Problems with an old Samson Servo200 amp - question about transformer

[ajay_m]

It's normally quite hard to blow a transformer, other than overheating it. This is a scenario where normally an 'old school' repair-person would connect the unit to a variac and cautiously ramp up the input voltage while monitoring the secondary windings.

One way to test for serious problems is to connect the transformer primary in series with a high wattage incandescent light bulb, such as 100W, which will limit the primary current to a safe value. If the bulb lights up with the secondaries disconnected then, yes, definitely you have a problem such as a shorted turn on the primary.