I am wondering how to best twist transformer leads? There are the heavily insulated manufacturer installed leads like from the LV secondary winding or the primary windings. A lazy twist seems ok but further twisting seems like it maybe stressing the connections inside the bells. Also the tighter the twist the more the pair of leads wants to coil up on itself - looking non-professional.
These are Edcor type units.
Thanks
These are Edcor type units.
Thanks
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As far as I understand it, the main point of twisting the wires together is to ensure that they are tightly coupled. You can achieve the same result if you run the wires parallel and zip tie them together.
I know that Electra-Print advises (advised?) their customers to NOT twist the leads as doing so could damage the transformers.
Tom
I know that Electra-Print advises (advised?) their customers to NOT twist the leads as doing so could damage the transformers.
Tom
I always twist them just for a cleaner layout but do not get obsessive with it, at all.
Fwiw I solder internal wires strong enough that I routinely hang transformer by them and spin body hard to do it faster, go figure.
Fwiw I solder internal wires strong enough that I routinely hang transformer by them and spin body hard to do it faster, go figure.
Don't twist the leads close to the entrance to the transformer, that could do damage.
If you twist them by hand (no drills!) with just enough tension, they should not tend to curl up.
Mine never have. Twisting does cancel the external fields better than close parallel runs though.
If you twist them by hand (no drills!) with just enough tension, they should not tend to curl up.
Mine never have. Twisting does cancel the external fields better than close parallel runs though.
In theory, yes. Assuming you get a perfect and tight twist. Often you can get tighter coupling between the wires by running them in parallel. I'd be curious to see measurements of the two approaches. If the difference is significant, you should be able to pick up a difference in mains hum between the two approaches.
I've never had an issue with either approach.
Tom