Scrapchap: Asking for a few tips on Toroidal Transformers

Evening scrappers!

It took me roughly 15-20min to melt it out, and another hour and a half to remove primary and secondary windings. The smaller windings look like a some kind of aluminum wire with a red varnish to make it look like copper.

The other problem I am having is that when I remove the larger copper wire, have all this tar like or plastic material all over it.

I appreciate the help y'all!

Happy Scrapping!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...4/IMG_1403.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...56cb267b4d.jpg

I would not burn them at all. If you can't whack it with a hammer or similar i suggest you sell them as motors (a.k.a. copper bearing material, CBM). Most all electronics and electrical material is better off not burned because it can and does release dangerous chemicals. Mike.

Well these transformers are inside of a underwater light. The transformer is coated in this thick plastic. I tried chiseling but it took incredibly too long to even chip the surface to see the windings. Is there a chemical solution I can use to loosen the transformer possibly clean all this harden plastic?

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Originally Posted by scrapchap

Well these transformers are inside of a underwater light. The transformer is coated in this thick plastic. I tried chiseling but it took incredibly too long to even chip the surface to see the windings. Is there a chemical solution I can use to loosen the transformer possibly clean all this harden plastic?

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What ever you use is going to cost more than what you recoup in copper price, just hope your yard accepts burnt copper. Some don't.

That there looks like an exercise in futility. I know, I've been there.

Yes take the advise and spend your time more productively on other things. Like you I would tear open everything I could, like you I learned that many things just aren't worth breaking down. Mike

Burn it hotter, longer.

If it is old it could contain PCBs.

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Originally Posted by olddude

If it is old it could contain PCBs.

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Nah I checked it is just Iron core with primary and secondary copper windings. The smaller windings were this reddish copper, but after scratching the wire it was not copper. Some kind of varnish or coating on aluminum wire I think.

If the wire isn't copper, why would you break it down. Seems like a waste of time even if it is copper. I'm with the other guys, spend your time with a more profitable break down.