Re: ??Where to get a POLE Transformer??

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Metlicka Marc by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <mystuffs-at-orwell-dot-net>

godfrey,
in my comments about aluminum being better for our purposes, i was going
on the fact that all the basic connections are already made inside the
case. if one was to build a cnc production shop i definitely wouldn't
suggest aluminum. if one was planing on breaking the pig open, maybe not
aluminum except if total rewire then the transformer would be cheaper.
and the stated qualities are definitely there.
BUT, your point of mmf (i guess that would be right?) is well received,
anyone that has watched welding cable jump around while the arc is
struck can see this. i've seen two ton water cooled cables jump three
feet when an electrode contacts the metal in an arc furnace.
so you make a very good point, i wonder if anyone has opened an aluminum
wound pig after a bit of use and seen loose windings or connections?
marc m. 

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Loudner, Godfrey by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <gloudner-at-SINTE.EDU>
> 
> Hi
> 
> My opinions about the superiority of copper windings in a pole pig are based
> upon a telephone conversation I had with an outfit that repaires pole pigs.
> A couple of years ago I inquired about purchasing a 10KVA pole pig that was
> rewound to produce 40KV. I was interested in making a hugh Jacob's ladder.
> The cost was too high, and I backed out. I now use X-ray transformers for my
> big Jacob's ladders. I was told that they did all their rewindings using
> copper wire. They explained that the windings experience strong mechanical
> forces during operation, and that these forces are especially strong during
> a short circuit. The wire in an aluminum wound high voltage coil tended to
> come loose and break. A copper wound high voltage coil was less likely to
> have these difficulties, and would give longer service. I am not an expert
> in the engineering aspects of designing pole pigs, and perhaps my use of the
> word "crap"  was too strong. I cannot remember the name of the company I
> contacted, but I was a southern state. Perhaps it is interesting that T&R
> Electric (www.t-r-dot-com) states that they do all their rewinding using copper
> wire.
> 
> Thanks, Godfrey Loudner
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tesla list [SMTP:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> > Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 12:38 PM
> > To:   tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > Subject:      Re: ??Where to get a POLE Transformer??
> >
> > Original poster: "Ed Phillips by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
> > <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>
> >
> > Tesla list wrote:
> > >
> > > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
> > <CTCDW-at-aol-dot-com>
> > >
> > > I would be most interested in where this opinion comes from also...why
> > IS
> > > aluminum "crap"? Except for the oxidation, and to a lesser extent, the
> > > compression factor, I can see nothing wrong with it. Houses were wired
> > for
> > > years with aluminum, and although that is not done anymore, the large
> > gauge
> > > wires coming from the pole are often of aluminum, which is still sold at
> > your
> > > friendly neighborhood home depot. I too have a Pole transformer with AL
> > > windings (the low-volt side) My high voltage coil is copper.
> > >
> > > Chris W
> >
> >       I'll second the question.  What's wrong with aluminum, IF it is used
> > properly?  Note that almost all HV transmission lines these days are
> > made up of ACSR (Aluminum Cable, Steel Reinforced) conductors.
> >
> > Ed
> >
> >