Re: Requiem for a Piglet: I am a murderer (resend)

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

Original poster: "Edward Wingate by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <ewing7-at-rochester.rr-dot-com>

Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Dave Hartwick by way of Terry Fritz
<twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <ddhartwick-at-earthlink-dot-net>
> 
> Terry, Ken, All,
> Here's the failure scenario:
> 
> I had performed perhaps 7-10, 1-2 minute runs at various power levels,
> experimenting with various toroids, fine tuning along the way.
> 
> Prior to failure, the system was in good tune and I was cranking it up
> fairly high. I do not have an ammeter in line, so I don't know the current
> flow, but I did trip the 240 v, 30 amp breakers a few times. Note that I
> have the connections to the variac's taps selected so that some voltage step
> up is obtained at near maximum settings--280v being about the max, I think.
> 
> I have a standard 3 electrode safety gap, with center 'trode connected to RF
> ground. BUT!!! this morning I discovered that the clip lead connecting this
> electrode to RF ground had slipped off.
> Maybe I kicked it without knowing, but obviously the safety gap was not
> draining the few primary strikes to ground.
> 
> Also, I do not have any portion of my piglet grounded. I believe this is
> standard practice.

Dave,

That is not standard practice for me! The case of a pole transformer
should always be grounded for safety sake. I wouldn't think of running
a pole transformer with an ungrounded case and the power company
wouldn't either. Most pole transformers have a built in safety gap
between the low voltage bushings and the case to protect the low
voltage windings AND your house wiring from transients/lightning
strikes. The neutral, at least in New York, is grounded at the pole
for the same reason.

> Anyway,  the breakers tripped for the last time, and that was it. Based on
> Ken's measurements, it does seem that my winding DC resistance measurements
> are abnormal.
> 
> I guess I'll have to drain the oil and pull the core; but I wonder if this
> is worth the effort.
> The malfunction will have to be fairly obvious and accessible if there is to
> be any hope of repair.

You may get lucky, but without the proper tools and fixtures, repair
is probably going to be difficult to impossible.

Good luck!

Ed Wingate RATCB