Re: www.midcentralelectric-dot-com -- Prices

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Stephen Conner by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <steve-at-scopeboy-dot-com>

At 21:51 01/05/03 -0600, you wrote:
>Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>
>
>Fixed load means that they are designed to operate something with an
>essentially constant draw (like some relays or lamps or monitoring
>equipment) at a substation or on a pole.  That is, the load is some sort of
>fixed thing.

I believe the main difference is this:

Normal pole pigs are designed to run most efficiently at 25-50% of the 
rated kVA. This is because domestic loads are mostly like this, the average 
demand is about 25-50% of the peak.

A fixed load transformer, otoh, is probably designed to work optimally at 
100% of its nameplate rating.

If this were true, it would mean that a fixed load transformer had a good 
deal more iron and copper inside than an ordinary pig of the same rating, 
and could take a good deal more abuse short-term, once you had replaced the 
built-in fuse with a suitable nail or wad of aluminum foil. Which would of 
course be good news for Tesla coilers.

However, I don't see the baby pigs having any practical advantage over 
potential transformers, which seem to be about the same size, have plenty 
of power, and you can get them cheaper. Maybe the pigs are tougher because 
of the oil filling, but has anyone blown a PT before? Is it just the cool 
factor of owning a genuine pig?

Steve C.