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microwave coils
By hiker, Section Mechanical Posted on Sat Feb 11, 2006 at 12:29:37 PM MST
not copper

theres been postings about microwave coils--[transformer]
picked one up for free--tore it apart-had to hacksaw through the weld on the transformer..to get to the coils--looked good -then found out wire was aluminum..
of course i buggered up the coil taken it out of the form..are all micorwave coils aluminum ?--theres two coils -one big wire #15 i think-lots of turns-
sencond one is lots of turns of small wire[thousands of turns]..
put a mag close to the center leg [by hand]and it lite up a l.e.d. real easy..
. using a torch might make it a lot easyer to remove the coils.[soften the glue]
just a thought--in the nite-- later..................................

microwave coils | 5 comments (5 topical)

Re: microwave coils (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by johnlm on Sat Feb 11, 2006 at 09:14:09 AM MST

Hiker, Im not into microwave cannabilization so do not have wide experience on such matters, but the last microwave I had that died, I opened it up and its transformer has copper wire.
Johnlm

Re: microwave coils (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by terry5732 on Sat Feb 11, 2006 at 10:11:24 AM MST

i haven't seem a transformer wound with aluminum ever - yet. But with new microwaves @ $40 at Walmart, they are probably cutting whatever costs they can. I can't imagine a transformer with the duty of a 1000 Watt microwaves lasting very long if comprised of aluminum windings. Even if the conductor is upsized according to the resistance, these transformers violently hum and I don't think aluminum would be ductile enough to withstand the movements. If I encountered an aluminum wound transformer while scavenging, I think I would be inclined to put it with the beer cans.

Re: microwave coils (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by jimovonz on Sat Feb 11, 2006 at 11:18:50 AM MST

100+ microwaves and counting... No aluminium yet... We run off 230V and consequently have lower current for a given power rating which may have something to do with it? (mind you, I still have a very large pile of transformers that I haven't touched yet so there may be some aluminium in there!) I can have the coils out (not unwound) of a transformer in under 5 min. I use a cutting disc and grind a 1mm wide X 3mm deep groove along the weld lines and then tap it with a hammer. Comes right off. I then use a couple of off cuts of wood to gently tap the coils down off the center of the 'E' (one at a time).

Re: microwave coils (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by hiker on Sat Feb 11, 2006 at 06:33:25 PM MST

thanks guys...
just my luck i guess...the wire looks like copper-but thats just the color of the coating.........
WILD IN ALASKA
[ Parent ]

Re: microwave coils (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by pyrocasto on Sun Feb 12, 2006 at 06:27:39 PM MST

Of all the coils I've taken out I've only had one aluminum coil. It was coated to look like copper but way to lite. Just break it in half and you see the shiny aluminum color.

Most are copper, some are switching to aluminum.

microwave coils | 5 comments (5 topical)

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