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Re: Neon sign Transformer Failure



Original poster: "Dr. Resonance by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com>


Several things "killed" your xmfr.

(1) Always use a "scrap wire" primary with up to 30 turns to determine the
proper resonance point.

(2) Never run a NST without proper protective circuit --- Terry Fritz's is
very good.

(3) Never bring the power up past 30% on the variac until you have found the
best tuning point.

(4) Use a long brass stud on the base of your sec. coil (we usually use 6
inches) when firing it up for the first time.  After resonance tuning is
finished then you can screw the sec. up and down until you find the best
match for your coeff. of coupling.

(5) Using some scrap pieces of plastic water pipe experiment carefully with
the height of the toroid above the sec. coil's endplate.

(6) Now, after you have done all of the above, you can operate at full
power -- 100% on the variac --- and never before.

On any new design it is very important to take your time and never assume it
will work right out of the book.  Careful tuning at low power is the best
way to do it.  We haven't lost a neon in over 20 years by using these
methods.

Dr. Resonance

Resonance Research Corporation
E11870 Shadylane Rd.
Baraboo   WI   53913
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 10:13 PM
Subject: Neon sign Transformer Failure


 > Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Pomnept-at-aol-dot-com>
 >
 > I recently built a Tesla Coil based on George Trinkhaus' model. It worked
 > well, so I determined to build a larger Tesla coil.  Using two 15,000V -at-
60ma
 > NSTs, I fired it up, but no sparks were emitted.  I next added more
 > capacitance but this time when I fired it up the spark gap did not fire
and
 > one of the transformers is only producing half the voltage.  I am afraid
that
 > I have burned this transformer out because I did not use proper
protection.
 > Does anybody know of a way to repair NSTs?  Any help would be much
 > appreciated.
 >
 > Thanks,
 > Robert Hanford.
 >
 >