Re: Saltwater ballast

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

Original poster: "robert & june heidlebaugh by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <rheidlebaugh-at-desertgate-dot-com>

Rick: Your idea is good, but it will erode in time. I used 2" dia carbon
electrodes and finaly went to Titaniun. No aluminum as the aluminum will
combine with the salt forming sodium aluminate jell. Titanium holds up
better than carbon or platinum. Stainless steel will disolve quickly.
    Robert  H
-- 


 > From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 > Date: Sat, 03 May 2003 20:22:54 -0600
 > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Subject: Saltwater ballast
 > Resent-From: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 > Resent-Date: Sat, 3 May 2003 20:31:24 -0600
 >
 > Original poster: "Richard W. by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>"
 > <potluck-at-xmission-dot-com>
 >
 > Hi List,
 >
 > I don't know the feasability for TC work but I've used saltwater for
 > ballasting though it was a long time ago.
 >
 > The project was an arc lamp using the carbon rods salvaged from old size D
 > batteries. These rods were about 1/4" diameter and about 2 1/2" long. The
 > ballast was a pyrex casserole dish about a foot long, 10" wide and 2 inches
 > deep. This was filled with saltwater. Two electrodes, strips of 1/8"
 > aluminum plate, submerged at each end formed the ballast then wired in
 > series with the carbon rods to a 120vac outlet.
 >
 > The rods were struck together to start a small arc. Then the aluminum
 > electrodes were moved closer together, the rods separated further apart to
 > draw a larger arc. This was done in steps. With a 30 amp fuse (yeah, it was
 > a while ago) I was able to get the rods almost an inch apart developing a
 > huge arc. After a few minutes the water would actually begin to steam but
 > the fuse remained intact unless I tried moving the electrodes too close to
 > each other.
 >
 > Like I said, I don't know if this has any value to TC ballasting but it did
 > work for me for that particular project.
 >
 > Rick W.
 > Salt Lake
 >
 >