Re: Capacitor died...i think

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

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

In a message dated 1/12/04 8:40:34 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
Original poster: Steven <studbubba_2000-at-yahoo-dot-com>

Well, my Tesla coil was running pretty good.....no overheating, everything
in balance.  Using a 15kv  30 ma NST as input and getting 22" sparks.  the
tank capacitor was commercial from Plastic Capacitors.   I havent had any
problems untill I ran the primary coil by itself.  I believe that the
capacitor has died and im not sure how to test it.......anyone have any
suggestions.

Hi Steve,
Yup! Running the primary by itself IS one of the fastest ways to kill a 
cap. Reason is, without a secondary, the energy has no place to go. All 
those kWs have no way to dissipate,  except heat up the gap, the primary 
coil and the innards of your cap. Guess which one fails first :-((