Re: failed cap

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

Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

At 05:00 PM 12/1/2003 -0700, you wrote:
>Original poster: robert & june heidlebaugh <rheidlebaugh-at-desertgate-dot-com>
>Phill.  My students and I have buitl over 12 low d. polyethylene/oil
>capacitors with only one failier caused by not enough total thickness. we
>use 12 layers of 4mill between plates with no problems. We use clear mineral
>oil with no additives. Never tried to use thick poly. others have had
>problems with thick poly, More layers less trouble.
>     Robert   H
>-


Robert has described the key to using off-the-shelf plastic: multiple 
layers.  If there's a flaw in one layer, it won't change the overall 
dielectric strength all that much (i.e. 11 layers instead of 12).