Gary, Bart et al
Sorry, grave error - I should have mentioned it is 50Hz @ 200 bps.  (UK)
I have tried with the formula P = BPS * 1/2 CV**2   but I'm obviously
putting a bracket or a 'squaring' action in the wrong place.
Can one of you oblige?
 
Regards
Phil
www.hvtesla.com
-----Original Message-----
From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of bartb
Sent: 15 September 2010 01:46
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TCML] CD942 Capacitor failure
Hi Phil,
Interesting post. I have had only one 942C failure similar in description
(blackened hole half way down). I never did figure out the cause. Looking at
your cap string (as the current is the same in each
string) then roughly 14 amps which is not bad. However, that is based on
120 bps. If your are running higher bps (say 240), then the rms current
increases to about 20 amps as does heating. So I'm wondering if anything
along the lines of bps has changed as it could be a possible cause.
Take care,
Bart
Phil Tuck wrote:
  
Hello,
I have suffered several CD942 cap failures lately and I am wondering 
on the cause. Each time it has just been the one isolated cap. I would 
not have thought that my voltage was excessive for these caps, but 
after consulting with another coiler, I am now wondering about a primary
    
current issue.
  
I was running a SRSG on a pig rated at 11.55Kv but running at 12Kv at
    
times.
  
Secondary current is around 400 to 450ma depending on my ballast setting.
I was using nine strings of 19 in series giving 71nF @ 38Kv. Damage to 
the caps was an exterior blackened hole where the blowout had 
occurred. I unwound the last cap' to find where the damage had 
occurred, this turned out to be about half way down into the cap in 
its middle layers. The damage at this point being a circular hole about
    
0.25-inch diameter.
  
Safety gap was set at 9mm or 0.354 inches at the time with the coil 
running very smoothly for 3 minutes or more while producing some nice 
streamers. The dv/dt time should not have been exceeded either as the 
res frequency is 92 KHz.
The primary was tapped at about 8 turns I think, but he primary coil 
itself only ever feels slightly warm while the wiring temperature 
seems to remain unchanged.
Admittedly, none of the caps are now new, as I have used them on 
previous set-ups before, but I would not say they have ever been 
abused, as the MMC voltage ratings they have been used in have always been
    
adequate.
  
As none of the damage was from proximity issues, it can only really be 
down to voltage or current I suppose. Thoughts anyone?
 
Phil
 
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