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Originally Posted by velocipenguin
The transformer you buy should be rated to pass a certain amount of current. It should be safe to use that value as the theoretical maximum current rating of the circuit.
If you're feeling more adventurous, connect an ammeter in series with the positive supply lead and a variable load, such as a potentiometer. Slowly decrease the resistance of the load and record the ammeter's reading when the magic smoke leaks out of any of the components. (NOTE: This is a BAD IDEA and should not actually be implemented.)
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The rectifier ratings are important too. They should be rated for at least the current of the transformer. Btw if you run this circuit without the battery, then it would be a good idea to up the filterign capacitors to a combined value of 5,000uF to 20,000uF depending on how much you will be stresing it. The battery is actually doing most of the smoothing in the above circuit.
O yea, this circuit it rated for about 25A constant (25X12=300watts!!). Your system will probably never ever reach these current even momenarily, and this thing is way overspecified, but you never know, you might want to put like 50 neon lights on it or something. The reason for the overspecification, is that the only place that i could fond that did not want 2 arms, your soul, and your first born son for high current transformers was All Electronics. And the transformers they carry jump from 5A to 25A.