I have two transformers from some type of larger computer power supply. These were mounted separately from the rest of the power-supply board, and quite heavy for their size. The wire I naturally assumed was copper. However, scraping off the resin coating revealed silvery color. So I then assumed it was tin or aluminum-plated copper wire.
However, scraping down INTO the wire revealed that it's ALL this silvery metal. I've never heard of any transformer of the modern era using tin or aluminum for the wrappings of transformer coils. I would think it'd overheat from internal resistance under the high voltage and melt those two low-melting point metals too easily.
So, I've first let a piece sit in 50% nitric overnight... nothing happened! No reaction AT ALL! So tin and silver are ruled out completely. That leaves aluminum, but the wire feels too heavy for that.
I'll try with HCl, but has anyone every heard of a computer power supply transformer using aluminum wire? I took apart two similar ones, and they were typical copper wire.
Here are two pics of the mystery transformer wire.
However, scraping down INTO the wire revealed that it's ALL this silvery metal. I've never heard of any transformer of the modern era using tin or aluminum for the wrappings of transformer coils. I would think it'd overheat from internal resistance under the high voltage and melt those two low-melting point metals too easily.
So, I've first let a piece sit in 50% nitric overnight... nothing happened! No reaction AT ALL! So tin and silver are ruled out completely. That leaves aluminum, but the wire feels too heavy for that.
I'll try with HCl, but has anyone every heard of a computer power supply transformer using aluminum wire? I took apart two similar ones, and they were typical copper wire.
Here are two pics of the mystery transformer wire.