How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
(OP)
How does one go about identifying a transformer's winding material?
Is it only possible to speculate by weight difference?
Is it only possible to speculate by weight difference?





RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
You would have to check on the TC of aluminium relative to copper to check the feasibility of differentiating between the two on this test.
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
The only way to tell by weight difference would be to have 2 identically rated units with the same cores to compare to.
Gunnar may have the only viable answer. It would seem to me tha you should be able to see the material at the point where it connects to the wiring terminals, unless its a really tiny transformer, in which case, why does it matter?
Eng-Tips: Help for your job, not for your homework Read FAQ731-376
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
Eng-Tips: Help for your job, not for your homework Read FAQ731-376
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
If I remember correctly you need to mix a small sample of the transformer oil with a household cleaner that contains ammonia. The fluid will turn blue if there is copper in it. You will need to shake it to make it mix and change color.
The problem is if the windings are aluminum and the cabling is copper you will get copper from the cabling.
I would recommend checking with the manufacture.
D23
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
yours
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
The transformer is a cast resin type 2MVA, 11k/433
Anyway I guess we just have to check with the manufacturer.
regards
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?
My question is why do you need to know what material was used to wind the transformer.
If you want to know if it has been wound with copper or aluminium you can try and calculate it by working out the resistance of the winding.
Formula: R= pL/A
Where R= resistance/metre , p=resistivity (ohm m),L= length in m, A= cross sectional area.
p for Copper = 1.68 x 10^-8
p for Aluminium = 2.65 x 10^-8
Therefore if it is aluminium the resistance will be greater. You will have to estimate/calculate mean turn of a coil to get yout L (total length in meteres) and you should calculate this fairly easy.
Hope this helps.
RE: How To Identify A Transformer's Winding Material?