Re: neon current

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Re: neon current
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 22:57:54 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net


From: 	Malcolm Watts[SMTP:MALCOLM-at-directorate.wnp.ac.nz]
Sent: 	Sunday, August 03, 1997 4:17 PM
To: 	tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: 	Re: neon current

Hi Gary,
           You have run into the vagaries of abominable primary 
current waveforms. This is definitely the domain of a meter that
can convert arbitrary waveforms to RMS. An alternative is to use an 
_isolated_ oscilloscope, a low value (say 1 Ohm) sensing resistor of 
an appropriate rating and a high voltage probe.

Malcolm
<snip>

> With the neons connected to the Tesla Coil and a .0264 uf capacitor in the
> LC circuit the amp meter reads 27.  With a power factor connection capacitor
> connected to the primary the current drops to 22 amps.  1560 watts.  I am
> getting 54" white hot sparks from the toroid.
> 
> The increased primary circuit capacitance made the output sparks get longer
> thicker hotter and very much louder.  I tried 2 different amp meters and
> still get false readings even with the power factor correction capacitors. I
> can not be pulling 22 amps of a 15 amp breaker for 3 minutes.  It is not
> possible.  I tested the breaker and it will trip at 16 amps after a few
> seconds. I even tried a watthour meter.
> 
> Is there a way to get a true amp reading from the primary while the TC's is
> in operation?
> 
> Gary Weaver
> 
> 
> 
>