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Re: [TCML] wire gage

Hi all,

Yes, I agree with Gary here. The total volt-amps of a conductor has
no baring on the current only carrying capacity of a condutor. It's strict-
ly a matter of amperage vs the cross-section and the conducting material
that determines the required conductor size. That's why multiple mega-
watts can be transported via a relatively conductors for hundreds
of miles through power transmission lines. The ROC does become an
issue with very high voltages and requires a certain size OD of the con-
ductor to hold down corona losses. However, 10 amps current flow
at 50 volts requires no more cross section of a given conductor than
would 10 amps at 50,000 volts!

David
----- Original Message ----- From: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx> 
To: "Tesla Coil Mailing List" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 7:08 AM
Subject: RE: [TCML] wire gage
I disagree that "the wattage is still there". Well, it is, but a cable conductor has no awareness of what power is going through it; only the current is evident. I think that the cigarette-sized conductor is from attempts to control e-field and corona in VERY high voltage applications (x-ray) by using a larger-than-necessary conductor diameter, usually by using a semi-conducting sheath around the conductors. In the x-ray cables that I Googled, the conductor is #12 gauge or smaller. Of course, x-ray tubes use less current than TC's.
As far as how much insulation, it depends on how close the conductor is to the nearest ground or other conductor. It could be that no insulation is needed if the wire has a short, straight shot. Or if the wire is draped across the floor in a hospital, you may want something more robust! 

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA


-----Original Message-----
From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of bunnykiller
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 10:28 PM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TCML] wire gage

Hey Scott...

Insulation is considered important when running the wires within 3-4" of
anything that may be a "ground". As far as using wire from the hi volt
outputs of the trannie to the cap/gap system, I suppose 12 - 14 would
work since there is a small current flow (a bit less than 1 amp) but the
wattage is still there and by using thinner wire, one increases the
resistance as compared to say...# 4-8. Consider the application of X-Ray
machine wires for example, lots of insulation and safety shielding along
with the core wire sometimes being in the range of a # 8 Ga. I have
about 100 feet of some X-Ray wire and the wire inside ( altho
multi-strand) can easily pass as #10 maybe even #8...  The BIGPIG has
been wired up with 50KV rated multistrand at about #6 ga.  ( the wire
core is almost as thick as a standard cigarette)but it is also used to
connect the caps and gap to the primary, sooo in theory it should work
but I feel that would be pushing it a bit much to go that thin.

Scot D


Scott Bogard wrote:

>Hey all,
>     My Cousin and I had a debate today about wire gage from the High
>voltage output of a Pole pig (or other similar transformer.)  I told him
>for Tesla coil applications that 14 AWG would be sufficient, and that
>insulation is more important.  He thinks that I should have a larger
>gage (like 10,) and that insulation is also important (unless you
>suspend the wires an don't allow them to touch anything of course.)  We
>both agree the tank wire should be thicker, we are just concerned about
>getting the power there.  He wants to here it from the "experts," so a
>few responses yea, or nay, would be appreciated. Thanks for settling >this. 
>
>Scott Bogard.


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