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.
