AI-1 Built. I have an issue.

riglehart · June 2006

OK. Got my cable built, finally. The toroidal transformer produced a much better fidelity sound when passing music through it.

Attached is a picture of both the recommended Stancor-6412 and the Avel Lindberg Toroidal Y236605. The toroid has 4 windings on it. You only use 2 of them, one for each side. I used the two windings with the lowest DC impedence. Forget about the other two, since they are only used in 2:1 step up/down applications.

On my 2.3s the connections are as follows on the Avel Lindberg.

Right Pin = Brown wire on transformer
Right Blade = Violet

Left Pin = Grey
Left Blade = Blue

I found the polarity using my ears. Turning the stereo balance to one side, I found that polarity one way made the sound appear even further to the outside while the other way seemed to move it inward (if any). I left it where it widened the sound.

It took so long becuase of fiddling with a faulty amp and waiting to find a cheap preamp on ebay to drive the nad 2200. Finally got a good deal on an old carver.

Here's the two transformers side by side with a quarter for scale.

riglehart · June 2006

Just noticed the post by DarqueKnight. This Y236605 is pretty hefty, about 5 pounds. It is rated at 230VA. You can see by the pics it dwarfs the stancor people have been using, if size means anything. The wires where a little heavier guage, too.

The ones you mention are massive. I'm sure they will work just as good, if not better. Someone posted a picture of the innards of their polk factory cable and it had a puny transformer. I'm not so sure saturation is a problem, because the SDA effect drivers are only driven a fraction of what the main drivers are. I guess safe is always better than sorry, though.

Just make sure and get the right wires. I used an ohmeter to find the matching pairs. They have the same impedence if they have the same number of windings), which is what you want. If you grab two windings with a different impedence (different windings, probably 2:1), you will have a step up in one direction and a step down in the other.

housedj · March 2007

i was going to build a custom AI-1 interface using the Avel Y236906, and noticed noticed your wire connections.

On my 2.3s the connections are as follows on the Avel Lindberg.

Right Pin = Brown wire on transformer
Right Blade = Violet

Left Pin = Grey
Left Blade = Blue

I found the polarity using my ears. Turning the stereo balance to one side, I found that polarity one way made the sound appear even further to the outside while the other way seemed to move it inward (if any). I left it where it widened the sound.

the avel website for wire connections

http://www.avellindberg.com/transformers/y23_range_connections.htm

according to the chart you are using the 2 primaries and no secondaries, which is confusing me

i would think you would want 1 primary with 1 secondary,,meaning connections as follows:
Right Pin = Red
Right Blade = Black

Left Pin = Grey
Left Blade = Blue

or could parallel the 2 primaries and parallel the 2 secondaries for

Right Pin = Red/Yel
Right Blade = Black/Org

Left Pin = Grey/Brn
Left Blade = Blue/Vio

could you verify ?

MillerLiteScott · November 2007

I am reviving this thread because I need to build an AI-1 next week. But I am a little confused reading the Ken Swauger version and some of the newer Avel versions. I am planning on getting one of the Avel toroidal transformers which I still need to figure out which one to get from the ones listed above and order it Monday.

Do these transformers need to be plugged in? Or do they work of of the amplifiers voltage?

Basically I am looking for a build an AI-1 interconnect for dummies instructions.

Thanks,

Scott

MillerLiteScott · November 2007

Ordered a Y236906 which was just shy of $100. I am still confused on how to hook this thing up? There are 2 versions posted and no real conclusive answer.

Any of you electronic gurus know what is the proper way to hook this thing up?

Thanks,

Scott

DarqueKnight · November 2007

It really depends on the configuration of the transformer you are using. The AI-1 plans written by Ken Swauger and the information posted on the forum by other members, particularly those who have used Avel-Lindberg toroidal transformers, can give some general guidelines.

I would call Avel Lindberg, explain to them what you are doing and get their advice. Even with their guidance, there is probably going to be some trial and error involved in getting the SDA effect right.

MillerLiteScott · November 2007

Ray,

I spoke with a nice lady today when I ordered the transformer. She was curious why I was only buying one and wanted to know what my application was. To be honest, I would not be able to talk with anyone intelligently about electronics because I really do not know what I am doing other than these are the parts and pieces to make SDA speakers work with non-common ground amps which of course means little to them.

I think this is key to the puzzle but I do not know for sure which one is correct. If I were to guess it would be the first one.
http://www.avellindberg.com/transformers/y23_range_connections.htm

Scott

HouseDJ in Post # 35 seems to have the wiring the way I think it should be but no one has confirmed it.

DarqueKnight · November 2007

housedj wrote: »

or could parallel the 2 primaries and parallel the 2 secondaries for

Right Pin = Red/Yel
Right Blade = Black/Org

Left Pin = Grey/Brn
Left Blade = Blue/Vio

could you verify ?

I think it would be preferable to parallel the 2 primaries and parallel the 2 secondaries. This would provide lower DC resistance and inductance and increased current capacity. You would need to ask Avel-Lindberg about the DC resistance and inductance specs so that you would know what the resultant values are after paralleling.

Ask the lady at Avel-Lindberg if you can send her the link to this thread to pass on to one of their engineers. Based on the information here, they should be able to provide you with the correct connection information.

MillerLiteScott · November 2007

Thanks Ray

I will give them a call tomorrow.

Scott

MillerLiteScott · November 2007

I called Avel today and my transformer arrived today. I tried hooking it up like the example in post#40 but I don't think it was right. Anybody using one of these transformers?

Scott

DarqueKnight wrote: »

I think it would be preferable to parallel the 2 primaries and parallel the 2 secondaries. This would provide lower DC resistance and inductance and increased current capacity. You would need to ask Avel-Lindberg about the DC resistance and inductance specs so that you would know what the resultant values are after paralleling.

Ask the lady at Avel-Lindberg if you can send her the link to this thread to pass on to one of their engineers. Based on the information here, they should be able to provide you with the correct connection information.

woofiepaws · November 2007

I wired an Avel up as in post 40. It seemed to work with my Carver Silver 9t monoblocks (which are out of the rig to be shipped to Roland for new caps and stuff)

No horrible sounds, SDA effect worked on my 1.2tl's. No exploding amps.

As an aside, my new Krell FPB is happy with the standard pin-blade cable.

strider · November 2007

MillerLiteScott wrote: »

I called Avel today and my transformer arrived today. I tried hooking it up like the example in post#40 but I don't think it was right. Anybody using one of these transformers?

Scott

What do you think is wrong? No SDA soundstage?

MillerLiteScott · November 2007

Check out my new addition to my Sig in post # 36. I am using the Avel transformer and SDA sounds just like it did with the regular interconnect. This MF sounds pretty MFin' awesome.

Scott

hangon · July 2008

I am ready to tackle this myself, any new information, working or not?

AI-1 Built. I have an issue.

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