RE: PDT (Pig) failure modes

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

Original poster: "Yurtle Turtle by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <yurtle_t-at-yahoo-dot-com>

While this was probably only running at 5 - 6 kVA, it
suffered through numerous fierce primary strikes. I
finally ran it like this so long that the lexan
primary supports burst into flames.

http://www.hot-streamer-dot-com/adam/

While I don't know the pig's exact age, based on the
condition it was in when I got it, I'd say it was
around 20 - 30 years old. It has aluminum primary and
secondary windings. As far as I know it's never been
serviced, and is running strong.

http://www.hot-streamer-dot-com/adam/garage/pig.jpg
http://www.hot-streamer-dot-com/adam/garage/pig1.jpg
http://www.hot-streamer-dot-com/adam/garage/pig2.jpg

Adam

--- Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com> wrote:
> Original poster: "Mark W. Stolz by way of Terry
> Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <mark_w_stolz-at-hotmail-dot-com>
> 
> Dave,
> 
> A primary strike is probably not going to hurt your
> pig.  Here's a shot of a 
> nice solid primary hit running ~12kVA.  The coil is
> a 12", the tank that 
> night was around .187uF.
>
http://users2.ev1-dot-net/~nmyreality/tesla/AJ010803/primary_strike.jpg
> 
> And no safety gap at all.  This is just one of many
> strikes I've seen this 
> coil take.
> 
> Mark Stolz
> Houston, TX
> 
> 
> >Original poster: "Dave Hartwick by way of Terry
> Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
> ><ddhartwick-at-earthlink-dot-net>
> >
> >David,
> >Yes, but what about the surviving the energy from a
> primary strike, for
> >example, which can be huge voltage wise? It is not
> hard to imagine the the
> >insulation used in the core not surviving such
> voltages. Minor charring may
> >be enough to start the failure ball rolling.
> >
> >My safety gap was not grounded and the system took
> several primary
> >strikes---juicy ones at about 4 kVA from an 8"
> secondary. Dr. Resonance
> >seems to think this would be enough.
> >
> >BTW, physically, my PDT does not appear to be very
> old at all. It looks 
> >just
> >like the ones generally in use now, festooning the
> telephone poles. But who
> >knows the actuall condition of the insulating
> material inside the core. The
> >dialectric properties of the paper, for example,
> could be shot, and still
> >physically appear to be normal.
> >Dave
> >
> >
> >
> >Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz
> <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> ><Tesla729-at-cs-dot-com>
> >
> >Ken, all,
> >
> >I realize ANYTHING manmade will eventually wear out
> and ultimately
> >fail, but it seems to me that Dave's pig failed
> LONG before it should
> >have, due to aging! Pigs (PDTs-if you're
> politically correct:-) are de-
> >signed for the most rigorous electrical and
> environmental operation
> >and are designed to operate in these harsh
> environments for 20 to
> >30 years without a hitch. Occasionally there will
> be a "lemon", but
> >the vast majority of them are like a Timex watch -
> they'll take a lick-
> >in' and keep on tickin'. Like Terry says, our
> "coiling" doesn't really
> >even come close to challenging the BIL voltage
> design envelope of
> >these beast :-) They're designed to withstand
> direct lightning hits
> >(with the help of  lightning surge arresters) on
> their primary line
> >inputs and the kickbacks of Tesla coiling are quite
> puny in energy
> >compared to to lightning bolt-to-line hits ;-) BTW,
> lightning surge
> >arresters make good substitutes for safety gaps.
> >
> >Coiling in Memphis,
> >David Rieben
> 
> 
>