Help identifying a vintage component [SOLVED]

[ramenbytes]

Hello!

I picked up a bunch of used components on the cheap (less than $1), and included in the lot was a jar of ones that look like the pictures attached. I suspect they're inductors since I can read a minor DC resistance across them but capacitance measurements fail, though I haven't hooked it up to my scope and signal generator yet to verify. I was wondering if if anyone can verify, but more importantly provide some background info on them and maybe point me to where I can find out more about these types of inductors(?) and what I shouldn't use them for. Though I suppose the magic smoke will answer that last question. I've tried some web searches for "flat package inductors", "vintage flat inductors", and other similar strings, as well as searched this forum, but without much luck so far. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough.

Thanks,
         ramenbytes

[TheNewLab]

hmmm. seen those, must be really old. Only thing I can say is dump it. If you need to replace something with it. scope or LCR Appears like your are mostly just curious. IF that, then just explore with all your tools at hand.

Maybe open it up after experimenting and share with us what's inside!

[ramenbytes]

Yeah, mostly just curious, and wondering if/how I can use it in projects for learning purposes. You recommend dumping it, is that 'cause it can't be expected to be in-spec or reliable given the age?

Did some investigating with would be a RL high-pass filter if it's an inductor, scoped it, and it sure does seem to behave like one. Unfortunately my signal generator doesn't have the bandwidth to reach the -3dB point, but I should be able to back the inductor value out from the measurements I took at the -38dB point*. Below is a scope shot of that, bottom channel is the voltage across the apparent inductor, top channel is the 2Vpp, 5MHz sine being fed in. I'll have to slice it open later on another break.

*yeah, it does have color bands but I'm assuming it doesn't match those any more.

[TheNewLab]

 I said just "dump it" because it's so old, you'll not find the specs. That said, if you can measure it and for non-critical, more like not critical at all then A-OK. For frequency, yeah, you'll will need to test measure it, or sub it somewhere else. not the best way.

Personally, I would like to see inside. What potting material, how would, and test the inductor by itself.  That's me, I love to explore stuff like that.

Plus selfishly, I would like to see pics or a vid of destruction to see the innards!

[Gyro]

Form your op it sounds as if you have a jar of them. In that case it is definitely worth sacrificing one of them to semi controlled disassembly to gain as much information as possible. For instance, it would be good to know whether the core is ordinary ferrite (gapped?) or some exotic laminated material. The wire diameter for current capability, any hidden passives in there, etc.

[jonpaul]

pulse transformer for SCR /triac firing

Jon

[EPAIII]

Years ago I purchased some Radio Shack coil assortments. About half the coils in them looked exactly like that. I believe they were inexpensive parts, probably from Japan or China or for the imported TVs and radios of the day.

Unlike capacitors or even resistors, coils do not seem to have a problem with age. Back then I tested the coils in those assortments with an Ohm meter and with a sweep generator plus a known capacitor to make a resonate circuit and all of them were within tolerance (20%?). I have used a few in my "project circuits" and they worked OK. I still have a plastic drawer full.

Today I would just put them on one of my inexpensive component testers to check them.

One of these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/193219020056?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A10iyrac6WQ1GwXth6FnbMhA94&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=193219020056&targetid=4580702891777578&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=418640321&mkgroupid=1233652283797640&rlsatarget=pla-4580702891777578&abcId=9300602&merchantid=51291&msclkid=42af89b20f531f75f888eaff07ffb063

[ramenbytes]

Been a while, but I'm back with the goods. Disassembly didn't go great, but it wasn't horrible either. Pics attached to this and the next message.

Personally, I would like to see inside. What potting material, how would, and test the inductor by itself.  That's me, I love to explore stuff like that.

Plus selfishly, I would like to see pics or a vid of destruction to see the innards!

@TheNewLab if you'd like to spend more time tearing these critters down and documenting it to share with the rest of us, I can send you a few for free if postage is only a few stamps, otherwise I'll send 'em for the cost of postage/shipping. I can't imagine it being much though.

[ramenbytes]

The rest of the pictures.

[Gyro]

From the shape, I was expecting to see signs of a ferrite or other magnetic material in your photos. I can't see any though, so it looks like a nicely packaged straightforward air-cored inductor.

[wraper]

Looks like air core inductor attached to a flat carrier. I think it makes sense as inductor itself doesn't need to have any structural strength. And wires can be wound around terminals on top side of the carrier, and then soldered.

[wraper]

Should be something like this. Terminals simply clip into the frame.