Thanks Dave for the welcome and reply,
I'm trying to understand to avoid having to ask the same questions in the future so bear with me.
On the transformer, I now know I obviously need some clarification on the way the ratings are listed. The ones I had been looking at were showing 12v not the 24 like the one you linked (Thanks for that too) would those 12v ones have come out to actually being 6v once they were split? Perhaps they were not a center tapped style?
Yes you need a centre tapped secondary with 12V for each half so as the linked PDF and my circuit shows there will be 3 terminals on the secondary 12V-0V-12V
On the actual hook up of the transformer looking at the PDF and your diagram I know the hot and neutral will go to pins 2&4
1. Does it matter which goes to which pin?
no
2. Where does the ground from the wall go to? To the ground connection on the PCB connector in the amp circuit? Or are those connections the 6 8 10 pins out of the transformer?
it goes to the transformer casing using a eye terminal under one of the nut/bolts holding the transformer in the case, it also goes to the 0V terminal of the transformer
3. The main power switch I have some DPST micro switches rated 3A @ 250VAC/ 6A @ 125VAC these should be fine there correct?
DPDT switch toggle or rocker type ... rocker is the most common for power switches
those ratings are ok that you showed
4. What is the smallest safe wire size I can use to make the fuse/switch connections between the wall cord and the transformer?
the fuse should be an either a PCB mounted fuse holder or a chassis mounted holder
the wiring between the input power cable, switch, fuse and transformer should/can be the same thickness and insulation type as the mains power cable
I've got a million more questions but those should cover me for now. I would take any recommendations on reading that would explain circuit design (I guess) that would explain the way AC circuits work. The most I really understand is to think of the hot and neutral in AC like the hot and ground in a DC circuit. However I'm not even sure of that.
no thats not correct
tho we refer to mains power wires as Hot ( Active or Live) and Neutral, this is very different to a Dc supply where you have + and - wires
in an AC supply AC = Alternating Current the voltage polarity and current direction is changing (alternating) at 60 times a second (60 Hz)
The Hot/Active/Live wire is the one that is above earth potential. That is at any home power meter/fuse panel, the neutral and earth are connected to a common buss bar, so the neutral is effectively at earth/ground potential
in a DC = Direct Current supply, there is no changing of polarity of the supply so the + Volts is always just that and the negative is the 0V line
Dave
