Re: Ballast for pole pig. (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:34:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: G Hunter <dogbrain_39560@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Ballast for pole pig. (fwd)

My first pig ballast was a number of 240vac water
heater elements in a small tank of water.  Results
were very disappointing.  Voltage and power output
from the ballasted pig were dismal.

Ballast #2 was a cheap, used, 240v AC arc welder--the
simple "buzz box" type.  I wired the welder power cord
in series with my pig primary, and used the welder
controls to control my pig.  This was a profound
improvement over the resistive ballast.  

With the welder leads open-circuited, the thing draws
about 8 amps from the wall outlet.  This is fine for
tune up and other adjustments.  With the welding leads
short-circuited, the thing draws 28-48A from the
outlet, depending on the welder amps setting.  This is
pretty stout current for hobby coiling.

Cheers,

Greg

--- Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:01:22 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Tyler Pauly <rpggod714@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Ballast for pole pig.
> 
> Hello, I'm a "seasoned beginner" with tesla coils,
> but
> I'm trying my first with a pole pig, and my first
> transformer that needs a ballast.  Now, I understand
> why I need a ballast and how they work/what they do,
> but I do not know how to build one or what to build
> them from.  I have tried searching the database, but
> I
> was just wondering if I could get some fresh advice.
> I
> was thinking of using a primary ballast (which I
> think
> is the norm), but I'm not sure if a resistive or
> inductive ballast is more efficient, cost-effective,
> easy to build, etc. Thanks for any help!
> 
> Tyler
> 
> 
>        
>
____________________________________________________________________________________
> Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small
> Business gives you all the tools to get online.
> http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting 
> 
> 
> 
> 



      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Luggage? GPS? Comic books? 
Check out fitting gifts for grads at Yahoo! Search
http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=oni_on_mail&p=graduation+gifts&cs=bz