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Oil Burner Ignition Transformers

Subject:  Oil Burner Ignition Transformers
  Date:   Sat, 10 May 1997 23:02:12 +0500
  From:   "Alfred A. Skrocki" <alfred.skrocki-at-cybernetworking-dot-com>
    To:   Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>


I have come to realize that there is some misinterpretation as
to what an oil burner ignition transformer really is and how it 
should be used.

First let me point out that there are two types of oil burner 
ignition transformers currently in existence. The older units
which are contained in a metal box approximately 5 inches X 4 inches
X 3 inches and are designed for continuous duty and IF used properly 
are damn near indestructible! Then there is the newer units that are 
much smaller and sometimes not even enclosed in any casing, these are 
NOT designed for continuous duty and are USELESS in terms of usage in 
a Tesla coil. 

Now to describe what the older oil burner ignition transformers are
and how they should be used. An oil burner ignition transformer is
a regulating transformer just like a pole pig is and as such MUST
be used with a series limiting inductance in it's primary circuit or 
you will indeed burn it out! This is because a regulating transformer 
attempts to maintain a constant output voltage by pulling more 
current when it is under load. In a Tesla coil the H.V. transformer 
for all intents and purpose is short circuited, which for a 
regulating transformer means it is going to try and pull an infinite 
amount of current and burn itself out in the process. By comparison a 
neon sign transformer is NOT a regulating transformer for if it were 
it would either burn out itself or destroy the neon tube it was 
connected to. This is why neon sign transformers do not need any
current limiting inductance when used to drive a tesla coil. You
can add some variable inductance to a neon transformer to allow
you to operate your coil a various power levels but it is not 
required to protect the transformer. In an oil burner transformer
and with pole pigs you MUST current limit their primaries or you
will either burn out the transformer or in the case of a pole pig you 
may burn out the mains.


                               Sincerely

                                \\\|///
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                               (  -at- -at-  )
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                           Alfred A. Skrocki
                   alfred.skrocki-at-cybernetworking-dot-com
                             .ooo0   0ooo.
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