Yes and so many coilers don't use safety gaps, should be more emphasized to beginners. I don't know how pulling more current through a transformer than its rating is a good thing, but I like the sound of that. Could you spare a minute and explain because that is what I am trying to fix.
At one point I could run the neons full variac and pulled 16 to 20 amp and full length sparks of 60 inches. This is what I was expecting.
Put on a new toroid and it only got better. Then the next weekend could only run variac at 60 to 70 volts to maintain my 15 to 20 amps. I can turn up the voltage, and the streamers are much much brighter and bigger. But puling 30 amps plus. This is ok you are saying, please explain, I would love to try full voltage. ( I though it would blow at that amp draw) Thanks.
-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gary Lau
Sent: October 9, 2020 8:33 PM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TCML] Ballast
Please - DO NOT EVER put just a cap across the NST output, without a
properly set safety gap. It will definitely demonstrate a radically higher
mains current draw, and it will also cause the voltage developed across the
cap and NST to soar to many TIMES the faceplate rating of the NST,
imperiling the cap and NST. Your cap may have a high voltage rating, but
your NST does not.
That capacitively loaded NST's draw so much current is a GOOD thing. If
you don't want so much power drawn and sparks so long, just turn down the
Variac.
Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA
On Fri, Oct 9, 2020 at 5:45 PM shaun <snoggle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> That would be fine but not the way it works, neons have a strange thing
> happen with certain size tank capacitor they will pull current as if they
> have no ballast, as example, my four neon, will pull 50 + amps from the
> mains with the four transformers that should only pull about 16 amps. This
> phenomenon is well know.
>
>
> Try this , monitor your neon mains current then dead short it and watch
> the ac mains, about 4 amps what it should be.
> Now take the same transformer put .025 or so cap across the neon output
> and turn up the variac up and watch the mains slam to 20 + amps with only
> the caps. And yes the cap is rated well beyond supply.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tesla [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Rieben
> Sent: October 6, 2020 10:51 PM
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [TCML] Ballast
>
>
> Shaun,
>
> I would guess that the reason you don’t find much info on ballasting
> paralleled NSTs is that they are already internally ballasted by their core
> design, which limits the output current to a certain level regardless of
> the applied load. Most coilers only bother with external ballasting where
> it’s required, like for the inputs to PTs or pole pigs
>
> David
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Oct 6, 2020, at 2:21 PM, shaun <snoggle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > Just a quick question, has anyone added ballast in front of their
> paralleled
> > neon transformers for current limiting. I have searched for a few days
> and
> > not found anything. Thanks all
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tesla mailing list
> > Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > https://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tesla mailing list
> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> https://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tesla mailing list
> Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> https://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
>
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
https://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla
_______________________________________________
Tesla mailing list
Tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
https://www.pupman.com/mailman/listinfo/tesla