Disassemble an E-block transformer

I planned on making a guitar pickup, but lacked the enameled wire. Intent on trying to make it without buying anything, I thought for a while and came up with the idea of taking it out of a transformer for my old antenna rotator.

Unfortunately, the gauge of the wire inside the transformer was too large to use for a guitar pickup, but it still is good enough for an electromagnet or whatnot.

Step 1: Tools.

1 E-block transformer

1 pair of needlenose pliers

1 can of industrial strength repetitive task preparedness

Comments

[Caboose98]

thank you soo much! i have a transformer that weighs like 30 pounds out of a light post soo,,, yeah lol ^_^

[vosgians]

i love you, i have desassembly my e-block in 5 minute thanks you.
sorry for my english i'm french beginer ^^

[Lunera]

I use the smaller bit to tap out the first e shaped keeper, after breaking the resin bond.

[12V]

have you tried winding them for special voltages?
i have and it works
i only used one of the 2 formers and made an autotransformer to change 16vac to 12,9,7,5,3,2, by the tappes of  3,5,12       3-5 =2v   5-12=7v.etc
a standard 48x28.5mm winding is 9.47turns per volt.(10-13va/w)
20t-v 5va mini transformer.
240v is about 2200 turns(approx) of 0.125mm wire.(10-13va)

[MACKattacksnipe]

sounds like the worlds greatest fire hazard lol be careful to much could cause a fire

[Goodhart]

I have one that had no hole in the corners, and seems to literally be glued and soldered together....I had really only wanted to find the portion of the wire that had shorted, but this thing made me "hammer mad" and that didn't help get it apart either :-)

 

[Cymbalta]

Your Idea is the reverse of my problem. Maybe you can help me. I have 8-9 identical chargers / transformers that charge my cordless tools. My meter shows that the transformers are dead. But, attached to each are identical circuit boards (1/2" X 1 1/2"). But nowhere does it state the transformers' output.. I wanted to buy 1 or 2 and solder the circuit boards and then run direct to my tools or try as chargers.
The output on the block staes 21V-500ma to charge an 18 volt battery or possibly run the tool directly.
I have seen; 12 and 16  volt transformers, about the same physical size, but is there any way to use the existing components to determine what transformer they are working with?
Thanks in advance, all replies accepted.
Cymbalta

[Goodhart]

Do you know the input values (ie 120 vAC, or 220 vAC, etc)? 

Other then hooking them up to the proper input voltage, and measuring the output, and then attaching a load to the output, I don't know of a another way, offhand.

 

[lemonie]

I haven't done this in years, nice to see again. How easily did the wire unwind, or haven't you yet?

L

[Bigev]

Really easily, like off a spool.

[lemonie]

Some of the old one I used to take apart weren't. Do you use the things as spools then?

L

[ironsmiter]

Some transformers I've worked on are DIPPED in lacquer after winding. If it gets soaked in there good.... then the wires are as hard to unwind, as the plates are to separate. It's usually easy to tell that kind cause they lack the tape, to hold together the coil. On a side note, that kind of transformer is MUCH less likely to develop the dreaded BUZZzz. Check your wire CAREFULLY, before re-using it. usually, there's nothing wrong at all, but sometimes the enamel coating can crack. not too bad, if you're making a pick-up coil, but not healthy if you're using it for a tesla coil.

[Bigev]

Good Advice!

[Bigev]

I do! Or, at least I will...