Re: MOT Experiment

["Ed Phillips" <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Gregory R. Hunter" <ghunter-at-accucomm-dot-net>
> 
> Hi Coilers,
> 
> I conducted a simple MOT experiment yesterday. I hooked up a dimmer switch
> with 7uF of series capacitance to the filament windings of two MOTs, and
> then pulsed them with 115V/60Hz. Result? The two MOTs produced a 3/4
> (20mm)inch spark--a feat that should be impossible for two MOTs. Since the
> filament winding only has a few turns of thick wire, the MOTs should
> saturate. They don't, because the sharp pulse from the dimmer "feels" like
> a much higher frequency. I've re-invented the pulse transformer! I'm
> intrigued by this development. I'd love to try this again with a 100uF
> motor run capacitor for ballast insead of the dinky 7uF. Since USA dimmers
> are rated for 600W, this could be a route to a "poor man's NST".
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Greg
> 

	I've used the same setup = very cheap light dimmer and series
capacitor, in my case 3 ufd - to drive the primary of a GM high-energy
spark coil from the junk yard.  Get nice fat 1-1/2" sparks across the
secondary.  I think if you try a capacitance anywhere near 100 ufd that
you will blow up the SCR or TRIAC/QUADRAC in  the dimmer.

Ed