Re: Ballast for pole pig. (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:33:41 +0000
From: David Rieben <drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Ballast for pole pig. (fwd)

Hi all,

I now a use a combination of inductive and resistive ballasting 
for my pole pig. I have to throw in a bit of resistance to keep the
inductive ballast from drawing insane current levels and I think
Richard Hull used to recommend this approach to "smooth out"
the coil's output. I really don't like the wasted energy in the form
of heat though, especially as hot as it's been in Memphis lately.
Today makes the 6th straight day of triple digit (Farenheit) tem-
peratures - actual temps too, not heat index temps! Too hot to even 
play in the shop at night time with the fan on "get it"! Already seve-
ral local deaths associated with this heat wave. I really feel for peo-
who do not have A/C or better yet, coilers in Phoenix without A/C'd
shops.:^0 Chris Hooper, you listening ;^)? BTW, my inductive ballast 
is a large isolation transformer (232 lbs) that I have shorted one of the 
taps on. Without any resistance, it will draw well over 100 amps and
will cause the RSG to have trouble fully quinching. It sure does make
for some big, beautiful BRIGHT sparks, though ;^)
--
David Rieben

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> 

> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
> Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2007 08:25:58 -0400 
> From: Crispy 
> To: Tesla list 
> Subject: Re: Ballast for pole pig. (fwd) 
> 
> Hi Tyler, 
> 
> A resistive ballast is less efficient, because it actually dissipates 
> power in the form of heat. An inductive ballast does not actually 
> dissipate any power. However, a resistive ballast is generally easier 
> to build. Many people have used water-cooled heating elements or large 
> saltwater resistors as resistive ballasts. An inductive ballast for 
> something like a pole pig usually requires tight winding of relatively 
> large wire around a large core. If power is plentiful, and you don't 
> plan on operating near your maximum available power, a resistive ballast 
> should do fine. Something else you may consider is a high voltage 
> capacitive ballast. I've used this successfully with MOTs but I'm not 
> sure about the implications with pigs. 
> 
> (Note: I've never used pole pigs myself, but I've read a lot about them, 
> and I have ballasted MOTs) 
> 
> Chris 
> 
> 
> On Sun, 2007-08-12 at 21:20 -0600, Tesla list wrote: 
> > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
> > Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:01:22 -0700 (PDT) 
> > From: Tyler Pauly 
> > 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 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> ________________________________________________________________________________ 
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> > 
> 
> 
>