Re: Duty cycle of OBIT?

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Mddeming@xxxxxxx 

In simple terms, No. An OBIT is designed to initiate an arc and then 
just maintain the arc @ 22ma until the fuel ignites and heats a 
thermocouple enough to open the contact on its primary side. It then 
sits dormant during the room heating part of the cycle. When the main 
thermostat closes the fuel valve and the OBIT thermocouple cools off 
enough to close the contact again, the cycle is repeated. Neon signs, 
except for flashing ones, are supplying some power all the time. 
OBITs work, at most, about one minute out of ten or fifteen for part 
of the year. and the peak voltage is only to initiate the arc, and to 
maintain the tiny arc in air.  Thus, they are less long-term robust than NSTs.

Hope this helps.

Matt D.


In a message dated 2/12/07 5:18:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
Original poster: "Jon Danniken" <danniken@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Howdy,

I scrounged up an old OBIT (10kV, 22mA), and it is electrically
sound.  What I am wondering is, what is the normal duty cycle for these things.

I know that NSTs are not designed to hold a high voltage for a length
of time longer than it takes to initiate the arc, but what about
OBITs?  Are they designed to be at their full rated voltage for duty times?

Thanks for any insight into this,

Jon