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Re: Triac-dimmers in TC's
to: Gary, Bert
I've also used some simple triac dimmer circuits to control small RSG
motors. We sprinkled in a few .01 MFD ceramic cap bypasses, a few
varisters, and a small RF filter (surplus--cheap) ahead of the power line
side --- and as Bert reports --- they all seem to work flawlessly. Also, if
you are running larger motors Teccor makes triacs up to 100 amps which
should run the largest motor even under heavy startup. These large triacs
are not listed by Digi-Key so you have to contact Teccor direct to get the
data.
Regards,
Dr.Resonance-at-next-wave-dot-net
-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Date: Saturday, February 27, 1999 6:15 PM
Subject: Re: Triac-dimmers in TC's
>Original Poster: "Bert Pool" <bertpool-at-ticnet-dot-com>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>Date: Saturday, February 27, 1999 4:26 AM
>Subject: Triac-dimmers in TC's
>
>
>>Original Poster: Gary Lau 26-Feb-1999 1740 <lau-at-hdecad.ENET.dec-dot-com>
>>
>>Has anyone had experience using a solid-state off-the-shelf lamp dimmer
>>to control the speed of a motor in a Tesla Coil? I'm currently using a
>>variac on my gap's vacuum cleaner motor, but I thought I'd save some
>>space and just use a solid-state dimmer. The motor is an AC/DC
>>"universal" type. I'm just wondering if the voltage spikes and
>>interference would either toast the semiconductors or confuse the control
>>circuit. Please don't speculate and suggest using a filter unless you
>>know, from experience, that it won't work without it.
>>
>>Thanks, Gary Lau
>>Waltham, MA USA
>>
>
>Gary,
>I have had very good results using a light dimmer control to operate a
>brush-type motor on a spark gap. This coil produced sparks up to six feet
>in length, so the potential for RF interference was quite high, and the
>control worked flawlessly. Having said that, I know others on this list
>have had real problems making dimmers work around coils. My suggestion is
>to get a couple of different brands and try them, I think you'll find one
>that works just fine. A sandwich costs more than a light dimmer these
days,
>and the dimmers are so much smaller and lighter than variacs!
>Bert Pool
>
>
>