I use this method on my coil in conjunction with a more expensive variable ballast, which is pair of 1256 variacs in which I gapped the cores. The only problem I had with the welding rod ballast (which is the "set", or not adjustable ballast) is the rods get warm, to hot with extended runs, and the rods vibrate in the cylinder, and thus the flux, over time, will deteriorate to dust. It certainly does work though. My 10awg coil came from a oil circuit breaker close-coil solenoid, and probably weighs 30 lbs with no core. A fiberglass cylinder sits in the middle of this coil, and holds the welding rods (roughly about 5" tall). My reasoning for the welding rods was to reduce eddy currents, but they still exist (I'm sure to a much smaller degree than a solid piece of iron).
Terry
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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