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Re: [OM] Noisy T32 (wax potting)

Subject: Re: [OM] Noisy T32 (wax potting)
From: Joe Gwinn <joegwinn@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 21:41:24 -0400
At 7:04 AM +0000 10/15/03, olympus-digest wrote:
>Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 15:41:05 -0500
>From: clintonr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: [OM] Noisy T32
>
>Loose wrapping of the wire inside the transformer.  It comes up now and then.
>The usual solution is to replace the transformer -- that's the big block-like
>thing with yellow tape around the middle.
>
>Or just for fun, you might try this experiment (I've been thinking of trying 
>it,
>but noisy transformers are getting pretty rare....) -- thin some white school
>glue a bit and squirt it into the windings under the tape and let it dry.  I
>wouldn't use a solvent-based glue since it might dissolve the insulation of the
>windings -- OK, electrical-types, is that a valid concern/suggestion?

White glue isn't a very good insulator, and may wreck the transformer.  It's 
also likely to corrode the fine wires, which also will wreck the transformer.

Moose's report that in power transformers it's often the laminations, not the 
winding, that makes the noise is correct.  Bolting the laminations together is 
a standard practice, and will not cause a problem because the laminations are 
individually insulated.  In fact, many transformers are riveted together.

A noisy transformer is unlikely to fail because of the noise, but it sure can 
be annoying.

CH and Clint both report that the core is ferrite (a kind of black ceramic, not 
metal), so it will be impossible to drill or bolt, but easy to fracture.

I would pot the transformer with a 50-50 mixture of beeswax and paraffin wax.  
What also works is the wax used as a seal between a toilet and the drain stack 
(pipe).  Such "wax gaskets" are quite cheap, and sold in all plumbing stores 
and many hardware stores.  

These kinds of wax are also used to pot guitar pickups, to prevent moisture 
accumulation and microphonics.  In pickups, it's the motion of the wire that 
causes the microphonics.  Pickups usually have about 10,000 turns of AWG #43 
(0.061 mm) wire on them.

The process is quite gentle.  Heat the wax in a double boiler, to prevent 
overheating.  Keep the transformer in the hot wax until the bubbles stop 
rising, which may take an hour with a pickup, but should be far faster with a 
transformer.  Then remove and allow to cool.

Do not attempt to remove the tape around the winding.  It may have over time 
become glued to the wire.

Joe



>Mike Ferguson wrote:
>
> > Acquired a second T32 today, and now realise that my original was VERY noisy
> > when charging - it's like a jet liner taking off compared to the new one
> > (and my T20).
> >
> > Any ideas what that's all about?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Mike


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