Andrea CVL-16 "Tough-Dog"

[John Folsom]

Ever wondered why the wires coming from a flyback core to the terminals on the phenolic board are always covered with some kind of 'goop' where they attach to the terminal and head back towards the flyback? The reason is these wires have a insulation coating which is designed to vaporize when heated for soldering, as these very fine wires would be near impossible to strip if covered with regular enamel. The wires are also often covered with a piece of tubing to give some mechanical protection.

All of this leaves the wires going to the flyback vulnerable to corrosion over time. Any nick or ding in the wire, or excessive heating during soldering, or poor coverage by the 'goop', will leave the tiny wires prone to corrosion.