Re: Problems with Information Unlimited transformer

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: <dgoodfellow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

I have not had a failure on any neon trans other than this type of 
transformer. Even decades ago, when I was using poorly made components and 
had my spark gap open to 3/4" and I got a whopping 10" arc off my small 
topload on my first coil, powered by a 15/30. The worst of all design 
features, and I didn't loose an nst. Years go by and I am looking for a 
suitable substitute for the france 4/20 during the start of the mini coil 
competetion days, and I bought 4 of these epoxy encapsulated 
(secondary)transformers, out of which 3 failed, rather quickly. They failed 
while using them in the Tesla coil that I built specifically for this 
transformer. That is to say that the coil was built and complete, I had 
gone through the tuning stage, found the best tune point and was operating 
the coil with the gap open to about .200" and no variac to bring the 
voltage higher than the wall outlet provides.  The only reason I credit the 
4th one for not failing is that I never took it out of its wrapper. I don't 
mean to argue with anyone's reasoning, but I do not think that these 
particular transformers can be compared to other core and coil nst's  made 
by France, Jefferson, Magnetec, Transco or any other manufacturer that I 
left out. With that in mind, I believe that it is fair to say that the 
causes for other transformers failing should not be directly related to why 
these transformers fail. They are not mid point grounded like other neons, 
nor are they grounded on side of the output. While the arc that they 
produce when the leads are brought closely together look more like a 10/23 
than a 6500/25 as were the ones that I bought, I will say once again that I 
got great performance from my coil while it worked, but the transformers 
did not last. I have 1 transformer left. If anyone has a circuit that keeps 
these transformers happy and working, I am all ears! Other than that, I 
plan to take the original secondary off, and make my own secondary winding 
on the core....one day :-)

Dave Goodfellow


----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 7:53 PM
Subject: Re: Problems with Information Unlimited transformer


> Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
> Now you know why it failed.
>
> Any cap used with a xmfr with only the leads for inductance will generate a
> mhz signal or higher --- something the xmfr was not designed to handle. The
> HF currents use capacitive reactance to easily penetrate most good
> insulations including mylar, glass, etc.  It forms a capacitor between
> layers and uses displacement currents to burrow right thru.
>
> Dr. Resonance
> >
> >  From what I remember, they only use a choke to limit RF back to the
> > transformer.
> >
> > Matt,
> >
> > Your quickest solution to this would be to go out a buy a good used neon
> > sign transformer, 10 Kv at 30 mA.  When you connect it to your system,
> make
> > sure that your tesla coil primary is not grounded as this would short > out
> > half of the transformer.  I believe that the BTC3 does use a grounded
> primary.
> >
> > Information Unlimited might replace the transformer, I don't know > because
> > I've never returned anything to them, but they seem resonable.
> >
> > Shaun Epp
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 8:50 PM
> > Subject: Re: Problems with Information Unlimited transformer
> >
> >
> > >Original poster: "Dr. Resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >What type of protective circuit did you employ between the power 
> xmfr > >and
> > >the oscillator tank circuit?
> > >
> > >Dr. Resonance
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > >To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > >Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 6:25 PM
> > >Subject: Problems with Information Unlimited transformer
> > >
> > >
> > > > Original poster: Lkeen89@xxxxxxx
> > > >
> > > > I'm building the BTC3 Tesla coil from Information Unlimited, and
> tonight