Re: Power Arcing

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Power Arcing
From: Bert Pool <nikki-at-fastlane-dot-net>
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 11:13:57 -0500 (CDT)
At 10:25 PM 9/29/96 -0600, Bert Hickman wrote:

[snip a big section talking about induced rf eating his spark gap motor]



>I'm also concerned about the RF energy coupling into the aluminum
>siding, window frames, and guttering, and plan to make sure that these
>are adequately grounded to AC ground. It looks like any length of wire
>or cable in the room with the coil will also pick up a goodly amount of
>induced RF from the coil AND the sparks. 
>
>What are some of the techniques used by the more experienced coilers to
>control these?? I'm concerned about boosting power (especially with a
>pig) until I get this situation under control! Thanks in advance!
>
>Safe coilin' to ya!
>
>-- Bert --

Bert, before you joined the list, I posted a message relating how the brass
weather-stripping which goes around the door leading from my house into the
garage picked up enough rf to actually char the lower corner completely off
the door!  It was a blessing I did not have a fire which might have burned
my house down.  Your concern about induced currents in window frames, etc.
is very justified!

To protect my motor, I have placed bypass caps and varistors across the
bridge rectifier which powers the d.c. motor.  You may very well have to use
a shielded wire to the motor to stop the rf pickup.  Most of us do not have
this particular problem, but if your wire happens to be of a length which
forms a resonant line at your coil's frequency, lots of unwanted voltage and
current can develop.  Running your motor wire through a length of 1/2 inch
steel conduit, well grounded,  will most likely solve your problem.

Safe coiling!

Bert Pool
nikki-at-fastlane-dot-net