Pin Spot transformer

Ahoy all, I have a pair of old pin spots (simple PAR cans) which use a GE 4515 30 watt bulb. It is rated as a 5 degree spread. I have several spare bulbs. I am having difficulty finding a replacement transformer to give these 6 volts at 5 amps. Nothing is labeled. I would be happy to find a similar bulb (PAR36) which could operate at 120 V. I am also trying to find the broken primary winding. Nothing is labeled (except the bulb). Should I overrate the xformer to 8 amps? I have seen a listing for a transformer for a foam cutter but it is review rated as useless. I don't want to spend $80 when I can buy a whole new unit for a third of that (which would probably not match). I actually am a repair technician at a lamp shop so can handle this if I can find a part. Thanks, Rob

Would a 6.3 V filament transformer do it? https://www.mouser.com/c/power/transformers/power-transformers/?secondary voltage rating=6.3 VAC

The 6.3V filament transformer would work IF it will supply the required current. (5A) Check the unit's current spec. A 120V-6V transformer shouldn't be rocket science.

As long as the secondary is rated at 5A or more it will work, but overrating it to 8A isn't a bad idea anyway.

Are you using one transformer for each pin spot? 30 Watts requires 5 Amps, so the transformer has no headroom at all. A little margin would be good. Check out places like Mouser Electronics or Newark Electronics.

dbaxter said:

Would a 6.3 V filament transformer do it? https://www.mouser.com/c/power/transformers/power-transformers/?secondary voltage rating=6.3 VAC

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Thanks for the answer Dave. But when I click the link it says "No Results Found". As it did when I went there before making the post. PS Loved going to BlackFriars when we lived in VA, keep up the good work.

FMEng said:

Are you using one transformer for each pin spot? 30 Watts requires 5 Amps, so the transformer has no headroom at all. A little margin would be good. Check out places like Mouser Electronics or Newark Electronics.

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Yes, each unit has one transformer. Would not be surprised if the original unit was marginally spec'd. I'm just not having much sucess finding what I'm after, guess I am not using the correct terms in my search. Would have thought 6.3 V for old filament xformers would be pretty common things. Plenty of 6 volt units but not at my current needs. Thanks for your reply.

Is be surprised if a filament transformer was rated at enough power handling for a pin spot. Filament windings were often incorporated in the main transformer, too. That said, large amplifier tubes could draw quite a lot of current, 1.5A or more, so a transformer for a power amp might for the bill.

How about looking looking a DC SMPSU of the correct voltage and power rating? The lamp won't mind being driven with 6V DC rather than AC.

Rob Edmunds said:

Ahoy all, I have a pair of old pin spots (simple PAR cans) which use a GE 4515 30 watt bulb. It is rated as a 5 degree spread. I have several spare bulbs. I am having difficulty finding a replacement transformer to give these 6 volts at 5 amps. Nothing is labeled. I would be happy to find a similar bulb (PAR36) which could operate at 120 V. I am also trying to find the broken primary winding. Nothing is labeled (except the bulb). Should I overrate the xformer to 8 amps? I have seen a listing for a transformer for a foam cutter but it is review rated as useless. I don't want to spend $80 when I can buy a whole new unit for a third of that (which would probably not match). I actually am a repair technician at a lamp shop so can handle this if I can find a part. Thanks, Rob

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@Rob Edmunds
Up here north of lil' Donnie's walls we have Hammond Manufacturing's 167 series filament transformers. They have 6.3 volt transformers with 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 & 14 Amp secondaries. Select a model such that it will be operating at 80% of its maximum load to allow yourself a little headroom. Google tells me they're stocked on your side of the walls by Allied, Mouser, and several other US stocking distributers.
Toodleoo!
Ron Hebbard

The following will do the job...

Triad F-18X

almorton said:

Is be surprised if a filament transformer was rated at enough power handling for a pin spot. Filament windings were often incorporated in the main transformer, too. That said, large amplifier tubes could draw quite a lot of current, 1.5A or more, so a transformer for a power amp might for the bill.

How about looking looking a DC SMPSU of the correct voltage and power rating? The lamp won't mind being driven with 6V DC rather than AC.

Click to expand...

Yes, I looked at these but they would not fit in the can.

FMEng said:

The following will do the job...

Triad F-18X

Click to expand...

Awesome! I have no idea why it was so hard for me to find this. There were plenty of CT units which would require bridging the dual outputs. My granddaughter wanted a disco ball for Christmas, which was easy to find, and I had hoped to be able to use the old units for her, but went ahead and ordered some LED's for her - sure they will run a lot cooler and probably have a shorter throw, more appropriate for a bedroom. We used the PAR's for disco ball when the HS Thespian Troop I helped out had dances in the cafeteria and there was plenty of room to deploy. I've ordered the unit you spec'd, it looks totally appropriate. Many thanks.

you might find that you can buy an inexpensive LED pinspot fixture for less than transformer retrofits .

Yes, I could buy a new unit cheaper than fixing the old... but it would not match the other unit I have. the whole motivation for the repair was when my granddaughter asked for a mirror ball for christmas. I ordered one with just such an LED pin spot and plugged it in to check it out prior to gift wrapping. It had a very tight, narrow beam, and should work very well for her. But it would be very dissimilar to my PAR -but most likely safer. So she gets the new unit and I will be fixing the old one to at least have a working pair but still, realistically, no application that I can think of - yet. Let's call it a hobby project I have been meaning to get around to for some years. An affordable replacement was sourced by a kind poster and actually arrived just before I left to deliver gifts to the kids.
I work part time repairing lamps used in homes and have certainly done jobs for people who have some attachment to devices that we have considered terribly ugly or undesirable. Guess I caught a bit of that spirit!

Buy a non-LED pin spot, new or used, and move the transformer from that one to your old can.