[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

RE: The infamous (and odoriferous?) Fair Radio cap



>Original Poster: "Seekins" <seeked-at-sover-dot-net> 
>
>I received the ever popular Fair Radio 100kV dc capacitor in the mail
>today (they got some more in), and... as my son and I were going through
>the box, we noticed an odd smell that resembled some kind of mix of mint,
>and oregano.  After whiffing our way through the box, thinking it was the
>ink on the newspaper used to cushion, .. it turned out to be the cap.  It
>has a strong odor.  I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this,
>and/or would care to take a stab at what it might be from... (the thing
>has a waxy feel to it in a chalky kind of way (?)).  (given the amount we
>inhaled during the odor identification phase, I hope no one responds with
>"oh, that sounds like the classic smell of PCBs").

I've noticed no particular smells from mine.  Could be that ozone has an
odor-bleaching effect to it ;-)  What kind of box was it shipped in,
something from a supermarket?
 
>On a different note, A quick (and probably dumb) question:  I've read a
>lot about making sure there is a good dedicated RF ground, and to make
>sure that the "house" ground is not involved (which makes pretty good
>sense to me).  And that the center tap/case of a neon (or bank of neons)
>should be grounded to the RF ground.  My question is: where should the
>house ground stop.  I'm assuming I will run it through and ground the
>case of the variac with the house ground,.... and then, should it be
>connected to the case/C.T. of the neon too?

My 3rd-wire grounds ends at my variac case.  Everything else that is likely
to be struck by a secondary arc goes to my dedicated ground rod.

Regards, Gary Lau
Waltham, MA USA