Re: MOT current draw question

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

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

In a message dated 1/18/02 11:01:59 PM Central Standard Time, Winston K. 
writes:

<< I'm just not sure why my meter
 says it's pulling 40 amps.  If that was true, my breaker should trip
 *FAST*, shouldn't it? >>

Not necessarily. While a dead short across the line (hundreds of amps) will 
cause an almost instant trip, a breaker can easily carry two or three times 
it's rated load for quiet a while. My coil draws 40 to 50 amps with the 
Variac wide open, and it will run for 30~45 seconds from a 20 amp breaker. 

<< I also had a voltmeter hooked up so I could do
true wattage measurments.  According to my math, at 39 amps and 95 volts
one MOT was pulling almost 4000 watts.  This can't be right, so can
somebody tell me what I'm doing wrong? >>

That doesn't sound too outrageous for having a shorted secondary. Of course, 
your primary will fry in short order, but I suspect your meter is working 
correctly. 

Tony
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Tony Greer
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