What is Litz yarn?
The word "Litz" comes from the German word "litzendraht", meaning braided wire. Litz wire consists of individually insulated enameled wires that are bundled or braided together in a uniform manner so that each strand occupies all possible positions in the overall conductor cross-section.

Leeds wire is a cable consisting of multiple strands of fine insulated enameled wire assembled side by side. It is used to carry high-frequency currents because each insulated strand carries a portion of the current and prevents losses due to the skin effect. Leeds wire is commonly used in radio frequency (RF) applications as well as in high-frequency power circuits such as induction heaters and Tesla coils.

The stranded wires in a stranded cable are usually twisted together as a single bundle or in multiple bundles to form large cables. By twisting the wires together, it helps to control the magnetic field around the wires and maintain an even flow of current.


What are the benefits of Leeds wire?
Reduces the occurrence of "hot spots"
Reduces AC power loss
Minimizes eddy current losses

How do I solder Leeds wire?
Soldering Leeds wires can be very difficult as they can contain thousands of individually insulated strands. This insulation must be removed prior to soldering. This can be accomplished by first burning the end to be soldered and then cleaning the burnt insulation with steel wool. Performing this operation without destroying the filaments or leaving some of them behind can be very challenging.

The best method is to use a hot solder bath as this will both burn the insulation and add solder. The solder bath must be very hot and works best if the LITZ wire is first dipped in flux to help the solder adhere.

LITZ wire applications include:
Antennas
High frequency power converters
Grounding
Electromagnetic induction (or heating)
Medical device chargers
Radio transmitters
Sensor Wiring
Wireless power systems
Acoustic telemetry (also known as sonar)
Ultrasonic devices
Wind turbines
Coils
Hybrid vehicles
Chokes (or high impedance) for
chargers for motorized vehicle applications Motors that
Included:
Linear motors
Stator-wound generators
Transformers for communication radio transmission