Oil Information

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Oil Information
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 22:27:51 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

----------
From:  Bert Hickman [SMTP:bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-com]
Sent:  Friday, April 17, 1998 12:01 AM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  Re: Oil Information

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> ----------
> From:  Dale McLane [SMTP:Dale.McLane-at-epa.state.oh.us]
> Sent:  Thursday, April 16, 1998 8:50 AM
> To:  tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject:  Oil Information
> 
> Question:
> 
> Are the terms mineral oil and paraffin oil the same?
> 
> I have 5 gallons of vaccume pump oil which, accroding to the MSDS sheet, is a highly refined paraffin oil.  I would like to utilize this material for some homemade poly caps.
> 
> Been going through the Richard Quick Archives on capacitor construction, and can only find references to mineral oil.
> 
> Does anyone have some information/dielectric constant values for these materials?
> 
> 

Dale,

Petroleum-based insulating oils can be either "naphthenic" or
"paraffinic". Most transformer oils tend to be naphthenic, due to their
superior long-term high temperature performance. However, pure
"paraffinic" oils can also have excellent dielectric characteristics as
a capacitor dielectric fluid. As long as either type of oil is clear,
has no significant additives, and is relatively water-free, it should
work in your caps. 

Most lubricating or motor oils tend to be paraffinic. While most common
insulating oils are napthenic, one of the best insulating oils, called
r-Temp, is paraffinic, and has excellent insulating characteristics for
capacitor or general purpose HV applications (such as X-Ray equipment).

Hope this helps!

-- Bert --