Re: Oil Dielectric Properties

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: gary350@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 

I built a cap using metal plates and a fish aquarium.  Cut all the 
plates the same size let plates 1,3,5,7,9,etc hang over one side 
about 1/4" let plates 2,4,6,8,10 hang over the opposite side connect 
the edges together with a soldered wire.  A spacer is needed between 
all of the plates.  The spacer is the number one problem because it 
becomes part of the dielectric.  I tried all sorts of things 
polyurethane 1/8" thick worked the best for me. I tried several 
different oils, Caster oil, mineral oil, 100% paraffin oil, 10 weight 
hydraulic oil, High Voltage oil, BBQ grill lighter fluid.  All of the 
oils seems to work fine.  This cap is 99.9999% bullet proof and 100% 
repairable.  The only problem I ever had was getting an arc along one 
of the spacers and causing a carbon track on the spacer.  The spacer 
was replaced and the cap worked fine again. Cap is quick and easy to 
build.  Disadvantage is it is large and bulky.




-----Original Message-----
>From: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Apr 12, 2007 9:38 PM
>To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Oil Dielectric Properties
>
>Original poster: "Breneman, Chris" <brenemanc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>Hello,
>
>I was once again considering possible unique methods of homemade tank
>capacitor construction, and came up with this idea:
>In a jar, or some other kind of uniform container with an open top,
>place a plate of metal at the bottom.  Glue the plate of fasten it to
>the bottom by some means.  Then add a layer of salt to the desired
>dielectric thickness.  Then add another metal plate cut so that the
>lead is on the opposite side of the container (of course the leads on
>alternating plates alternate) and glue or fasten it to the side of
>the container.  Then repeat with the salt and plates until the
>container is filled.  Metal plates should have some kind of opening
>in them, either a drilled hole or a space left for the opposite leads
>on the sides of the container.  After this is done, the plates should
>be stationary and fixed to the sides of the container.  The salt
>could be poured out or dissolved with water, and the container could
>be filled with a liquid dielectric, such as oil.  Such a capacitor
>would be self-healing, always a useful trait.
>Anyway, I was wondering what the dielectric properties of various
>kinds of oil are at high frequencies to determine whether a capacitor
>constructed in such a way would be feasible for Tesla coil
>use.  Also, if anyone sees any general design problems with this,
>suggestions are of course welcome.
>
>Thanks,
>Chris
>
>