Re: MMC resister problem

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

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

A single resistor across a series combination of capacitors does not provide
a safe bleeder function.  It is entirely possible that there may be
significant charge on the capacitors.  "Gedanken Experiment":   two
capacitors, equal values, charged to 1kV.  Hook them in series, with
polarities opposite.  Voltage across series string is zero volts, so putting
any resistor across the entire string won't result in any current flow, yet
the capacitors are still charged.


For a MMC, the only safe approach is to put resistors across each capacitor.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Sunday, June 02, 2002 4:59 PM
Subject: Re: MMC resister problem


> If you are using big capacitors for your MMC, I suggest doing two
> things:
>
> 1. Using a single HV resistor across the entire MMC, as a bleeder to
> get rid of the unwanted charge after the coil turns off. REMEMBER, in
> a properly working tesla coil, the secondary winding of the power
> transformer will short out the capacitor. But if this winding fails
> and burns open, this will not protect you so I suggest the single
> bleeder resistor to make sure.
>