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Re: Where are the PCBs?



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 21:35:56 -0500
From: Geoffrey Schecht <geoffs-at-onr-dot-com>
To: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Re: Where are the PCBs? 

There were a lot of different trade names for polychlorinated biphenyls
used by the various manufacturers. I can't specifically remember any but
Pyranol.....I think that at least one more used an "ol" suffix. Most PCB
dielectrics went away sometime in the mid-to-late '70's, as I recall. If
PCB's really scare you that much, just avoid oilfilled caps that have
datecodes on them which indicate pre-1975 or so manufacture.

A lot of the newer ones specifically say "no PCB's" on their markings.

Since they're in a sealed environment, PCB filled caps present no danger to
you unless they're leaking. Even then, you won't keel over dead from
getting the stuff on your skin; just wash it off with a good grease-cutting
detergent and plenty of water. It's a carcinogen and it is most assuredly a
dangerous material as far as repeated or chronic exposure is
concerned....if you have a "leaker", just bag it up and take it to the
local hazmat disposal authority (fire departments can tell you what to do).
The stuff really shouldn't be dumped in a landfill since it will leach into
the ground and can wind up in the water tables. There's already enough of
it there, anyway, from previous generations dumping the stuff en masse'.


Geoff

----------
> From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Where are the PCBs? 
> Date: Saturday, October 18, 1997 9:16 PM
> 
> 
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 18:50:18 -0400
> From: Kevin Christiansen <kevin+-at-cs.cmu.edu>
> To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Where are the PCBs?
> 
> 
> 
> Hello everybody!
> 
> 
> I regularly watch for high voltage caps of all different
> 
> types at swap meets (some for TC work, some for HV discharge
> 
> work, etc), and I was wondering what brands, types, etc. I
> 
> should avoid if I don't like PCBs.
> 
> 
> I know that General Electric Pyranol caps have PCBs in them.
> 
> 
> What other kinds of caps have PCBs, so we can know what
> 
> to avoid?
> 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> 
> - Kevin Christiansen
> 
> 
> 
> <bigger>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> 
>                      Kevin D Christiansen
> 
> Human Computer Interaction Institute - Carnegie Mellon University
> 
>       kevin-at-cs.cmu.edu    http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~kevin/
> 
> 
> "The universe is composed of space, galaxies, and intergalactic
> 
>  dust.  Galaxies themselves are composed of space, stars, and
> 
> interstellar dust.  From the omnipresence of dust, we conclude
> 
> that nature abhors a vacuum and won't pick up a broom, either."
> 
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> 
> </bigger>
>