Steve, that sounds like a robust ballast! Do you have it bathed in oil or
open air (enclosed container)?
Thanks,
~Dan
Kansas City area
On Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 7:36 AM Steve White <steve.white1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hello Dan,
>
> The cost depends on what you can scrounge. I built a variable air gap
> ballast from E and I laminations that I salvaged from a discarded 25 kVA
> 120/240/480 volt distribution transformer. It uses 72 turns of 8 gauge
> wire. The laminations are about 3.5 inches thick. My ballast weighs about
> 70 pounds. It was designed for 240 volts and limits currents from 2 to 40
> amps by adjusting the air gap with a variable thickness spacer between the
> E and I sections. It is extremely efficient with no noticeable heating
> after many minutes of running. Too bad you aren't near Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
> I have a lot of extra E and I laminations that I would give you. The
> shipping costs would be prohibitive.
>
> Steve White
> Cedar Rapids, Iowa
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Daniel Kunkel" <dankunkel@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2018 2:14:30 PM
> Subject: [TCML] Good and Cheap Ballast Options
>
> Hello All,
> I am looking to ballast my new potential transformer. I came across this
> idea (http://hotstreamer.deanostoybox.com/mnovak/ballast.html) of using
> 1/8" welding rods inside a 2" PVC wrapped with 500ft of stranded 10awg
> THHN. Seems cheap and functional. You can add or remove rods to alter
> inductance and raise and lower the core as well. I wonder if there are any
> other equally cheap/good or better ideas?
> Thanks,
> ~Dan
> Kansas City area
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