Re: Arc welder as ballast

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

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Tesla729-at-cs-dot-com>

In a message dated 6/18/01 10:45:50 PM Central Daylight Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes: 


>
> Is anyone familiar with using a Lincoln AC-225 arc welder as a ballast for a 
> pole transformer? Should the arc welder secondary be operated shorted or 
> open? 
> Has anyone looked inside the AC-225 to see how the current adjusting knob 
> actually controls the current? I am speculating that the knob mechanically 
> moves the core of the transformer. 
>
>



Steve, 

I use a Linclon 225 amp arc welder to ballast my 10 kVA pole pig 
for my Tesla coil system and I am quite pleased with the perfor- 
mance. I connect the 240 input to the pole pig in series with the 
primary input to the welder. I do short the secondary leads of the 
welder and usually leave the current selector  maxed out at 225. 
This allows me to draw 40 to 45 amps at 240 volts input (~ 10kVA) 
I usually don't ever turn the variac all the way up to 240 volts input 
to the welder/ transformer as I get solid 8 to 10 ft streamers at 
around 6 kVA. I don't use any resistance in combo with the inductive 
welder ballast although some coilers strongly suggest that you do 
to smooth out the operation. 

Actually, my Lincoln arc welder dosen't move the core with the 
amperage selection switch. It is simply a multitapped reactor in 
series with the secondary low voltage winding of the transformer. 

Check out the sparks of my coil at: <http://www.nex-dot-net/kilroy/david/> 

Sparkin' in Memphis, 
David Rieben