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Re: Rewinding microwave oven transformer

Subject: Re: Rewinding microwave oven transformer
From: Rich Grise
Date: Thu, 01 Dec 2005 22:17:59 GMT
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.basics
On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:50:03 -0800, tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> I am thinking of rewinding an old microwave oven transformer to drive a
> car amp to produce some bass in my bedroom. The amp will continuously
> draw about 30A and will draw a surge current of 150A. I was thinking of
> using copper wire to rewind the transformer but getting copper wire in
> the required thickness was going to be a problem not to mention working
> with the stuff. What I thought I would do is use the wire from some old
> car jumper cables (with the insulation left on) and rewind the
> transformer using the jumper cables. Is there any problem with using
> multicore cable to rewind a transformer? I am aware of the fact that
> the insulation might melt...

The problem isn't using stranded wire - in fact, in those "make a spot
welder with your MOT" articles, they recommend welder cable, which is
stranded.

The problem is a MOT won't give you 100A either, at lest not for very
friggin' long. And they're rated for intermittent duty, and _that_'s 
with forced air cooling!

Very very bad idea - you'd be better off to look at something like
surplus BMF transformers, or an industrial battery charger.

Good Luck!
Rich



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