Re: Neon murder

To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Neon murder
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 10:12:07 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

Subject:  Re: Neon murder
  Date:   Tue, 20 May 1997 19:55:02 +1000 (EST)
  From:   Rodney Davies <rgd872-at-anu.edu.au>
    To:   Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>

Hi Aaron, and all..

On Tue, 20 May 1997, Tesla List wrote:

RE: Murdering neon by suspected current overload...

I had this same problem once, where I had a 15KV -at- 30mA neon, which
required 3.75Amps input. For some reason, there was a breakdown on the
secondary coil leaving me with an output of around 300 volts.

The only conclusion I came to (because I used a 3 amp fuse that didn't
blow) was that I didn't have any RF chokes on the secondary coil
connecting to the tank circuit. From here, since there was no choke, the
high-frequency was able to be recoupled back into the neon.

High frequency current has different characteristics, of course, but it
managed to overcome the insulation and cause a short. 
Since I figured I wasn't using too much current, that it must have been
the high-frequency current doing the damage...

So I made 2 chokes (Pi-wound and 2 because the neon was centre tapped on
the secondary) and I've never had a problem since.

Give that a go...

Anyone else got any other ideas/theories?

Catchya!
Rod