Re: NST Pulse Voltage- getting pole pigs

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Steve Conner <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxx>


> Does anyone know a good place to get pole pigs from in the UK at 
> scrap prices for repair?

You already noticed that we're not so keen on neon signs as the 
Americans. But pole pigs seem quite rare in the UK too. We don't need 
so many because we use a sensible mains voltage! *grin*

You just missed a pig- it was grabbed within minutes of getting 
advertised on the UK Tesla mailing list, on Friday or thereabouts. 
I've been coiling for 3-4 years now and only seen a couple of pigs 
for sale in that time.

There are lots of alternatives to NSTs and pigs for the British 
coiler. Solid state and DC resonant coils have always been popular 
here. A DC coil can produce great big sparks from a couple of MOTs 
without stressing the insulation as a stack does. The best I have 
seen is almost 7ft from two MOTs, and I have managed about 4ft from a 
single MOT. However DC coils need extra capacitors, HV diodes, and 
iron-cored inductors that add to the cost and hassle.

You can also try MOT stacks, paralleled oil burner ignition 
transformers, Thor-style switched-mode supplies, you name it. If 
you're feeling rich, you can even buy new NSTs from Tunewell Transformers.


Steve Conner