[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Saltwater vs oil-based capacitors
From: Engle, Daniel (NJAOST)[SMTP:DEngle-at-NJAOST.ML-dot-com]
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 1997 10:33 AM
To: 'tesla-at-pupman-dot-com'
Subject: Saltwater vs oil-based capacitors
I was looking through http://www.eskimo-dot-com/~billb/tesla/tesla.html and
saw several plans for "Homebrew Capacitors". Under D. Lima's capacitors
was a file on building a relatively simple and seemingly easy saltwater
capacitor. The question is what is the difference between the typical
oil/plate capacitors and saltwater? The text said the the capacitance
was relatively close between the two types. Here's an exerpt:
The 'six pack' capacitor is finished and is very satisfactory. I took
some readings of my various capacitors and got unexpected results. My
oil
capacitor is 4.8 nF according to the meter. The 'sixpack' is 4.3 nF. The
closeness is amazing considering the advantages of the sixpack over the
bulky oily mess with 9 1/4" plates of glass and 4 qts. of motor oil....
each individual bottle in the sixpack read very close to .74 nF which
suprised me....I wasn't expecting anything so uniform.
Is there some drawback to the saltwater caps that isn't listed on the
website?
Dan Engle