Re: Equdrive circuit, was Re: SGTC

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Barton B. Anderson" <bartb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Phil,

> Why would one cap "conduct" (discharge?) without the current going 
> through the other one as well?

It would have to. The caps are series connected through the primary. 
If a single cap retains a charge, that charge will be felt across 
both caps as soon as alternating current ended. The transformer will 
provide R to and will discharge the caps. I was thinking along the 
lines of a long discharge situation. But, if we think about DCR of a 
transformer (any of the ones we use from NST's to Pigs), it's no 
where high enough to cause a large discharge time. As a matter of 
fact, it should be immediate. Your right Phil, the cap can't retain a 
charge without an open circuit. It's that simple.

I looked at the theory from a discharge rate, but didn't throw 
numbers at it (my bad). 5RC is a fraction of a second even for a 4500 
ohm 12/60 NST secondary. There's no way to retain a charge without an 
open circuit condition (floating secondary or not).

I hate to waffle on a subject. That's what I get for trying to figure 
out (in what possible way) could there be a retained charge. Then I 
thought, it must be a long discharge time and just threw those 
thoughts out. But the numbers don't lie and a remaining charge is 
only possible in an open circuit. An open circuit can only be caused 
by a failure or a series gap configuration.

Take care,
Bart