Re: Would this work? (air gap in ballast core)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "J. Aaron Holmes" <jaholmes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Well, we'll find out!  I've booked the shop time, so
I'll try it and let you know if you're right! :D

The transformer these came from was dated 1963.  Not
sure when steel cores became the norm, but this stuff
is *extremely* soft.  Might be iron...?  Anyway, I'm
hoping high speed drilling will prevent any/much mess.
 The idea is that all layers will have holes in them,
but all layers will also have some uninterrupted areas
(between holes).

--- Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Original poster: Ed Phillips <evp@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> "I guess my main question is this:  Does it matter
> if I
> have a complete gap in all the laminations?  I'm
> guessing not.  I have a mill at my disposal which
> should make repeatedly drilling tight, consistent
> lines of holes pretty easy.  I'm hoping this will
> make
> zeroing in on the proper inductance easy.  If
> nobody's
> tried something like this, guess I'll be the first!
> :)
>
> aaron"
>
> 	Layers without a gap will probably saturate and get
> hot.  As for
> drilling the hole, I see a couple of problems.
> First, that stuff is
> thin and very hard and I'm not sure you can drill it
> without making a
> real mess.  Second is related to the first comment,
> in the places where
> there are no holes the steel will probably saturate.
>  My first opinion
> is that it's not a good idea, but maybe some experts
> will have a
> different opinion.
>
> Sorry,
>
> Ed
>
>
>