Re: Necessity of NST Protection Filters and Safety Gaps

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

Original poster: dhmccauley-at-spacecatlighting-dot-com 

 >  > Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance-at-jvlnet-dot-com>
 >
 >  >Any RF at all gets fed back into the NST and they
 >  > die.
 >
 >
 > I feel this comment is a little strong. I have an 11kV 80mA NST that has
 > never had a protection circuit, and has survived many hours of TC use.
 >
 > I do agree that protection is prudent as this is probably a "Wednesday"
NST.
 >
 > (NSTs built on Monday to Tuesday are poorly built due to workers hangover
 > from the weekend, NSTs built on Thursday to Friday are poorly build
because
 > of workers lack of attention due to anticipation of the weekend).
 >
 > Tom L.

I don't use protection networks as well on my NST powered tesla coils.  I
have 4kV/32mA, 6kV/30mA, 12kV/60mA, and a 15kV/60mA
NSTs which have all been used in both static gap and synch rotary spark gap
tesla coils for hours and hours of use.  No protection networks, and
no protection spark gaps.  Although NST filters and safety gaps are
recommended, they aren't absolutely necessary.

It is a higher risk running without them, but how much higher is hard to
say.  If the risk was really that high, i would really expect at least one
of the
above NSTs to fail especially considering how much use they are getting.
For one demonstration, I ran my 15kV/60mA NST for about 8 hours
straight (at about 20% duty cycle - 1 minute run-time, 4 minute rest period
waiting for next group to see exhibit).  Thats a lot of use in one day!!!
That NST was darn hot all day!!

I mostly use Franceformer NSTs.  I wonder is there are major differences in
the construction of various NSTs from manufacturer to manufacturer making
one type more prone to fail than another type.

Dan