Re: Strange problem - problem's with running TCs inside

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

Original poster: "Albert Hassick by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <uncadoc-at-juno-dot-com>

Hi Bob.  What kind of power levels are you running indoors with your
Tesla that created your motor/contactor woes?   I also have observed
numerous hits to various wiring in my house, but so far have been lucky. 
Just wondering.  Al.

On Sat, 13 Jan 2001 12:37:05 -0700 "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
writes:
> Original poster: "Kevin Ottalini by way of Terry Fritz 
> <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <ottalini-at-mindspring-dot-com>
> 
> Bob:
> 	I ran into something related to this that might be helpful.
> 
> I ran my first two coils inside when I first started, and had no
> particular problems other than I always found that my telephone
> answering machine was some weird mode after I ran the coils (it
> eventually died).
> 
> Then a number of months later, my air conditioning stopped
> working.  I replaced the relay in the compressor outside the
> house and a few weeks later the same relay failed again.
> 
> Also, occasionally the 100 amp(!) breaker on the A/C would trip
> when I was running my coil ... and it certainly isn't on the same
> circuit!
> 
> Around the same time, I noticed that there was a really strange
> clicking noise coming from the outside whenever I ran my coil,
> even at very low power levels.
> 
> I tracked the problem down to the fact that the control for my
> A/C was inside about 10 feet away from where I was running my
> coil.  That control has a FET transistor to drive the 24vdc
> to the external compressor relay, and every time my TC
> discharged, that stupid FET would close the relay to the
> compressor for a moment and immediately open it again!
> 
> The failing relays and popping breakers (and strange clicking)
> were caused by the high current surges as the compressor motor
> was being momentarily started at a few Hz to a few hundred Hz.
> 
> It literally burned the contacts off the relays.
> 
> The fix?  I now pull the interlock to the compressor before I run
> my TCs as well as tape a cookie sheet over the A/C controls (I
> very rarely run the TCs inside these days any more).
> 
> Of course, it didn't stop there.  The relay for the fan for my
> inside A/C and heating just failed a few weeks ago ... for the
> very same reason.
> 
> Sigh.
> 
> Kevin
> 
> ----------
> > From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > Subject: Strange problem
> > Date: Friday, January 12, 2001 8:25 PM
> > 
> > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>"
> <CoilerBob-at-aol-dot-com>
> > 
> > Hi All,
> > 
> > I am new to this group and was told that you might be able to help 
> me.  I
> 
> > have built a moderate sized Tesla coil (sparks about 24 inches 
> long) and
> have 
> > run into a strange problem.  I turned on the coil and it threw a 
> circuit 
> > breaker.  The problem is that the breaker is not for the circuit 
> that the
> 
> > Tesla coil is on.  The coil continued to operate after the breaker
> opened.  I 
> > can see how the device could draw enough power to pop the breaker 
> for the
> 
> > circuit it is using, but can't figure out how it could have an 
> impact on 
> > another circuit.  I know that the coil can light a fluorescent 
> bulb at a 
> > distance, but I did not think that a Tesla coil could broadcast 
> enough
> power 
> > to overload a breaker.  I am afraid to turn the coil back on until 
> I find
> out 
> > what the problem is.  Is this a common occurance?  Or is there 
> something
> very 
> > strange and very wrong with my wiring?  Any help or suggestions 
> would be 
> > greatly appreciated.
> > 
> > Bob
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 

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