Re: [TCML] Fried It !

[Gary Lau <glau1024@xxxxxxxxx>]

For my garage door opener, I broke all of the sensor and switch cable
connections, at the opener, and inserted a multi-pin connector that I unmate
when running the coil.  That might be a good strategy for your irrigation
control box, in addition to unplugging the AC cord.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

On Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 7:25 AM, Miles Mauldin <teslamiles@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> Hi Gary,
>
> Thanks, knew I was taking chances but thought I had a better handle on
> protection.
>
> The coil was about 10-11 feet from the control unit, this was also the
> first
> time I have run the coil on that side of the garage; maybe shouldn't run it
> there...
>
> Using 3 NSTs rated at 12,000 / 30mA each, so 90mA right now.
>
> Yes, what I expect was the real culprit was the 8 zone wiring coming into
> the
> garage and up the wall connecting to the controller.  Here's where I'm
> thinking
> to use the ferrite cores as close to the control unit as possible.  Maybe
> even
> inside the unit.
>
> My RF Ground is an 8' ground rod pounded into the year outside the garage.
> The
> connection is a 10 AWG stranded insulated wire 18' long.  The mid-point
> secondary grounds on the NSTs, the ground on the Terry filter, and the
> lower end
> of the secondary coil are all tied to this RF ground.  The EMI filters
> connecting to the primary side of the NSTs are grounded to the mains
> ground;
> these two grounds are not shared.
>
> The good news is that after a complete shutdown, disconnecting the zone
> modules
> from the controller, and a reset/restart, everything seems to be back to
> normal
> working order.  Just have to reprogram, and watch for the water bill....
>
> Thanks for any pointers Gary.
> Miles
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Gary Lau <glau1024@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Mon, November 8, 2010 5:13:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Fried It !
>
> Ouch!!!  But ferrite cores can only do so much.  There may be other things
> than can be done.  But yes, we all take chances coiling.
>
> Can you describe how close to the coil the irrigation unit was?
>
> How powerful is the coil (NST size? pig-powered?)
>
> Are there any cables running to the irrigation unit, besides the AC power
> cord?
>
> And can you describe the RF ground and cable to it you had for your coil?
>
> Regards, Gary Lau
> MA, USA
>
> On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 2:21 PM, Miles Mauldin <teslamiles@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Hi All
> > I’m getting better at tuning and squeaking performance out of my SGTC.
> > Last
> > night I was able to get multiple 30” streamers into free air and strikes
> to
> > a
> > grounded rod at nearly 40”.  I have been worrying about killing one of
> the
> > garage door openers, and household electronics and computers, but knock
> on
> > wood
> > to date nothing has been affected.  That is until last night.  Sad and
> > funny at
> > the same time, of all the things I worried over none of them were
> > affected.  It
> > was my irrigation system controller that got fried.  I say funny, but it
> > was not
> > until this morning that I discovered there was a problem when I saw a
> river
> > of
> > water flowing down the street in front of my house.  Further inspection
> in
> > the
> > back yard revealed 3 of my 8 water zones were running at the same time.
> > One of
> > them is for the waterfall and pond to keep it replenished during the hot
> > summers.  Needless to say, the pond was flooded.  I had to shut off the
> > water
> > for the irrigation system at the street because the only thing I could
> get
> > from
> > the control unit was a flashing “ERR”.  Good thing it Fall here and I
> don't
> > really need to water for a while.
> > Do we just take our chances coiling?  Or does anyone have experience
> > protecting
> > electronics near / around a TC? Maybe ferrite Cores like
> >
> >
> http://leadertechinc.com/ferrishieldproducts.shtml?_kk=ferrite%20core&_kt=7dfff0ae-33b0-45b1-b704-1bf2fc1d08ec&gclid=CM6pnff3kaUCFRhg2godtWjaMg
> >g
> >  on
> >  any wires that would act like an antenna?
> > Watching for the water bill.....
> > Miles
> >
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