Re: MOT current draw question

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

Original poster: "G by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <bog-at-cinci.rr-dot-com>

As a side note:
This is one of the reasons that fuses are so important for protecting 
equipment. While a dead short will blow a fuse in less than three 
cycles, a circuit breaker can take 10 or more cycles due to its 
sensing system and its mechanical nature. That delay can be a huge 
detriment if you are the short, as well.

Stay safe,
Gregory


><< 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
>------------------------------
>Tony Greer
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