Where to buy copper foil?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2013, 10:49:30 pm
content: I'm looking for somewhere to buy copper foil for a high current winding on a smps transformer in small quantities. I'm not sure if I'm not searching for the right thing, but none of the usual suspects aren't turning up anything.Anyone know where it's available. Or if not the specific thing, then a good substitute?

author: JoeyP
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2013, 11:04:30 pm
content: One possibility is EMI shielding tape. Take a look at 3M 80-6107-4914-7. It's a kit containing a few different types.

author: gibbled
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2013, 11:08:27 pm
content: Copper tape intended for stained glass construction is readily available in various widths. I have used solvent to remove the adhesive for some projects.James.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2013, 11:46:29 pm
content: Here you go:http://www.ppshim.com.au/index.php?inc=mainmenuitem&id=1016

author: mswhin63
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 12:19:26 am
content: How much do you need and what width. I have some surplus 25mm x 0.1mm copper tape I no longer use. I would have to work out the cost per roll but I have some off cuts and I believe I have some at 18mm wide as well.The only thing is that is it insulated but easily removed if needed.

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 02:18:40 am
content: Ahhh, ppshim, I should have looked there. I wish I knew of a local WA shop similar to that. I'll give them a call.mswhin63, that's pretty much what I'm looking for. I'm using ETD29 and 39 cores which have a bobbin internal width of 19.4mm and 25.7mm respectively. I'm experimenting with different techniques so I could do with a meter or so of each width (or a couple of meters of 25mm). But if you want to get rid of a roll at a reasonable price I'll potentially buy it off you (caveat being I've got no idea how big a roll is.)So assuming postage is alright (you don't have a country spec'ed.) Please feel free to send me a PM if you want to sell some.Thanks guys.

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:33:58 am
content: Gardening suppliers sell copper tape as a slug&snail deterrent...

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 08:40:42 am
content: As in, wrap it round a flower pot and plug it into the mains?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 09:26:00 am
content: Quote from: AndyC_772 on March 21, 2013, 08:40:42 amNo, as in lay a track around your strawberries that slugs are not supposed to cross. Requires the slugs know they aren't supposed to cross the copper. Some do. Can be improved by building a tiny copper fence around your strawberries instead - keeps the slugs away who know they aren't supposed to cross copper and the ones to lazy/weak to climb the tiny fence.

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 10:26:08 am
content: Problem with most of the EMI shielding tapes (and I assume anti-slug tapes) is the copper is <= 1 ounce thick (35um). Not thick enough for a high current winding.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 03:17:34 pm
content: Try an automotive starter motor rewinder as the packing's of starter motors are copper strip with insulating varnish already on it, various sizes are used according to engine size i have seen it at about 25 mm x 4 mm on some starter motors.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 11:48:08 pm
content: Here's another source:Brass & Copper Pty LtdCopper & Brass Products - Seven Hills, NSWUnit 9/ 14 Stanton Rd, Seven Hills NSW 2147, Australia(02) 9624 2355www.georgewhite.com.ausales@georgewhite.com.auTheir main warehouse is in Melbourne, maybe they have outlets in WA?They were the only source I could find for some phosphor bronze sheet I needed recently.I noticed in their Seven Hills warehouse they had racks of copper industrial electric busbar sized bars.Since they apparently supply the electrical industries, maybe they also stock transformer winding copper.

author: ecat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2013, 11:58:44 pm
content: An ebay search for copper foil -adhesive returns some promising results here in the UK, eg:http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COPPER-Foil-Sheet-8-x122-Kupferfolie-Feuilles-cuivre-/271176463440?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item3f23607450http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Extra-Thin-Copper-Foil-0-05mm-/370695487148?pt=UK_Crafts_Other_Crafts_EH&hash=item564f2c3eachttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Copper-Foil-Metal-Foil-/121072280322?pt=UK_Art_OtherArt_RL&hash=item1c30786302

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 12:09:56 am
content: These guys I bought my copper for machining good price but they are in VIChttp://www.georgewhite.com.au/products/select_product.asp?category=Copper

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 12:20:52 am
content: If you're still looking - try Dyne Industries on (03) 9720 7233. (We) have just about every type of copper wire / tape / foil / bar in stock.Plus most bobbins / cores / formers etc etc That's cause (we) make everything from 1mW to 150KW in Transformers / torroids / currentand especially design to order. You can check the website atwww.dyne.com.auI'm not in today, but you can say I sent you :-)

author: Harvs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2013, 10:05:21 am
content: Cool thanks for all the help. I've got a few leads in WA to follow up first then I'll go through those interstate.Cheers

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 01:00:45 am
content: Quote from: digsys on March 22, 2013, 12:20:52 amInteresting that you make high power transformers - maybe you can help me with some advice.For a project of mine, I want to learn about the present state of the art in high power (10 to 100KW) three phase sine wave inverters. As typically used in UPSs for industrial sites. Originally I hoped to obtain one or more 2nd hand commercial high power UPSs and reverse engineer/modify them for my purpose. But that's turning out to be difficult. Anyway, I'd be better off to learn how to design such things myself, and build a custom system to suit the requirements. Eventually I'd want to have a commercially manufacturable design.I'm a retired electronics design engineer; just have never done high power stuff.Does your company make transformers etc for large 3-phase UPSs?If so, can you suggest any sources for service manuals (schematics & theory of op) for current systems like that?Or books on the circuit topologies and switching devices used these days?Anything at all would be a help.Oh and btw, if anyone reading this knows of a large ( > 5KW) 2nd hand 3-phase sine wave UPS or plain battery to AC inverter system going very cheap (or even better, free for salvage), please tell me about it.

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 04:07:16 am
content: TH - Sent you a PM

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 04:40:17 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on March 25, 2013, 01:00:45 amHybrid car inverters and industrial VFDs, both cheap on the surplus market if you can wait for a deal. The catch is that you have to use a high voltage battery and you have to supply the output filter for running anything other than a motor. Also, you'll have to figure out how to run it (hybrid car inverters are pretty difficult, most industrial VFDs are pretty easy if you have the documentation), but you can play tricks like doing V/Hz reduction to save energy with motor loads.Copper tape is pretty easy to find in the form of copper flashing.http://www.lowes.com/pd_59448-205-850678_0__?productId=1093759http://www.amazon.com/Amerimax-Products-67314-Copper-Flashing/dp/B000BOC7D8

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 05:12:12 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on March 25, 2013, 04:40:17 amHmm, interesting idea, thanks.QuoteTalking about theAustraliansurplus market here, iewhatsurplus market?I hadn't searched much overseas due to expecting such an inverter to be really, really heavy. The 100KW ones I just missed out on getting in Sydney were around 1200Kg each. That kind of thing simply isn't in reach via international shipping, for me.QuoteNot a problem, in fact it suits the design.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2013, 09:14:52 am
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on March 21, 2013, 09:26:00 amBut this doesn't stop the little pole-vaulting slugs that manage to get over the fence anyways for a good strawberry meal