Re: XRTs and Connectors etc...

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

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


> 3. GET THE CABLES! XRTs often come from the wild with their cables
attached.
> GET THEM! Because there worth their weight to a serious HV guy :) Those
> cables are rated to at LEAST 50kV! And the "Federal" connectors on the
ends
> cost a small fortune to buy, and you'll HAVE to have them for your tranny.
> When you see the plugs you'll understand, they're about 6" long and an
inch
> thick. Remember to pour a little (very little, like a shot, or it'll
spurt!)
> oil into each socket before you turn it on! Keep the cables plugged into
the
> HV terminals when not in use, if you get dust in there it WILL
carbon-track
> and arc to the frame and they're a serious bitch to clean.


Actually, you REALLY have to be careful about how you use these high voltage
connectors.  YOU MUST FOLLOW
the manufacturers instructions to the "T" when attaching these cables.  AND
DO NOT JUST FILL THESE THINGS
with oil before attaching them as the person above erroneously stated.

Some high voltage connectors ARE PRONE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILUER when filled
with oil (or typically grease) prior to installation.

Also, there are proper ways to torque these units which must be followed as
well.  Usually you torque to a certain parameter, wait a specified period of
time,
and then torque again.  Also, overtightenting these connectors causes the
interior dielectric to "twist" which will lead to catastrophic failure.

Dan