Re: ebay caps

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

Original poster: Mddeming-at-aol-dot-com 

In a message dated 2/17/04 10:35:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
Original poster: "Jon Lagler" <rockcrawl-at-enter-dot-net>

I guess I'm probably in trouble with these then?...
http://cgi.ebay-dot-com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2595519239 I got the high
bid on two of them this morning at $5 each. Is there any way I can determine
what type of use they are designed for and if they contain PCBs? I'd planned
on using them even if they are less than perfect for a TC tank, but if there
is a chance they will explode I'm not going there.

Jon

Hi Jon,
     They don't look like RF AC rated caps to me, and if they aren't, 
internal heating will boil the oil in short order, causing the case to 
rupture at a seam or under the terminal. It may do so explosively, or just 
pop the case and spray boiling oil around.  They're probably not PCB, but 
you need to read inscription on can to check it out. Another thing, it is 
very difficult to series single terminal caps. They are intended to have 
the case be the ground potential terminal, since their designed use is as 
filter/bypass caps. If you did tie them in series (say base to base) and 
apply 20KV peak to the circuit, the outside of the cans would be at 10KV 
w/r to ground, a serious hazard, unless you insulate, encapsulate, or 
oil-immerse, etc.
     Unless you are going to build a big DC supply someday, I'm afraid you 
have a matched set of interesting doorstops or bookends. Two things I have 
observed:
1) A vast majority of people new to coiling buy at least once before asking.
2) 80%+ of the Krapola on eBay that has "Tesla" in the title is useless or 
hazardous for coiling. I have written to both eBay and several vendors 
explaining how this mislabeling can lead to injury or worse, but so far to 
no avail.
3) Every vetran coiler has at least a few HV "paperweights" in their 
collection.  ;-)))

Hope this helps,

Matt D.
"In science, you don't have to be polite, you only have to be right." - 
Winston Churchill