RE: Primary arc to strike rail

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

Original poster: "Lau, Gary by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Gary.Lau-at-hp-dot-com>

I can't think of any way that a cap could be over-volted due to the arcing
you described.  Depending upon the circuit configuration, it's possible
that the MMC was discharged into a short circuit, resulting in a brief,
high current load.  But I think the more likely thing is that there is some
carbon tracking somewhere in your system, as evidenced by the smell.

Gary Lau
MA, USA

Original poster: "J. B. Weazle McCreath by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <weazle-at-hurontel.on.ca>

Hello Coilers,

Has anyone ever experienced any "problems" with their MMC due to
arcing from the outer or free end of the primary to the strike
rails?  While running my coil earlier this evening, there was
a substantial arc from the outer end of my primary to the strike
rail.  I immediately shut down, but when I tried to run the coil
a few moments later nothing happened, aside from a burnt smell
that I couldn't localise.  After "safing" everything, I touched
all of the caps in my MMC and none where hot, nor was there any
obvious external sign of problems with the caps or the bleeder
resistors.  It was getting dark and I was tired, so I've left
the troubleshooting until later, but I wondered if anyone on
the list could offer any suggestions?  I'll check out each of
the coil's components in the next few days. 

73, Weazle, VE3EAR/VE3WZL
G-1#1214