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laser caps

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Today at the scrap yard I found what I think is a power supply for some type of laser.  The tag said Laser Products, Mesa, Arizona.  The power supply has 28 door knob type capacitors.  They are mounted in 2 groups of 14 caps each in parallel.  Each group is mounted side by side and the ends of the caps all have a single spark gap on the end connecting each cap of one group to the matching cap of the other group.  It has 14 spark gaps.  The caps and gaps are mounted inside a 1/2" plastic case with 4 fans on the side of the case for air flow.  All 4 fans are 4" box fans also sometimes called muffin fans.  The case also has a small freon type cooling system built inside. On top of the case is a high voltage transformer, some type of amplifier device, another control box, a 40,000. volt .06 uf plastic cap, several high wattage resistors, a choke coil, a high voltage ignition coil device simular to a car ignition coil large orange plastic, gas flow control valves and guages and lots of other items.  The thing weighed 140 lbs. and cost me $21.00 plus tax.

The door know caps are orange, 1.125" dia by 1 1/5" long with a brass screw in each end.  CERA-MITE 715C,   570PF-Z, 40,000 KVDC, 8148.  I am not sure but the 570PF-Z might be the cap value of 570 pf.  Does this sound about right?  I am not familiar with door knob capacitors.

I already have plans for the .06 uf cap.  It is going to become part of a portable self contained Tesla Coil.  I also found a nice copper 6" diameter ball that will make a nice sphere for the secondary.

The 28 capacitors all mounted to spark gaps are very interesting.  I have never seen anything like it and I have never thought of making such a device.   I have not given it any thought yet but it may be useful in TC applications.  Enclosed is a circuit drawing.  

Gary Weaver
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