Re: Potting Diode Strings - yes!

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

Original poster: "Matthew Smith by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <matt-at-kbc-dot-net.au>

Hi All

I am the guilty party who asked the parrafin wax question ;-)  At the 
time, I was thinking about the mechanics of assembly as well as 
insulation - hence a wax.

However, seeing Godfrey's posting (below), I think that I would be 
inclined to find a separate solution to giving the diode string 
rigidity; a helix around a tube (think I saw that on Greg's Garage site) 
could be wound quite tight if the whole lot were insulated...

Since the power source will be a pair of MOTs, I think that I will just 
put transformers, rectifiers and caps in a single tank of oil - this 
will provide cooling, insulation and everything in a single, handy, box. 
  One mains cord in, two HV bushings out.

I agree with the recent posting of what would happen if one diode blew - 
I would just chuck the whole string, labour intensive or no; if one 
goes, the rest are sure to follow...  I will also be trying to eliminate 
the chance of diode failure by over-rating the string not only on 
voltage, but also on current, by using 3A/1kV diodes (can't remember the 
number).

Thanks to all for all the answers to my original question!

Cheers

Matthew Smith

PS - For those in the beeswax camp, it smells nicer too!

Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Loudner, Godfrey by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <gloudner-at-SINTE.EDU>
> 
> Hi all
> 
> I would put the diode strings under transformer oil. These diode sticks
> don't seem soluble in oil. In a rectified x-ray transformer, the diode
> sticks are under oil. Some of the diode sticks in x-ray transformers are
> strings of one inch long diodes. Yet they do not flash over even at
> potentials over 100 kV. 
> 
> Godfrey Loudner