Re: Light Dimmer to Adjust Spark Gap Fan?

• To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
• Subject: Re: Light Dimmer to Adjust Spark Gap Fan?
• From: "Steve Young" <youngs-at-konnections-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twf-at-verinet-dot-com>)
• Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 03:15:39 -0700
• Approved: twf-at-verinet-dot-com

Adam,

In general, lamp dimmers will only work properly with "universal" or AC/DC
type motors.  Typically, these have brushes and are used in electric
drills, vacuum cleaners, electric lawn edgers, etc.  Your fan motor likely
is an induction motor which is best controlled by a small variac, tapped
transformer, rheostat, series light bulbs, etc. which do not mess up the
sinusoidal waveform.

--Steve

----------
> From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Light Dimmer to Adjust Spark Gap Fan?
> Date: Tuesday, March 23, 1999 11:26 PM
> 
> Original Poster: Adam <psycho-at-tradewind-dot-net> 
> 
> I've heard that you can't use a light dimmer on a Tesla coil because
> they can't handle inductive loads.  This makes sense, because that would
> just be too easy.
> 
> What I'm wondering is whether I can use a light dimmer on the fan
> cooling my spark gap.  I mean, a fan isn't nearly as electrically
> complicated as a Tesla coil, and I'm always looking for budget friendly
> solutions.
> 
> Thanks,
> Adam
> 

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