Re: Is This Neon Trans. Worth Fixing?

To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Is This Neon Trans. Worth Fixing?
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 18:42:58 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

Subject:       Re: Is This Neon Trans. Worth Fixing?
       Date:   Fri, 23 May 1997 14:00:44 -0400
       From:   Tom Heiber <theiber-at-lonet.ca>
Organization:  Power Surge
         To:   Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 References:   1

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> Subject:  Is This Neon Trans. Worth Fixing?
>   Date:   Thu, 22 May 1997 20:38:02 -0500
>   From:   Tedd Payne <tpayne-at-netnitco-dot-net>
>     To:   Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> 
> I have a 15kv 30ma transformer which pops a 15A circuit breaker when the
> primary is connected to the AC outlet.  There is no connection/load on
> the secondary.  The outlet behaves normally with another transformer of
> the same model.  There is no visible sign of a problem, except that
> there is a tar leak down one corner, coming from the lid, (as though it
> may have overheated, expanded, and leaked).  I have not yet checked it
> with an ohm meter.
> 
> Is there a typical cause for this symptom, and what is the fix likely to
> be?
> 
> Thanks for any info.
> 
> Tedd

It would seem that the primary is shorted. If you have a ohmmeter check
the resistance between the plug prongs. If you get ~0 ohms that means
there is a dead short. If it is a short-circuit. You'd have to find
where it is. I presume that is the cause of the tar leaking. A short was
created and it melted the tar and the wires together. If you can trace
it to where it is shorting (if it is) then just snip off before the
short and add a new cable. 
If you do not get a short reading (not 0 ohms) then I'm stumped too :)

hope this helps. 

Tom Heiber