Saltwater ballast

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

Original poster: "Richard W. by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <potluck-at-xmission-dot-com>

Hi List,

I don't know the feasability for TC work but I've used saltwater for 
ballasting though it was a long time ago.

The project was an arc lamp using the carbon rods salvaged from old size D 
batteries. These rods were about 1/4" diameter and about 2 1/2" long. The 
ballast was a pyrex casserole dish about a foot long, 10" wide and 2 inches 
deep. This was filled with saltwater. Two electrodes, strips of 1/8" 
aluminum plate, submerged at each end formed the ballast then wired in 
series with the carbon rods to a 120vac outlet.

The rods were struck together to start a small arc. Then the aluminum 
electrodes were moved closer together, the rods separated further apart to 
draw a larger arc. This was done in steps. With a 30 amp fuse (yeah, it was 
a while ago) I was able to get the rods almost an inch apart developing a 
huge arc. After a few minutes the water would actually begin to steam but 
the fuse remained intact unless I tried moving the electrodes too close to 
each other.

Like I said, I don't know if this has any value to TC ballasting but it did 
work for me for that particular project.

Rick W.
Salt Lake