Re: Distilled water as a dielectric?

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Just Justin <rocketfuel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>


Hi Mark,

I don't know if you saw my intro a couple of days ago, but I'm new to
HV and tesla coils.  The idea of building my own HV caps is intriguing
to me, as I usually prefer to do things myself if possible and hopefully
learn something in the process.

I was wondering if you had any resources you could point me to in making
my own parallel plate caps.  Also I have been wondering how one goes about
testing the max voltage these things will handle?  My meter only shows 
capacitance ;)

Thanks!

Justin


> Original poster: "Mark Dunn" <mdunn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
> Greg:
>
> I'm the parallel plate guy.  The mmc builders would be better to answer
> this, but maybe my comments will generate some discussion.
>
> Seems that the mmc guys typically use a series of .15 uF 2KV caps(others
> are available) at $3 each.  So if you go for a rating of 30 KV then you
> need a string of 15 caps which gives a 10 nF for the string and $45 per
> string.  You said you wanted a 10 uF mmc(I think you meant 10 nF so one
> string would do it).  If it is really 10 uF then you would need (1000)
> 10 nF strings in parallel to build up the capacitance.  This would be a
> total cost of $45,000.  Obviously, a better capacitor choice for this
> mmc would make it a lot cheaper.
>
> But to compare at the "normal" Tesla Coil Capacitance ranges:
>
> 10 nF	1 string  $45
> 20 nF  2 strings  $90
> 50 nF  5 strings  $225
> 100 nF 10 strings $450
>
> This does not include a box or board to mount.  Just the caps.
> (I think they may push the voltage rating and only use a strings of 10
> which would give 15 nF per string)
>
> This is why I still build parallel plates.  I can build a 50 nF parallel
> plate unit for under $30.  Biggest cost is the food storage box.
> Assembly time under 2 hrs.
>
> Mark
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 5:52 PM
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: Distilled water as a dielectric?
>
>
> Original poster: Greg Morris <gbmorris@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> So what is a basic price range for a 10 uF mmc then? And, unless I am
> mistaken they are not as adjustable with the ease that parallel plates
> are.
> Thanks again.
>
> On 6/2/05, Tesla list <<mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>  >Original poster: Ed Phillips <<mailto:evp@xxxxxxxxxxx>evp@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>  >
>  >"Original poster: "Peter Terren"
>  ><<mailto:pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>pterren@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>  >
>  >Hmmmm.... Ice and electricity.  See here.
>  ><http://tesladownunder.com/misc1.htm#Coin%20shrinking>http://tesladownu
>  >nder.com/misc1.htm#Coin%20shrinking
>  >
>  >Peter
>  >Tesladownunder"
>  >
>  >         One of my classmates at Caltech did his PhD research by using
>  >a modified WW2 tail-warning radar to measure the thickness of the ice
>  >in various places.  This was a small 400 MHz unit (couple of watts peak
>  >power) working into a small Yagi antenna.  They were able to get echoes
>
>  >from the rock through over 5000 feet of ice.  The operation was much
>  >more of an adventure than planned, including a bent airplane they had
>  >to fix by tieing a 2 x 4 to a wing strut, but he got his degree.
>  >
>  >Ed
>  >
>