New power transformer - smell!

[Bushbaby]

With a new power transformer fitted to a valve amp is it possible to get some sort of 'smell'. I have noticed that I haven't had much opportunity to use my WEM Custom 15 but when I do, there is always a very faint 'burning' odour coming from it. I suppose in another respect it could be wax within the chassis from the old transformer that certainly had much of its wax melted from being too hot over its 50 years of use. Its strange as I've not had this with other old amps that I have. The case etc., doesn't get hot in use.

Regards

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
Are you sure there is not something else getting warm? Keep an eye open for wisps of smoke, overheating resistors and even wire that is underrated.
Is this a rewind or brand new transformer?

[Bushbaby]

Its a new transformer, much bigger than the original transformer in fact about twice as deep to the same spec as the original. There is no smoke and no heat that I can see or feel albeit the chassis etc is back in the case. It sounds superb with my 89 Stratocaster. Its still got that earth hum although its not that loud but still annoying!!

[Diabolical Artificer]

The Custom 15 runs the EL84's at full whack, and as you say the old tfmrs were cheap rubbish and prone to over heating, puking wax everywhere. After using it for an hour switch off, pull the mains plug and have a feel of the mains tfmr, cathode R's and other big resistors that might be getting hot. This is one of those jobs for yon fancy heat imaging camera's or failing that MK1 fingers.

Re the hum, did you move on/off SW away from the volume pot? If not you'll always have hum.

Andy.

[boater sam]

Ceramic valve bases or plastic?

[Bushbaby]

I knew I had forgotten something - I haven't added a separate on/off switch!!
With regards to the valve bases, these are plastic.

[boater sam]

I knew I had forgotten something - I haven't added a separate on/off switch!!
With regards to the valve bases, these are plastic.

Could it be the valve bases that are smelling?

[Bushbaby]

Could be. Its also likely that there is still transformer wax lurking on the chassis and sill on the valve bases. The old transformer had really overheated - I did try my best to get rid of all the old wax.