Re: Transformer explosions?

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

Original poster: "Peter Terren" <pterren1-at-iinet-dot-net.au> 

It has happened to me with an arc above the oil line in a closed 4-MOT 
container without an explosion using naphthenic transformer oil from Caltex 
although they give the flash point as 160C and don't suggest it be used in 
flammable situations.  Nevertheless it probably has a low vapour pressure 
and is very slow to evaporate despite the low viscosity.  I had taken the 
precaution of not having the lid fixed down.  It would still be prudent to 
have a minimal space however or some ventilation or fill the space with 
some air or inert gas filled blown up plastic bags perhaps.  No problem for 
sparks under the fluid level though - it is used for oil immersed HV switches.
Peter (Tesla Downunder)
http://tesladownunder.iinet-dot-net.au

>Original poster: "S&JY" <youngsters-at-konnections-dot-net> Hi all,
>I need some confirming wisdom from list experts.  I just completed a MOT
>6-pack and filled the 3 dual-MOT containers (ammo cans) with transformer
>oil.  I left about 1/2 inch of air space in each container.
>Question:  will the oil vapors in the air be so concentrated that the
>mixture cannot explode if a HV arc should occur in the air space?  I believe
>this is the case, but I would like to hear from fuel combustion or
>petro-chemical experts who know for sure.
>Thanks, > --Steve Y.