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

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

Original poster: "Malcolm Watts by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <m.j.watts-at-massey.ac.nz>

On 7 Apr 01, at 14:20, 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

This debate reminds me of the last ever conversation I had with a 
transformer winder when ordering a transformer about 15 years ago 
(been designing and winding them ever since without a single 
failure). After receiving the transformer I noted with horror that 
the primary was wound with self-fluxing wire (and yes, we have 
experienced a number failed primaries in these transformers). The 
explanation: it made soldering the lead wires easier. Bah!

Malcolm