Re: Maxwell AC vs. DC ratings

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

Original poster: Edward Wingate <ewing7-at-rochester.rr-dot-com> 

Tesla list wrote:
 >
 > Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-twfpowerelectronics-dot-com>
 >
 > Hi Ed,

 >
 > I bet your smaller coil is still better than most of our coils ;-))  Unlike
 > a beginner, you know exactly what you are doing.

Terry,

Thanks, but I'm not so sure about that! ;^)

 > I do wonder "what wears out" in them??  Might just be pure mechanical
 > stresses as the high current shots pound them.  In that case, a lower peak
 > current Tesla coil my not wear them at all.  ESR just burns them up but
 > does not really "wear" them.  Dielectric damage due to ionization seems to
 > be a big factor from reading data sheets on them where they are so worried
 > about voltage reversal.  I am not sure...

 >From what I've learned and read, electrical (corona) and mechanical
stress eventually weaken the dielectric to the point of failure. I'm
guessing that corona is what you are referring to as ionization. Pulse
capacitors lead pretty stressful lives.

Ed Wingate RATCB

 > Cheers,
 >
 >          Terry
 >
 > >Ed Wingate RATCB