Socket or solder?

Transformers are generally soldered in, and often last for the life of an amplifier. Tubes are socketed because they are less reliable than a socket, and often must be replaced during the life of an amplifier. Sockets themselves become a potential failure point, and they cost money. So why add expense and diminish reliability?

If you solder to the pins on the outside, the solder joints on the wires inside may sprong loose. I've seen that happen (for real transformers, not this audio stuff.)

I wonder what that thing costs.

inside

That possibility has been mentioned.

It doesn't look like the kind of thing designed to be soldered to, but the terminals don't look real friendly either - bullet quick-connects? Are those screws in the corners to mount it with?

That's what I thought.

I don't have one myself.

Transformers are often chassis-mounted, because they're heavy. So, to connect the transformer to a printed wiring board, it's VERY common for a PWB to have a socket for the transformer connection. The flexible leadwires from the transformer are soldered to the solid (inflexible) windings, though.

Transformers (and other inductors) get a bad reputation partly because it's difficult to put them through 'standard' pick/place/solder operations.

I suppose the correct answer to the question (which should have sprung out at me but did not), is "however the manufacturer intends".

And I expect seb to know just what the manufacturer intends!

Pick-and-place is easy for transformers, if you have the right gear.

If it's a current production part, you could ask the manufacturer.

Probably brass under whatever the plating is - and probably won't solder unless you file down to the brass.

Then solve your dilemma by not buying one!

--- Since the transformer has tapped holes at its corners which are no doubt intended to secure it to a chassis, and since sockets are very rarely mounted with their tops flush with the chassis' top surface and secured with flathead screws, it's likely that the transformer is designed to be chassis-mounted with its terminals protruding downward through a circular cutout in the chassis.

That's further attested to by the nicely bright solder blobs on the ends of the terminals which, by no stretch of imagination, could be designed to be socketed.

Blow up the photo and it becomes apparent that there's no index key for the socket and that the terminals, which seem to be turrets, are yellow.

Gold over nickel over brass?

Not unlikely for a high-ticket item.

-- JF

That is a very significant point. Thank you for drawing it to my attention.

LOL! I was half-expecting to see a Sikorsky skycrane planting a power transformer...

The box is our 20 kilowatt MRI gradient driver. I blew a lot of mosfets getting that to work.

These are "exfets."

it looks like there's a socket included with the transformer and that's the ugly side with solder lumps we're seeing.