Plastic Bottle SW Capacitors

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Plastic Bottle SW Capacitors
From: "Payne, Will E" <will.e.payne-at-lmco-dot-com> (by way of terryf-at-verinet-dot-com)
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1998 18:32:58 -0600
Approved: terryf-at-verinet-dot-com


TEST ARTICLE : Outer electrode and vessel was a cheap K-mart stainless steel
stock pot, the bottom of which was lined with disk cut from plastic ceiling
light grille.  The soda bottle was thoroughly stripped and all label
adhesive removed with methanol.  The inner electrolyte started out as
carbonic acid, magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride.  The outer electrolyte
was magnesium sulfate and sodium chloride in a solution of water and
fermented Gatorade.  The inner electrode was 10 inch of 1/2 in copper pipe
suspended in the bottle neck by a copper tee.  The dead ant from last night
was retired from duty.  Electrolyte levels were equalized within a mm, and
no oil layer was added.

TEST 4 : The test article was connected in parallel with a 450 VA, 15,000
Volt NST bridged by a 2 cm static arc gap.  During the test, intermittent
streamers were observed on the upper dielectric, which mostly appeared
internal.  Some condensation was also observed on the internal surface.
After several minutes the streamers subsided although condensation remained.
The plastic bottle dielectric failed at about t+30 min, with a small rupture
at the electrolyte surface.  All components had about a 10 C temperature
rise.  A narrow band of plastic at the liquid surface had shrunk during the
run, making a smooth, symmetrical groove or constriction all the way aroud
the bottle at the liquid line.  The groove was about one cm in width and
depth.  Crystalline deposits were also observed around the entire
circumference.

TEST ARTICLE : Same as test 4, but electrolyte was skimmed clean, and a 5mm
mineral oil film was floated onto the electrolyte surface inside and outside
the dielectric.

TEST 5 : The test article with oil layer was tested for 30 seconds.  A
slight foam of gas bubbles was generated around the dielectric at or near
the surface.  A milky cloud began spreading in the oil layer or interface
which appeared to be composed of tiny gas bubbles.  Two hours after the
test, the milky layer had dissipated.


Well, folks, how many of you went this route ?  I'm open for suggestions.  
See www.altair-dot-org/tesla.htm#hawgcap for complete story.