RE: Unpot +++

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: gary350@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

I have made several unpotted neons using 1/4" plywood for the 
box.  Cut a piece of 3/4" pine about 6" square for both ends.  Make a 
plywood bottom and 2 sides for the box attach to the ends with 
screws.  Paint the inside of the box with epoxy glue.  After epoxy 
glue is dry give the wood another coating of glue.  I usually paint 
my box with 3 coats of epoxy glue.  Put the neon inside the box use 
plywood for the top be sure to put 3 coats of epoxy on the top 
too.   Attach wires to insulators in the top.  Fill the box with HV 
oil almost to the top.   I fill my box about 1/8" from the top then 
Glue top on with epoxy with screws on the right and left edge.  Be 
very careful not to get oil in the top edge of the box other wise you 
can not glue the top on it will leak oil.  I have had very good luck 
with this the epoxy protects the wood from the oil.  I have 2 of 
these that are over 5 years old no leaks and no problems so far.

Gary



-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Nov 29, 2005 1:48 PM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Unpot ++

Original poster: "Rich" <rdjmgmt@xxxxxxxxxx>

Gary

I agree I should have but then I did not because of the wife, the tar,
the wife, the oven, the wife. Get the idea. I will follow your lead on
putting it back together.
  I will put in back in an oil bath, no tar. If I can seal the lower part
of the steel box, if not I will build a 6mm Lexan box, I have the scrap
lexan.
  The Jefferson does not appear to have shunts that I could remove. Is
any one on the list familiar with the inside of a Jefferson?

Rich

Subject: Re: Unpot ++

Original poster: gary350@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

You should have put the transformer in the kitchen oven for about an
hour to melt the tar.  The tar can be poured off like water.  Wrap
the #36 wire several times around a lead out wire and solder
it.  Cover the coil with several layers of fiberglass tape the kind
you buy from a motor rewind shop.  Lay the lead out wire on top of
the tape then wrap another layer of tape of it.  Put 2 layers of
polyurethane varnish over the tape.  Put the coil back in the
transformer leaving out some of the shunts.  Melt the old tar in pan
stir in 50% high voltage oil.  The oil will mix fine with the
tar.  The tar will dry soft with all that oil.  Put the transformer
back into the original case and pour the hot tar over it.   You can
also build your own box and fill it with 100% high voltage oil with
the unpotted neon inside.  A unpotted neon in 100% HV oil makes a
bullet proof neon.

Gary Weaver



-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Nov 26, 2005 6:02 PM
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Unpot

Original poster: "Rich" <rdjmgmt@xxxxxxxxxx>

I have had a transformer soaking in gas for awhile, I just took it
out and cleaned it up with lacquer thinner. What a mess! Now to my
question, the secondarys are a mess and nicked on the outer windings.
, I goofed and was too rough a while back trying to remove the tar.
The transformer is a Jefferson 15Kv 60ma. The secondarys are about
36ga wire and I don't have any butt splices that size but I do have
some .004 copper sheet from a transformer winding. My question is
would it work to lightly sand the outer windings and solder a strip
of the .004 copper to it for a lead point? I do not feel safe trying
to solder to the end of the 36ga.
If it works I plan on making a Lexan box for it.

Rich