Can you safely relocate inductors?

[thewise1]

Just wire them up then cover them in electrical tape then put them anywhere?

Since it's a magnet I have to question it. Or maybe cover it in hot glue so the copper wire doesn't move.

(inductors are the magnets with wires wrapped around them if anyone doesn't know)

[chainfire95]

They aren't always magnets.

[thewise1]

Maybe it is maybe it isn't. I'm trying to relocate the ones in my xbox 360, to make room for new fans.

[nitro2k01]

There are several problems with relocating them. Inductors when used in modern electronics are usually part of a switching power converter. This means there are several problems you need to account for:
1) Interference. Since a high current and sa (relatively) high frequency is passed through the conductor when used in a switching power application, it will emit a a strong magnetic field. For this reason, don't reloate it near anything that carries an audio or video signal or you'll likely end up getting interference.
2) Effiency. Again, since a high current and a (relatively) high frequency is likely passed through the inductor, don't use a long length of cable to relocate it. Doing so will introduce leak capacitance which will make the whole power converter circuit less efficient.
3) Your soldering probably sucks, and while that probably doesn't make a difference in your daily soldering it might make a difference in a place where a large a current is passed, because a bad solder joint might make said joint heat up or cause power problems for the CPU.

[marshallh]

The majority of coils on the 360 board are part of the switching regs that step down the 12v power coming in, to run the CPU and GPU.


I'd extend no more than a couple of inches at most. use decent wire, there is a lot of current going through those.

[thewise1]

Alright I can do that, I only need to move them over slightly to make enough room for the fans. And I'm guessing 20 or 18 gauge wire should do the trick.