240 volt power transformers now available from Dynakitparts for European Dynaco tube amp users ...

Hi
I just want to let you know that the 240volts power transformer  that i used in my VTAst 70
is not suitable for the 220volts of the Greek power supply.
It gives me lower secondary measurments and a useless transformer!!

regards

I might be able to answer that one. Before individual countries joined the European Union each country pretty much had its own voltage standard. The EU decided, in its wisdom, to harmonise the UK standard mains voltage of 240v AC and the European standard of 220v AC, at 230v AC. Fine in theory but the costs of replacing all the supply equipment to deliver 230v was uneconomic (there being no advantage whatever in changing, other than ‘harmonisation’). So to avoid accusations of failure to harmonise, they simply fiddled with the legal voltage limits, nothing actually changed!.

The law now states 230v +10% -6%, thereby allowing the European 220v system to stay at 220v and UK to stay at 240v, yet both appear to be harmonised!

If this is not a problem in itself it also means that a country that already had a standard of 230V means that now they can throw out any voltage between 220V and 240V approx.

Anyone for a variac

actually voltages will vary ( and has done so ) between 220 or even lower and up to 235V, depending
on location relative the transformer station and time of day.

I even spent one holiday in a rented house in the archipelago where the only power line was
shared with a lighthouse. And it took a few days before i realized why the light flickered
with such regularity in the evenings :-)