RE- Input Power Measureme

To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
Subject: RE- Input Power Measureme
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 01:43:29 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net
Subject:      RE- Input Power Measureme
       Date:  Wed, 28 May 1997 20:53:16 GMT
       From:  robert.michaels-at-online.sme-dot-org (Robert Michaels)
Organization: Society of Manufacturing Engineers
         To:  tesla-at-pupman-dot-com


T>       From: Skip Greiner <sgreiner-at-wwnet-dot-com>

T>It is obvious to all that any given transformer can be run in excess
of
T>its rating. Thus, a 1kva transformer may be run with 2kva input and
T>live. This does not mean that the TC is being run at 1kva since the
T>transformer is rated at 1kva.

T>How can the actual input power to the TC be measured????????

 [ ... ]

        If you mean the actual power developed in the secondary,
        it probably can't be measured.

        Even in the case of radio transmitters, which are much
        more sedate than any disruptive Tesla coil, it is hard
        to know the actual rf power in the tank circuit.

        For this reason, the FCC defines radio transmitter
        power as the dc power input to the final amplifier
        stage and lets it go at that.

                        - - - - - - - - -

        Measure the input voltage and current to the Tesla coil
        power transformer (neon, OBIT, pig, etc.) and let it go
        at that.

        Technically, and correctly, the product of the voltage
        and current should be multiplied by the power factor of
        the transformer.  Commercial wattmeters which have both
        current and voltage inputs usually display the power-
        factor-corrected value automatically.

                         - - - - - - - -

        I modestly propose a standard for The List:

                The power of a transformer-driven Tesla
                coil is taken as the wattmeter reading of the
                input power to the primary of the trans-
                former.

                                Letting it go at that, in --
                                Detroit, USA

                                Robert Michaels