Re: 5000/20 ignition trans question

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

Original poster: "Steve Cook" <steve-at-g8cyerichmond.freeserve.co.uk> 

Typically these transformers are rated for a few minutes operation max.
One's I have come across are rated for 2-3 minutes, it should say on the
makers label.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 8:20 PM
Subject: 5000/20 ignition trans question


 > Original poster: "John Richardson" <jprich-at-up-dot-net>
 >
 > Hello,
 >
 > Having always been a scrounger, I dismantled an old oil burning space
 > heater (salamander) a few years ago, and took out a cute little 5000 volt,
 > 20 ma trans.  I am waiting for some items for my big coil ( to find out
 > more about the 942's blowing), and built a small table top coil to keep me
 > occupied.  The performance with the trans was rather dismal, maybe five
 > inches or so, so I got the bright idea to modify the core for more
 > output.  Unlike an NST, this has no shunts, just a welded together
laminate
 > core.  The coils are on one outside leg, and the outer core is rectangular
 > in shape.  However, coming off of the core the opposite side of the coils
 > is a laminate projection, much like the center leg of a capital "E", that
 > comes in between the primary and secondary, and just touches that side of
 > the core.  I figured that by drilling away half of this "E" area, it would
 > be similar to removing half the shunts in an NST.  It certainly did work,
 > as output improved several inches.  I'm just wondering, as the trans is
now
 > HOT after 30 seconds, if these ignition transformers are meant for
 > continuous running, or only for a "single shot"  to light the space
 > heater.  I am going to pick up a new 5020SE France for permanent use, as
 > this little guy isn't going to live long.  I was just wondering if anyone
 > has ever "drilled" the core of a similar trans, and what the results might
 > have been.
 > Thanks,
 > John Richardson
 >
 >