Re: Type I PVC (Grey) for high voltage use

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

Original poster: "Peter Terren by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <pterren-at-iinet-dot-net.au>


----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2003 9:32 PM
Subject: Re: Type I PVC (Grey) for high voltage use


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

 > Someone on the list mentioned using PVC as a suitable material for a
 > hotstick.  PVC can collect surface moisture if not treated.  HV tracking
 > across the untreated PVC could cost you your life when discharging a
 > powerful cap.  I would reconsider this material or apply 3-4 coats inside
 > and out of Glyptal or other suitable water resistant material.  It only
has
 > to occur once to give you a "bad day".
 >
 > Dr. Resonance
 >
I agree with not using PVC as a 'hotstick'. In my earlier days of 2 foot
sparks I was using a 4 foot PVC with a short wire at the end to direct the
sparks. I was starting to feel a prickle in my hand. Looking directly down
the PVC tubing you could see the surface sparks travelling down the tube.
About that time my digital watch stopped working as well.

Now with 8 foot sparks, I wouldn't use the proverbial 50 ft bargepole.  I
have however used an earthing stick made of PVC with the earth wire wrapped
along the distal half of its length before it goes off to the RF ground
http://members.iinet-dot-net.au/~pterren/Tesla_coil_sparks.htm  . There should
be zero potential down the length of the stick however.

Peter  'Tesla Downunder'