3mm, which is OK.
5 @ 60 = 2.22 ohms,
4 @ 75 = 3.47
ohms,
3 @ 100 = 6.17 ohms,
2 @ 150 = 13.9 ohms.
This gives the best
range of loads.
32. Calculate chosen secondary
option winding resistance, tpl = 60 turns / layer, 1.00mm Cu dia wire.
Ns
.......................................................................................................................75
Eg,
wire Cu dia
mm...............................................................................................1.0mm
TL
from step 17,
mm.............................................................................................282mm
No
parallel S sections,
no.......................................................................................4
SRL.......................................................................................................................3.47ohms
Swr
= 75 x 282 / ( 4 x 44,000 x 1.0 x 1.0 ) = 0.12 ohms.
33. S loss for 72 turns,
3.21 ohm,
S
loss % = 100 x Swr / ( SRL + Swr ) = 100 x 0.12 / 3.59 =
3.30%
34. Total winding losses, 60 tpl
option.
OPT6, P loss from step
19.................................................................................2.4%
S
loss from step 33, 3.21 ohm / 1.0 / 60 tpl
option..............................................3.3%
Total P + S loss
%..............................................................................................5.7%
35. Are total winding
losses
acceptable?.............................................................yes/no
Check
the dc current rating for primary.
Ia = 190mA, 0.5mm Cu dia wire is rated for
588mA at 3A/sq.mm, so
actual DC is 1/3 of rated amount, OK.
36.
If OPT6 is so far ok , check the final winding height and
bobbin thickness to make sure 37. OPT6, Total winding height including bobbin base and tape over completed wind up =
21.35mm Remaining clearance = window height of 25.3mm - 21.35 = 3.95mm =
OK
the completed wound bobbin will fit into the
core window without difficulty.
Primary
layers, 14 x 0.569mm = 7.97mm.
Insulation, p to p layers, 8 x 0.05mm = 0.4mm.
Secondary layers, 5 x 1.155 = 5.78 mm.
Insulation P to S layers, 10 x
0.5mm = 5.0mm.
Insulation over top of last on secondary, 0.2mm.
Bobbin
bass thickness, 2mm.
At this point we could say the losses lower than 6% would be acceptable,
so we can consider the above OPT6 is a possible design.
38. OPT7,Calculate leakage inductance,
LL = 0.417 x 1,708 x 1,708 x 282 { ( 2 x 8 x 0.6 )
+ 20 }
1,000,000,000 x 8 x 8 x 72
=
0.0022 Henry = 2.2 mH.
39. Is the leakage inductance
low enough?
OPT7, ZLL = 0.0022 x 6.28
x 100,000 = 1,256 ohms at 100 kHz
Is ZLL less than PRL at 100 kHz?.....yes,
PRL = 1,800 ohms.
40.
If answer to step 38 is yes, leakage inductance is low enough.
41. Check that calculation
of primary turns gives less than 0.8 Tesla magnetic field strength, B,
14Hz. B at 14Hz = 22.6 x 212 x
10,000 = 0.77 Tesla =
OK 42. Calculate the wanted minimum primary
inductance, Lp, Henrys. Wanted Lp will have reactance in ohms = nominal Primary RL at no higher than
20 Hz. OPT3, Min Lp = 1,800 / ( 6.28 x 20 ) = 14.33H 42. Calculate the
effective permeability, µe. µe = 1,000,000,000 x Lp x mL
OPT7, µe =
1,000,000,000 x 14.33 x 240 =
360. 43. Calculate the air
gap required. Air gap = mL x ( µ - µe
) OPT7, Air gap = 280 x ( 17,000 - 360 ) / ( 17,000 x 360 ) =
0.76mm. **Note. The air gap is the total
gap. In an E&I core which is air gapped, there are TWO 44. Calculate the dc field
strength created in the core by the dc flow, Tesla. Bdc = 12.6 x µe x Np x I
OPT7, Bdc = 12.6 x 360 x 1,708 x 0.19 / ( 280 x 10,000 ) = 0.525
Tesla. 45. Calculate maximum total
ac + dc magnetic field strength at 14Hz. Maximum B = acB + dcB. OPT3, 46. Is the total B
max below the core material maximum at saturation? OPT No3 core material is GOSS which will saturate at approx 1.6
Tesla 48. Have all parameters
been satisfied?...............................................yes,
Buy simply increasing the stack height of OPT6, OPT7 allows for 190mA and Ea = 375V, and RL = 1.8k. 13E1 are uncomfortable with Ea above 375V where Eg2 is the same voltage as
Ea. But Ea could be raised to 500V for 4 x KT90 operation with Ia = 250mA, for
Pda = 31 watts each
51 x 51 x 1,708 x 14
Minimum Lp =
PRL
6.28 x F
1.26 x Np
squared x S x T
Where µe is effective permeability of core with
an air gap, and is just a number, no units.
1,000,000,000 and 1.26 are
constants for all equations to work,
Lp = primary inductance,
mL =
magnetic path length of the iron,
S = stack height,
T = tongue
width.
All dimensions in mm
!!!
1.26 x 1,708 x 1,708 x 51 x 51
µ x µe u
Where gap is the air gap distance placed into the iron
magnetic circuit,
mL = the iron magnetic path length,
µ = iron permeabilty
maximum,
µe = effective permeability with air gap.
all dimensions in mm !!!
gaps inserted in the
magnetic path around each rectangle of two which form the core.
Therefore the dimension of the
plastic material or paper used to make the gap will be
HALF that calculated above.
mL x 10,000
Where Bdc is in Tesla, 12.6 and 10,000 are constants for
all equations to work,
µe = effective permeability,
Np = the primary
turns,
I = dc current in AMPS,
mL is the iron magnetic path length.
From step 40, ac B max = 0.77Tesla.
From step 44,
dc B = 0.525 Tesla.
Total max B = 1.3Tesla.
Total B max = 1.3 Tesla at 14Hz, therefore design is OK, and in fact
the core will not
saturate until acB max reaches 1.0T which is at 11
Hz.
49. If yes to step 48,
Design is OK and sourcing materials can be undertaken.
50. Are the wire sizes available?
.......................................................yes/no
51. If no to step 50, find
out what sizes are available, and design to
suit
these
sizes without compromises, which usually means the OPT will be larger and
heavier!!!
The slightest change to wire sizes shown without making
calculations carefully will
usually lead to a completely useless OPT.
Conclusions.
OPT5 with 51S x 44T core,
minimum losses possible = 8.5%
OPT6 with 51S x 51T core, minimum losses
possible are 5.7%, and worth the price of the
extra iron and wire.
the allowable applied
anode signal load voltage can be increased proportionately for the same LF cut
off point
providing the Idc is constant.
However where Ia was raised by
25%, the Bdc would rise and tend to reduce the
cut off frequency marginally.
But listeners would not use any more power than with the 25 watt setting
so
the increased power ceiling would still be effective from above
16Hz.
and at 35% efficiency in CFB or SEUL the Po = 43 watts
and anode load would be about the same 1.8k.
METRIC WINDING WIRE SIZE
CHART
The metric winding wire sizes were kindly given to me by a
local Sydney wire and transformer parts supplier.
The original chart
contained the same copper sizes as shown for grade 1 with less enamel
thickness
and grade 3 with more enamel thickness. I only use grade 2 which is
the only grade shown in the chart below.
Grade 2 is the only grade stocked by
my supplier because it is the industry norm for 99% of high temperature rated
winding wire for electric motors and stressful industrial applications.
The
range of sizes shown are not all obtainable off the shelf, and to get some sizes
a wait for an order is involved,
so I sometimes have to design around the
wire size available, which adds to the challenge.
Anyone not used to
measuring in millimetres better start getting used to metric because here the
diameter measurement matters more than the wire guage, and there are is AWG,
SWG, BS, all very confusing,
and I don't have conversion charts so if you
work in guages and inches and feet, provide your own solutions.
Before
winding anything, make sure you have an accurate micrometer to confirm that the
size is correct.
