Re: Help Need part by 31Oct01

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

Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>

Hi Dave,

I just thought I would mention that telling the "tin god" VP pointy haired
moron that "the new fuses won't be here for two weeks, so we're all shut
down till then!!..." don't work either :-)))  

"WAAAAAAAAHT!!!  Get that ^&#%^#$ thing #$^$%  working ^%$^&#%
NOW!!!!!!!!!!!  I don't care about no &*^%*$%^ rules!!!!!  &*(&*cuss, cuss,
yell, yell, !!!!!..."  :-D

Ya just can't win... ;-))

Our variacs don't have any problem with inrush current.  Of course, results
may vary depending...  We use industrial breakers that may be "slow trip".
However, I would think even common "house" breakers would do fine (epoxy a
bracket on them and solder if needed ;-)).  Putting odd fuses on fancy
variacs is common practice but a real pain finding replacements...  IMHO,
tear them out and put in the logical magnetic trip breakers....

Of course, always have "something" in line to trip the current besides
burning the house down" :-)))

Cheers,

	Terry 



At 05:57 PM 10/25/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>Matt, Terry
>
>I like that 10kA fuse (LOL).   Only I saw the results on a motor on 460,
3ph in
>an industrial plant (how about the motor terminal box and 1/3 of the casing 
>of a
>30HP motor vaporized???)  It led to a huge investigation and edict from the
>seniorVP of the division that ANY unauthorized electrical changes made on
>production machinery without an Engineering Change Notice or direct
>Engineering supervision was a firing offense. It only "blew" a 4kA main fuse
>in the main switch gear room    ;^).  Dam.. the copper slugs survived, but the
>load didn't...   :^C
>
>All kidding aside, breaker on a variac is a good idea, you'll need some
type of
>"soft start" or "step-start" to prevent tripping the breaker on energizing the
>variac tho...
>
>Regards
>Dave Sharpe, TCBOR
>Chesterfield, VA. USA
>
>Tesla list wrote:
>
>> Original poster: "Terry Fritz" <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>
>>
>> Hi Matt,
>>
>> For a Tesla coil, and especially in a situation where a blown fuse taking 
>days
>> to replace is painful, consider a nice resettable circuit breaker instead. 
> If
>> it blows you simply reset it and go on.  Fuses are nice in stable situations
>> were they should never blow.  However, Tesla coils are sort of unstable 
>things
>> and blowing fuses for a variety for reasons (like turning the power up too 
>high
>> ;-)) is common.  A circuit breaker is far better and probably is not too
>> expensive compared to your box of fuses.  Look around since breakers are
very
>> common as surplus.
>>
>> We replaced all the fuses in our variacs with breakers and I can't tell 
>you how
>> much trouble that saves.  Copper pipe will magically fit in the old fuse 
>clips
>> or a hammer/vice and a saw/file will make the 10,000 amp spade version ;-)
>>
>> BTW - Some hardware stores do sell these one at a time if you ask around but
>> expect to pay a high markup (like $20 each!).  However, I imagine someone 
>will
>> have one.  I check too if we have any of the old fuses around but I think we
>> tossed them =:O
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>>         Terry
>>
>> At 12:09 PM 10/25/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi All Help!
>> >         I found a blown fuse inside my big Variac. The fuse is a Bussmann
>> > HBM50, about 1.5" long x 0.5" diam. with a forked bracket on each end.
Only
>> > one local supplier says minimum order 10 at $45.00 a box. I need One by
>> > Halloween, maybe two in a lifetime. Anybody got one they'll part with?
>> > TIA,
>> > Matt D.
>> > G3-1085
>> > (Oldphart Hill-Geek)
>