> I've tried a 230/115V transformer (measured 120V) but my PCB mount 
> transformer
> on my board gets too hot for my liking (85 deg C, or 185 deg F, no load). 
> FYI it is
> too hot to touch for more than a second or two!
>
> Trying to figure out a way of getting a 60Hz supply to test the 
> transformer before I
> complain to the transformer manufacturer. I thought about 12V or 24V to 
> mains
> inverters, but everything available here seems to be fixed 50Hz. Would 
> also need to
> be a sine wave for a proper test, and with 100VA or more I could test my 
> complete
> product.

Use signal generator to high power audio amp to old tube amplifier output 
transformer wired backwards = high volt, high power sine wave.

You can also probably find an appropriate "power supply" transformer that 
will work as well as the tube amp transformer.

I had to do this once to test a phase difference transducer used in power 
plants to determine when it is safe to close a breaker (ie: you better be in 
phase on both sides of the breaker). I built a little PIC app that generated 
a 60Hz sinewave output. The actual frequency was slightly adjustable so I 
could actually simulate a generator speeding up and slowing down in response 
to control pulses from the system attempting to get the gen in phase with 
the line before closing the breaker.

If you like, I can send you the source for the app. It is just a little bit 
of assembler for a PIC 16F876, IIRC.

Bob Ammerman
RAm Systems

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