Re: 50kV xfmr

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

Original poster: "Arpit Thomas" <arpit-at-inzo-dot-org> 

humph. me yhinks jacobs ladder may not be the best application. see 50 x 5 
= 250 watts, and that isnt really a huge amount.  It strikes me that while 
you may be able to start an arc at a long distance, you won't be able to 
draw it out very much further, which is what a jacobs ladder is all 
about.  I can't help but think that a 4 pack of MOTs will produce a better 
display.    Since its dc, perhaps a better application of this would be 
demonstrating charging opjects. perhaps that kirlian photogrophy might 
work, perhaps you could use it to make xrays inside a leaded box and show 
how it clouds film....

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 6/07/2004 at 8:27 PM Tesla list wrote:

 >Original poster: Ben McMillen <spoonman534-at-yahoo-dot-com>
 >
 >Hi all,
 >    I had the wonderful experience of being given a 50kV transformer new
 >in
 >the box by a guy up in the engineering building on campus. It was given to
 >him by a prof who used to work in a failure testing lab before he taught
 >and has since retired. What I'd like to do is make a large jacobs ladder
 >so
 >that the freshman have some eye candy when they come to visit. The specs
 >are as follows:
 >
 >The unit is made by Plastic Capacitors, Inc. and is encased in a metal box
 >(almost thought it was a large HV cap when I found it) about 6" X  8", and
 >about 12" tall. There are two 6" long ceramic insulators on the top, which
 >end with aluminum golf ball sized corona balls. The inputs are also on the
 >top, slightly to one of the longer edges.
 >
 >The part number is HV500-502M, and the spec sheet in the box says it'll
 >put
 >out 50Kv with the aid of a built in full wave doubler (so it's 50Kv
 >DC)..Max output is 5mA. It's got a 500K internal bleeder, and approximate
 >output resistance is 1.2Meg ohms..
 >
 >I'm guessing that this will have to be current limited to start, however I
 >remember hearing that HV trannys with a doubler in them don't like to be
 >shorted as it destroys the bridge. Will that be a problem here??
 >
 >Thanks for any help!!
 >
 >Coiling In Pittsburgh
 >Ben McMillen