RE: [TCML] Idle musings about surge suppressors

[Nick Andrews <nicothefabulous@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I wonder if maybe they were referring to the whole-house units which simply plug into your load center to allegedly protect everything from spikes.  They use 2 slots, 1 for each pole of the 240VAC.  I have installed a 100amp sub panel in my garage and was considering putting one in there as that is where I will power most of my experiments from, and the prices have dropped to only around 60 bucks from $100.  Has anyone taken one of these units apart to see what's inside?  If it's just MOVs then I won't waste my moola on one.

Nick A




> From: Gary.Lau@xxxxxx
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:01:35 +0000
> Subject: RE: [TCML] Idle musings about surge suppressors
> 
> Surge suppressors use MOV (Metal Oxide Varistors) to clamp voltages.  Since you're talking about cutting off plugs, I assume that you're talking about consumer-ready power strips, which hopefully contain such devices.  I don't know what the circuit configuration is for protected power strips, but I would assume that any MOV's are simply in parallel with the power, and so there's no concept of forwards vs. backwards.  Just plug the TC into it.  No worry about frying it.
> 
> I have 120V MOV's permanently wired inside my Variac case, from hot to ground and from neutral to ground.  I have no idea how much difference it makes, but it surely doesn't hurt and seems like a good idea.  
> 
> Regards, Gary Lau
> MA, USA
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> > Behalf Of mrapol@xxxxxxxxxxx
> > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 6:13 AM
> > To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> > Subject: [TCML] Idle musings about surge suppressors
> > 
> > I was just wondering if common surge suppressors have any use in coiling?
> > They are designed to protect equipment from power spikes coming in, but
> > could they work the other way, dampening surges going out from Tesla coils?
> > Perhaps by physically reversing the surge suppressor--cutting off the plug
> > and wiring it into the Tesla coil backward, then using a double-ended cord
> > to connect to a wall plug? Or is a coil too much for it, frying all the
> > circuitry at the first go?
> > 
> > PBT
> 
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