Power supply transformer question

Hello DIY sub-forum of SUPERBESTAUDIOFRIENDS!
I am not sure if this is the correct venue, please move if not.

I like to get in over my head on builds, something about solder fumes really amps me up, but I think I may have a problem on my current build.

I am building a Cavalli bijou and last night I tested the power supply for the first time. The tube had some arcing at first but it settled down and the output read about 230vdc. I was able to adjust with the trimpot a get the output up to the desired 250vdc. No smoke or excessive heat and all seems good. I have done the following tweaks to the PS: using a EZ81(not the EZ80) rectifying tube, and added a choke as show in variant #2 on the Cavalli site, also I am using the R80-36 r-core transformer.

So instead of leaving good enough alone I measured other expected voltage points and the transformer outputs. This is were i think I have a problem. The 3.15vac secondaries for the heaters are reading a little high but I read this is to be expected and can be addressed. But when I read the secondaries being used for the main power they read 303-(???)-0-(???)-303. It should be 260-(240)-0-(240)-260 (not using the 240 windings).

Do I have a faulty transformer? The PS does seem to be working though…

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Corey

 

I'm a bit confused, but it sounds like you got the power supply to work, and then went back and measured the secondaries? What you might be doing is measuring the secondary unloaded in which case you will see a slightly higher value. The transformer rated spec of 260 is what you would see when you draw the rated current.