Re: ballast are bogus!!! (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 00:29:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: daryl barsoom <rockincoiler@xxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: ballast are bogus!!!

hi Gary,
   
  ok thanks, so a lot of people think ballasts are needed, the guy on thelist from the power company even sad that you cant hook up a pole pig to the 220 line!!  but we already know that you can. and some people have seen coils without the ballast so somethings going on. i'll try to find another welder, mabye the neighbor. or i can try using the space heater, but dont want to burn it out because winter is coming!!
   
  so lots of ideas here on how to make the sparks smaller anyway, hehe. :)
   
  if the SKIL saw motor wasnt grounded than the hv would jump to the 120 volts in the motor. this would blow the motor! the SKIL saw is in the middle of the primary circuit, they call it an "equidrive"? so the SKIL saw has to be grounded, it is the only ground conection for the primary!
   
  so this weekend i will try adding two more propan tanks to the top. also i found a galvinized tub with roundy edges to cover the propane feet.
   

---------- Forwarded message ----------  Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 09:11:27 -0400  From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>  To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>  Subject: RE: ballast are bogus!!! (fwd)    I'm having a hard time envisioning some way to use a SKIL saw for an RSG  that wouldn't smoke it in short order.  That the saw was in fact  grounded would only make its destruction more likely.      At least one, possibly both of the stationary electrodes are at  pig-potential.  If the saw case is at ground potential, how could the  saw possibly insulate against an arcover between the blade and  case/motor?  The only scenario I could see working would be if the saw  was battery-powered and completely insulated from everything.    Or, is the entire primary circuit, including both pig HV terminals, not  connected or otherwise referenced to mains or RF ground?  Any arcs to  the primary would be a problem there!  Is it possible to describe the  primary circuit wiring?    If you're
 running long wires from the house to the garage, they are  probably what's saving your bacon, acting as an unintended resistive  ballast.  Attempting to "improve" them with fatter wires would surely  pop your breakers if they're not already welded shut.    If it's not abundantly clear, the consensus is that this is a very  unsafe configuration.  I strongly urge you to understand and believe  that there are well-founded reasons for using ballasts and proper,  insulated spark gaps.  A pole pig is not suitable for learning by one's  mistakes, except by enforcing natural selection.    Regards, Gary Lau

       
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