The Master Of Magnetics "Steven Mark"

[sparkman]

AM

There is a big chapter left out as you say purposely. That is a technology known as Magnetic Amplifiers.

Note that the word transformer does not even appear in the title!

The word "transformer" does not appear in the title because magnetic amplifiers are not transformers, they are a configuration of  one or more  devices known as a saturable reactor.

  The company that I helped to start in 1965 would have had a magamp as a first product had not the SCR been sufficiently produced at a low cost.

   As far as I know there is nothing magic about this technology, but you can check it out for yourself if you think there may be. They do not create power, they control power, just like your light dimmer.

   They had their heyday in any fixed application such as fire control for big guns on ships where weight was not a problem.

  They are not taught in newer books because it is rather obsolete technology since the same control function can be accomplished in a tiny fraction of the size and weight of a magamp.

  They are very robust devices, practically immune to line transients, however they are not that efficient compared to semiconductors.

There was plentiful information on these devices when they were popular time has just passed them. Have fun playing with them and get your floors re-enforced if you plan to control (not create) large amounts of power.

Of course I might just be a plant to discourage your FE research

At any rate there are 1,240,000 references if you google it. You could get a free old magamp book download from pmillet.com technical books online

I wish people would really do their research before creating intrigue.

Regards, Sparkman

[dean_mcgowan]

Actually someone posted the mangetic amplifier pdf recently .. i have not got the reference link here now though when i get home i will repost the pdf. I read it and found it very informative in terms of different windings and configurations that would be of great help to people attempting to gain a foothold understanding in this forum.

Someone else may wish to repost if they have a copy.

Regards,

Dean (attempting to be more civil)

[Mannix]

Dean
Good on ya!
There i was clicking you post ready for another anger up surge...and no.... I have a warm fuzzy feeling instead.
thanks
Lindsay

[AhuraMazda]

sparkman

I wish people would really do their research before creating intrigue.

Yes you are quite right and that was not my intention. I believe no technology should be thought of as obsolete. And as you say, magamps are very robust and hence still used in military and aircraft industry.

After TPU, my next project: Ferrorresonce-Magnetic Amplifier-electrodes, Meyer water fracture device!

Regards

AM

[sparkman]

Dear AM

    Just for the record, I enjoy so called "obsolete" technology and have a house full of it including magnetic amplifiers, tube Tektronix scopes (big ones), lots of vacuum tubes and older test equipment. I always find a use for it in one way or another in my experimentation.

    I recommend the old tube scopes for any kind of high voltage, impulse or electrostatic work as well as good old vacuum tube voltmeters. They are rugged and can take quite a punch without giving up. Of course I also have more modern equipment especially for precision work.

  I encourage you to play with magamps and anything out of vogue that you can get your hands on. There is much to be learned from these devices. You may just find something others have missed!

Someday I will be "obsolete" and find myself in the dustbin of history!

Best of Luck in your research efforts.

Sparkman