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Re: bulkheads / baffles in secondaries



Original poster: "Gerry  Reynolds" <gerryreynolds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Bill,

There are some in the group that say two solid baffles, one from each end. I too worry about trapped fumes and I only put one 1/2 inch thick solid acrylic baffel down from the top enough to support the topload. I do have another baffle at the top as an end cap with a center hole to allow the support tube for the top load to enter. It may depend on what you use for a form whether two baffles are necessary. I use an acrylic form so its is a good insulator. If you use more than one baffle, you may want to have holes in the center to allow ventilation. At least the extra baffles will increase the tracking distance.

Gerry R.

Original poster: Gomez Addams <gomezaddams@xxxxxxxxx>

This is addressed to those who have experience installing internal
baffles or bulkheads in secondaries, for the purpose of preventing
internal creepage sparks (internal racing arcs):

I have never used internal baffles before, and have never seemed to
need them on any of the secondaries I've built.  (although once,
someone building secondaries for me for commercial sale at a company
I was consulting for had racing arc problems, but I soon discovered
they had decided to paint the secondary form with black paint "for
looks" before winding it!)

But now I am attempting to build one of the most robust, good- looking, and efficient / high-performing coils I've ever built,
taking into account all the new developments which have turned up
since I last built a coil, so I thought I'd go ahead and install
baffles just for the heck of it.  I seriously doubt they'll do any
harm, and if they'll make the secondary even more "mistake-resistant"
then I'm all for it.

So my main question is: do you typically install them while building
the form, with holes in the center of each baffle for your winder
shaft (assuming you use one), or do you wind the coil first, remove
the end plates, install solid baffles, and replace the end plates, or
what?

Since I have a large enough lathe, I _could_ wind the form without a
shaft going all the way through, but I prefer to use a shaft to
provide support to the form.

Also, I'm thinking it would be smart to leave holes for ventilation
so things like glue fumes (after construction) and later, ozone, can
escape the interior, so perhaps baffles with center openings are best?

Opinions?

 - Bill Lemieux