Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive ballast (for pole transformer). (fwd)

["High Voltage list" <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 11:22:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: J. Aaron Holmes <jaholmes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive ballast (for pole
    transformer). (fwd)


Thanks, all!

After cogitating a bit about how to hook them up, I
went ahead and bought 11 new 5kW elements off eBay for
~$35 (one lot).  Seemed like a decent price.  With ten
of these switched with relays, I ought to be able to
(briefly) consume all of the 200A my breaker box is
allowed to provide :D  Regardless of the obvious
lossiness of the resistive elements, it still ought to
provide for a pretty spectacular arc!  I'll certainly
post a picture of the result when I get there,
hopefully within the next few weeks.

--- High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> 
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 07:12:06 -0600
> From: robert heidlebaugh
> <rheidlebaugh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive
> ballast (for pole
>     transformer).
> 
> Check with your locsl appliance shop ,propane
> dealer, or plumber. When I had
> a ranch I used old hot water heaters as feed
> troughs. I never had a shortage
> of tanks or heating elements.
>      Robert   H
> -- 
> 
> 
> > From: "High Voltage list" <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 20:34:59 -0600 (MDT)
> > To: hvlist <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive
> ballast (for pole
> > transformer). (fwd)
> > Resent-From: hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Resent-Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 20:34:59 -0600 (MDT)
> > 
> > Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 02:43:12 -0700 (PDT)
> > From: Yurtle Turtle <yurtle_t@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive
> ballast (for pole
> > transformer). (fwd)
> > 
> > Just look for stoves and/or water heaters (Not
> "hot
> > water heaters". Why would you heat "hot water"?)
> on
> > the side of the road.
> > 
> > Adam
> > 
> > --- High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >> Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> 
> >> 
> >> [Sorry for the delay in posting.  I was at a
> meeting
> >> where I *thought* I
> >> would have had access to the list, but actually
> >> didn't.  SRR]
> >> 
> >> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >> Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 21:16:35 -0700 (PDT)
> >> From: J. Aaron Holmes
> <jaholmes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> To: hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx
> >> Subject: Cheap parts for high-power resistive
> >> ballast (for pole transformer).
> >> 
> >> Howdy, hvlist,
> >> 
> >> In addition to some Tesla coiling, I'd like to do
> >> some
> >> ridiculously high-powered Jacob's laddering :) 
> I'm
> >> shooting for 30kVA.  Unfortunately, I don't feel
> >> like
> >> investing much (in time or money) in a big
> inductive
> >> ballast.  Instead, I thought I'd just install six
> or
> >> eight hot water heater elements in a cheap metal
> >> trash
> >> can (filled with water, of course), then use some
> >> big
> >> relays to put them all in parallel so that I
> could
> >> fire the thing up with only a single element in
> >> line,
> >> then bring the others in one at a time until I'm
> >> running at full throttle.  Sound workable?  I
> could
> >> even install a faucet in the side of the trash
> can
> >> so
> >> that the thing could be made light and portable
> on
> >> short notice (great for Teslathons).  Now on to
> the
> >> question:  Is there something cheaper that might
> >> provide the same functionality?  Amazingly, hot
> >> water
> >> heater elements appear to be relatively
> non-cheap.
> >> I've seen a few tempting bulk lots go by on eBay,
> >> but
> >> they were threaded in an odd way that made me
> >> suspect
> >> they'd be difficult to work with.
> >> 
> >> Should I just get a spool of nichrome wire, some
> >> cinder blocks, and a box fan? :))
> >> 
> >> 73,
> >> Aaron, N7OE
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> > 
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> 
> 
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