Non-magnetic bolts that hold an output transformer together

Bas Horneman · 21st October 2009, 09:34 PM

does it matter? I have these output transformers that I'm going to use for my Baby Huey PP EL84. They have ferrous (magnetic) bolts and no bushing.

I'd prefer them to be like my Magnequest Iron...i.e. nylon bushing and brass. I.e. non magnetic. So I'll be replacing them.

Do you care? Does it matter? And if it matters it probably matters very little?

aardvarkash10 · 21st October 2009, 09:46 PM

it matters - if they contact any of the laminations and form a magnetic path. For the very limited cost and hassle, I'd replace them

HollowState · 21st October 2009, 09:58 PM

I'm not the expert on this, but of all the many output transformers I've seen, I've never seen one that didn't have an insulating shoulder washer on at least one end. Either that or non magnetic bolts. There must be some reason for this because I keep thinking of a shaded pole motor. You know the kind that has a copper shunt around part of the pole piece. It's effecting the core's flux somehow. Special washers cost money and I don't think it's there to protect the paint.

Bas Horneman · 22nd October 2009, 10:19 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I would have changed them anyway because I would always be thinking...what if.

Quote:

if they contact any of the laminations and form a magnetic path

Well even if they don't touch the laminations, isn't it. Purely because they are magnetic.

Geek · 22nd October 2009, 10:24 AM

Magnetic or not, they are metal in the magnetic path and will have a current induced in them.

If you want to try a real difference, try a nylon bolt

Cheers!

pjp · 22nd October 2009, 10:53 AM

The nylon bushing is to insulate one end of the lamination stack from the other. If you don't put it in, you will create a path for currents to flow and heat up the transformer.

Yvesm · 22nd October 2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bas Horneman

. . .
Do you care? Does it matter? And if it matters it probably matters very little?

Please try before and after.

If you can honestly hear or measure something, I offer you a pair of mine design

(I speak about transformers, of course)

Thank in advance.

Yves.

Bas Horneman · 22nd October 2009, 12:35 PM

Ok Yves..will try before and after. Damn now I have to go looking for the bolts and nuts I threw away last night.

Yvesm · 22nd October 2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bas Horneman

Ok Yves..will try before and after. Damn now I have to go looking for the bolts and nuts I threw away last night.

Don't cheat, use original ones

coldcathode · 22nd October 2009, 02:45 PM

Nylon Bolts are easily found at the Big Box home centers (ie;Home Depot,Menards,Lowes,etc.) I am not sure of the amount of torque they can take. I might suggest using real Brass.

Brass bolts etc are available at the same places, make sure they are solid brass not plated steel, (I carry a small magnet in my pocket)

21st October 2009, 09:34 PM	#1
Bas Horneman diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The Netherlands Blog Entries: 18	Non-magnetic bolts that hold an output transformer together does it matter? I have these output transformers that I'm going to use for my Baby Huey PP EL84. They have ferrous (magnetic) bolts and no bushing. I'd prefer them to be like my Magnequest Iron...i.e. nylon bushing and brass. I.e. non magnetic. So I'll be replacing them. Do you care? Does it matter? And if it matters it probably matters very little? __________________ Boatanchor amps forum My "adventures" in audio

21st October 2009, 09:46 PM	#2
aardvarkash10 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Auckland, NZ	it matters - if they contact any of the laminations and form a magnetic path. For the very limited cost and hassle, I'd replace them __________________ Yes, conservatism thrives on low intelligence and poor information. But the liberals in politics... continue to back off, yielding to the supremacy of the stupid. It's turkeys all the way down. - George Monbiot, guardian.co.uk, 6 Feb 2012

21st October 2009, 09:58 PM	#3
HollowState diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Taxland, New Jersey	I'm not the expert on this, but of all the many output transformers I've seen, I've never seen one that didn't have an insulating shoulder washer on at least one end. Either that or non magnetic bolts. There must be some reason for this because I keep thinking of a shaded pole motor. You know the kind that has a copper shunt around part of the pole piece. It's effecting the core's flux somehow. Special washers cost money and I don't think it's there to protect the paint. __________________ "The supercomputer is technologically impossible. It would take all of the water that flows over Niagara Falls to cool the heat generated by the number of vacuum tubes required." ~ Professor of Electrical Engineering, New York University

22nd October 2009, 12:35 PM	#8
Bas Horneman diyAudio Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: The Netherlands Blog Entries: 18	Ok Yves..will try before and after. Damn now I have to go looking for the bolts and nuts I threw away last night. __________________ Boatanchor amps forum My "adventures" in audio

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22nd October 2009, 10:24 AM	#5
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	Magnetic or not, they are metal in the magnetic path and will have a current induced in them. If you want to try a real difference, try a nylon bolt Cheers!

22nd October 2009, 10:53 AM	#6
pjp diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: under the rainclouds	The nylon bushing is to insulate one end of the lamination stack from the other. If you don't put it in, you will create a path for currents to flow and heat up the transformer.

22nd October 2009, 02:45 PM	#10
coldcathode diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	Nylon Bolts are easily found at the Big Box home centers (ie;Home Depot,Menards,Lowes,etc.) I am not sure of the amount of torque they can take. I might suggest using real Brass. Brass bolts etc are available at the same places, make sure they are solid brass not plated steel, (I carry a small magnet in my pocket)

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