RE: Crushing ferrite cores to make one big one?

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

Original poster: "Philip Chalk" <phil-at-apsecurity-dot-com.au> 

Hi H18,

Others will give it to you in more detail, but I wouldn't expect it to
be successful for a 60Hz Power Transformer.  The ferrites are
'optimised' for much higher frequencies than 60Hz, and if I read you
correctly, you're thinking of a cylindrical core.

You really want a closed loop - a complete magnetic 'circuit'- for an
efficient power-coupling transformer.  The combination of ferrite core &
'open' core will lead to a lossy transformer.

What you describe might be a useful way to make bigger cores for RF
filtering components.

(I'd be thinking crush/grind/powder the cores & mix with some
binder/glue, & remould into whatever shape.  May be a good way to turn
many small ferrite cores into one large one.)


Regards,

Phil Chalk.



-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Sunday, 15 February 2004 6:02 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Crushing ferrite cores to make one big one?

Original poster: "Hydrogen18" <hydrogen18-at-hydrogen18-dot-com>

I've been on the prowl for cheap transformer cores recently and
something
just occured to me. I have TONs of ferrite cores, and they are amazingly
cheap to obtain in large weight. what If I just took and ground them up,
then say filled a 3 inch PVC pipe with them? I could use this as a core
for
a fairly large 60 Hz transformer couldnt I? Any thoughts on this
somewhat
crazy idea?