In a message dated 12/12/98 2:26:28 AM Pacific Standard Time,
mwillis@NWLINK.COM writes:

<<
 Rumor has it that one thing to be aware of when looking at some
 cheaper transformers, is that some of the really really cheap ones don't
 use proper iron for the transformer cores - they use aluminum instead.
 This may be just baloney, of may be just audio transformers (I know it's
 a rumor, at least.)  Anyone know anything more than that on this
 subject?

   (The problem - if so - is that eddy losses in aluminum mean heat,
 inefficiency, and so on;  Problem I have with the rumor is that, last
 *I* priced 'em, iron was cheaper than aluminum, I thought?  Harder to
 die cut, though.  I'm not a transformer expert, bet there's one or more
 on this list!)

   Mark, mwillis@nwlink.com

 Shahid Sheikh wrote:
 > >>
Hi Mark,
I find this a little hard to belive.  I don't think I have ever seen an
aluminum core in a transformer.  I can't see how this would be cheaper.
Aluminum costs about 40 cents a pound, Iron is about $12.00 a ton.  I think
that if transformer makers could get away with it they would use aluminum for
the weight savings.  Thats why Aircraft transformers operate at higher
frequencies (400hz) so they can do the same work with smaller and lighter
cores.

Best Regards
Dave Duley