RE: Converting to "Pig Power"

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

Original poster: "Arpit Thomas" <neko4-at-dodo-dot-com.au> 

I''d say take a picture and show us. (of your variac) I bet some members 
here have seen so many variacs they could give you a pretty accurate estimate.

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

On 10/03/2004 at 7:08 PM Tesla list wrote:

 >Original poster: "Randy & Lori" <rburney6-at-comcast-dot-net>
 >
 >Ed, and list
 >
 >The reason given by Dr. Resonance for grounding one of the HV terminals
 >(and I liked the idea) was to put the bottom of the secondary and the
 >center of the primary at the same potential.  Also this configuration
 >would
 >leave me with only one HV line to run.
 >
 >My coil is currently tuned, and unless someone had a reason to not just
 >shoot the power to it; then that was the plan.  120 instead of 240 first
 >certainly.  Don't get me wrong, I would very much like to ramp it up slow,
 >but I'm not sure that my Variac is quite large enough to deal with 30+
 >amps.  If anyone can tell me how to figure out the current ratting of my
 >variac, I would appreciate it(it came without an ID plate).  I like the
 >idea of bringing it back down slow as well, rather than just opening the
 >contacts on the relay.
 >
 >So far I have:
 >2 get more caps
 >2 put a variac on it
 >1 filter ok
 >1 get a bigger filter
 >
 >Anybody else have any suggestions?  Like I said, it would be kind of
 >stupid
 >of me not to ask.
 >
 >Randy
 >-----Original Message-----
 >From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
 >Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 7:07 PM
 >To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
 >Subject: Re: Converting to "Pig Power"
 >
 >Original poster: Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com
 >
 >In a message dated 3/9/04 11:55:40 AM Pacific Standard Time,
 >tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
 >
 >
 > >Original poster: "Randy & Lori" <rburney6-at-comcast-dot-net>
 > >
 > >The pig is due in this week(14.4 10 KVA), and being as intelligent as I
 >am,
 > >I thought I would run my setup past the list.  The secondary is
 >6.25� X
 > >24.5� with 26 gauge.  The Tank cap is 2 strings of 10 942Cs for a
 >total of
 > >.03 uF.  I am currently tapped on the primary at about 12 turns (out of
 > >23).  I�m not sure just what the modified 15/30 is putting out (half
 >the
 >e
 > >shunts removed).  The gap is currently a sucker gap (vacuum through
 >¾�
 > >copper pipe).
 > >
 > >I plan to ground one HV terminal of the pig to the case, center of the
 > >primary, bottom of the secondary and of course earth ground, as
 >recommended
 > >by Dr. Resonance.   I have a 30 Amp line filter, the 500� roll of Home
 >e
 > >Depot special for some current limiting.
 > >
 > >My concerns:  If the 500� roll is to hold me to about 30 Amps, is the
 >line
 >e
 > >filter too small?
 > >Will the sucker gap give any kind of acceptable performance (or will it
 > >just �Power Arc�)?
 >)?
 > >Do I need more capacitors (to spread the wealth)?
 > >I read (one place only) that a pig doesn�t need any PFC???
 >?
 > >
 > >I�m not asking for someone to do all of my math for me; just give some
 >e
 > >suggestions from your personal experience.  I just feel that throwing
 >power
 > >to a pig for the fist time without running my setup past the list would
 >be
 > >a little stupid and arrogant on my part.
 > >
 > >Randy
 >
 >
 >Randy,
 >
 >I have a two bushing 5 kva pole transformer and just leave both bushings
 >and the primary floating - i.e. not connected to ground.  Why do you want
 >to ground one HV output and the primary?
 >
 >Are you really going to just throw full power to the coil?  Or do you have
 >a variac to ramp the voltage up nice and slow?  If you don't have a variac,
 >I would at least only apply one half power to the pig.  Like using 120
 >volts in instead of 220.  You want to make sure it is all going to work
 >before just slamming full power to it.  You could also add some resistive
 >ballast in series with the pig primary, like oven heating elements,
 >electric heaters, etc.
 >
 >Will two strings of mmc caps in parallel be enough to handle the high tank
 >currents?  My opinion is no.  I think you need four strings in
 >parallel.  Someone more knowledgeable than I should provide input on this.
 >
 >I am also not real familiar with the sucker gap.  I could not get a copper
 >segment pipe gap to quench and had to go to a rotary.
 >
 >I use a 30 amp line filter and regularly run 30 to 35 amps through it.
 >
 >Ed Sonderman