Re: safety gaps at high power

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Bert Hickman by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-net>

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>
> 
> In a message dated 1/4/01 9:43:49 AM Eastern Standard Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> writes:
> 
> > BTW, my pig is externally bal-
> >  lasted with an arc welder. Comments anyone?
> >
> >  David Rieben
> 
> David,
> 
> That behavior is normal for a pig or PT powered TC.  There's
> not much real need for a safety gap on such a system, except
> to protect it in case something goes really wrong.  For instance
> if the gap slows down, and voltage starts building up resonantly,
> that sort of thing.  At least it lets you know if the voltage goes
> too high for some reason.
> 
> John Freau


David and all, 

John's indeed correct - very few coilers have overvolted their pigs
(Charles excepted... :^). However, it may help save your tank cap(s) if
you encounter unexpected ballast-tank cap resonance under adverse rotary
firing conditions. The horn configuration should self quench.

-- Bert --
-- 
Bert Hickman
Stoneridge Engineering
Email:    bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-net
Web Site: http://www.teslamania-dot-com