Re: Aaaaaaa!! My NST is toast! Salvage tips?

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

Original poster: "Jonathan Peakall by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jpeakall-at-madlabs.info>

Steve,

I have heard (never done) of NSTs being restored by dead shorting them and
heating up the insides, allowing the tar to melt and getting rid of the
carbon track at fault. This may well not apply to you, as it sounds like you
have a nasty variety of goo (technical term) in your NST, but I thought I'd
throw it out there. Good luck!

Jonathan Peakall

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 3:51 PM
Subject: Aaaaaaa!! My NST is toast! Salvage tips?


 > Original poster: "Stephen Conner by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <steve-at-scopeboy-dot-com>
 >
 > HI guys, I'm sure you've been here before and I wonder if you could give
me
 > some advice... My NST just died. One of the legs is shorting to ground. I
 > suppose this is what I get for using a resonant cap instead of LTR!
 >
 > I removed the steel case but it made no difference, which suggests that
 > it's shorting to the core. I tested to see if I could melt the potting
 > compound, but it burns instead of melting. It is a very hard brittle amber
 > substance so I guess it must be some kind of thermosetting resin, not tar.
 > So that rules out the oven trick.
 >
 > My plan is to carefully chisel the resin off and see if I can find where
 > it's arcing. If I accidentally trash the windings while chiselling (more
 > than likely) plan 'B' is to just set fire to the whole lot in a trash can
 > in the yard. That way I should be able to salvage the core and I can try
 > winding my own transformer. I know it's easier to just get another NST, or
 > a couple of MOTs, but I fancy the challenge.
 >
 > Is this going to work? Does anyone know a better way? Can I salvage the
 > core like that or will the heat from the fire mess up its magnetic
 > properties? Your $.02 would be much appreciated. Merry Christmas!
 >
 > Steve C.
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >