Re: Another Cap/Resistor Question

• To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
• Subject: Re: Another Cap/Resistor Question
• From: Alex Crow <user-at-alexcrow.clara-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twf-at-verinet-dot-com>)
• Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 17:18:53 -0600
• Approved: twf-at-verinet-dot-com

Tesla List wrote:

> Original Poster: Adam <psycho-at-tradewind-dot-net>
>
> I plan on using series/parallel strings of capacitors instead of one
> single unit (more stable so I've heard).  When placing resistors across
> these for safety purposes, should I design the resistor strings to go
> across each individual capacitor, or to go across the whole unit, as if
> it was one cap?
>
> Thanks, and sorry for not asking this sooner
> Adam

  It is safer to put the resistors across each individual cap. Series
strings will never discharge every cap fully and thus if you put a
resistor over the whole lot you could still havve a hefty charge on one of
the units. I got a big jolt off my MMC the other day - the end to end
voltage was zero, but I picked it up so that one hand was on one of the
ends and the other somewhere in the middle of the strings. OOF-Ouch! Quite
a bang and I was a touch shaken/worried as this had gone across my chest!

Also using resistors on each individual cap will help equalise the
charging and disharging, possibly extending your cap's working life.

Alex

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