Peak cap voltage, was 12kV, 30ma TC specs, 42" spark

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Peak cap voltage, was 12kV, 30ma TC specs, 42" spark
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 1997 19:01:50 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

From: 	FutureT-at-aol-dot-com[SMTP:FutureT-at-aol-dot-com]
Sent: 	Tuesday, September 09, 1997 3:36 AM
To: 	tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: 	Peak cap voltage, was 12kV, 30ma TC specs, 42" spark

Malcolm, All,

I finally measured my peak cap voltage on this TC, sort of.  I was
concerned about scope grounding with the neon tranny midpoint
grounded set-up, so I installed a potential transformer instead, 
which allows for grounding one side of the tranny to the scope.
In previous experiments, I have found that by using the proper
amount of inductive ballast, I can closely mimic the operation
of the 12kV, 30ma set-up.  For 42" sparks, the neon tranny 
draws 720 watts, and the potential tranny draws 680 watts, as
measured using a Weston analog wattmeter, sync-gap phase
was left unchanged for the two transformers.  I attribute the
greater power draw of the neon tranny to the greater losses that
occur in such a tranny.  Anyhow, the scope showed 32kV peak
cap voltage.  The gap was firing slightly late, so I should have 
re-adjusted the sync-gap phase, but I didn't.   The formula shows
that the caps should be drawing 430 watts, so the 680 watt actual
wallplug draw doesn't seem too bad.  And who knows how 
incorrectly the wattmeter may be reading.  Gotta build the Dave
Sharpe Opto-wattmeter!  The potential transformer is rated at 1.5kVA,
14.4kV, but I turn up the voltage on the 12kV neon a little higher (than
120V in), so actual voltages are probably about the same.

Regards, 

John Freau