What can cause Topward 6603A power supply transfomer heavy vibration & noise ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: hunter
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 07:33:26 am
content: Hi all,I have a Topward 6306D power supply and recently it started on making violent transformer noise (yes, it did it itself while I was away, there was no load connected to the outputs..). So I opened up the cover and took a look, everything looked fine. All functions worked well (voltage, current...) except that the transformer which buzzed like a grinder.Here are some pics for the 6603A which have very identical boardshttp://www.kerrywong.com/2012/12/01/topward-6603a-linear-power-supply-teardown/There were 2 packs of wire from the transformer which went to each channels. Each pack had 5 thick wires which were soldered directly to the heavy traces (top in pictured). The rest 6 thin wires were to connector on board (top right corner).I measured the 5 thick wires continuity and they seemed to be shorted together. The same is true for the other channel. I wonder if this way is the way it is ...?I disconnected as many connectors from transformer to PCB as I could, powered up, still buzzed..So I am planning to desolder those 5 thick wires off the PCB to see what happens . But before I do that, can you please offer your opinions on troubleshooting this PS ?Thanks.

author: Tube_Dude
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 12:06:21 pm
content: Quote from: hunter on January 03, 2013, 07:33:26 amHiI have a Topward 6303A and the transformer make some hum noise too. It's a mechanical noise, so you need to play with the bolts that fix the transformer to the chassis, and the transformer bolts themselves. Sometimes tighten, others untighten, help.About the wires coming from transformer to the boards looking shorted, that's because they come from the secondary of the transformer and as the wire from the secondary is very thick, it looks like a short at DC, but not at AC because of the inductance.I love my Topward, 6303 A...

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 01:58:13 pm
content: Transformer noises come from the vibrations of the laminated plates caused by magnetorestriction, it can also happen suddenly when adjacent components flex with temperature and now resonate with this noise or with line frequency. If its not the resonance, transformer noise is inherent in its construction. Its not a defect, but modern transformers made well do not make such a noise as badly as those from before ~ 1990s.http://www.crosslinktech.com/articles/how-to-reduce-transformer-noise-using-epoxy-or-polyurethane-compounds.html

author: hunter
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2013, 08:18:07 pm
content: Hi guys,I took out the 2 big caps to make some measurement and put back in. And the noise is gone ! It is unclear why I had the noise before (which is unusual noise, indicating there was a problem) but I am glad it is back to normal now.Cheers !

author: hunter
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 06:23:12 am
content: my Topward 6603A is making violent vibration once in a while. And it keeps doing that. When it happens I stop using it and next time I turn on its back to normal. It is annoying.

author: alsetalokin4017
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 07:14:28 am
content: Check the fans.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 10:46:16 am
content: Though it's not a Topward 6306D, I have a few 500va and 1kva toroid transformers which once in awhile powerup with a huge hum and vibrate. Nothing seems to be wrong, the application is working fine, they are not heating up or anything, it's just like the transformer started off on a bad point of the AC cycle and decided to generate this hum until I turn it off, then turn it on again. This weird lemon powerup only happens around 1 in 200 power cycles & all I do is cycle the power to fix it. I have no clue why. All these toroid are commercial grade premium transformers spanning different years and manufacturers and they are not operating under duress.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 01:29:36 pm
content: Especially large ring core transformers might get upset with to much DC voltage one the grid. This can increase the audible noise as it brings the core closer to saturation on one side. So it could be neighbor using something like hair dryer on low power setting or a kind or poor dimmer for the lights.

author: DarkAvenger183
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 14, 2018, 08:34:07 am
content: Hello, have you found what was causing this problem? Did you fix this issue?My Topward PSU has a similar problem. I would like to fix it

author: IanMacdonald
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 14, 2018, 01:01:58 pm
content: First check the four through-bolts in the transformer for looseness. There might also be another loose piece of metal in the vicinity, flapping in the magnetic breeze from the transformer. If no joy, varnishing the laminations with a good quality thin varnish that will run into any gaps between them, may help.