Re: Shopping...and AVALON! HA!

["Christopher Boden" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

>Original poster: "Gomez ADDams" <gomez-at-netherworld-dot-com>
>
>on that fateful day 8/10/00 11:23 PM, Tesla list uttered:
>
> > Original poster: "Christopher Boden" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com>
> >
> > Today, while shopping at my favourite abandond factory we came across a 
>few
> > nice little toys :)
> >
> > 1. a small (possibly 5 or 10kVA) PIG mounted on the side of a building.
> > There are some rather weird things about it though. It has 4 wires on 
>the LV
> > side and 2 on the HV.
>
>This is not unheard of.  If you open the can and look inside, many (if not
>most) pigs actually have a split winding on the primary side.  You can wire
>them for 120V or 240V.  (imagine pulling 120 at 200 amps!  no thanks)
>

ouch....and I only have 100A service at the Austin street labs! :)

> > It's mounted DIRECTLY on the side of the building, no
> > poles, shelf...or whatnot...just a little bracket. It's about 1'dia and 
>1.5
> > to 2' tall and about 40 years old.
>
>40 years old?  I'll bet you breakfast that it's full of PCB's.
>

It's a guess as to the age, but it looks like WWII East Berlin war 
surplus....and yeah, I'm reasonably sure of PCBs...have to do a burn test.


> > 2. A MASSIVE PIG, about the sixe of a 35Gal drum. It's got a op like a
> > pressure cooker, or an autoclave. The top has a Flip-up, hinged bolt 
>with a
> > wing-nut on either side. I have to get a closer look and will report 
>when I
> > can for identification though we are guessing 25-50kVA. It's painted 
>Green
> > and is about 40 + years old though it could be MUCH older.
>
>Sounds like a case for the local hazmat team.  ;)
>

Or the Geek Group :) We have volunteered our services to the company who is 
responsible for the building to go in and shut down all the old electrical 
gear. They only want lighting on for now in case some kids go in. They don't 
want anyone (lawsuit) hurt (lawsuit) or (lawsuit) killed.


> > We have approached the city about obtaining the facility for the 
>location of
> > Avalon and have met with suprising results. We could have the facility 
>by
> > spring if all goes well. The greatest thing is that the facility is 
>owned by
> > a frustrated bankrupsy court instead of Bill (who is the only reason we
> > don't have the hydroplant yet).
> >
> > Finally, the Group is back in motion on our housing hunt.
> >
> > Now, some questions.....
> >
> >
> > 1. Could a LARGE (1MVA) coil be built indoors?
>
>I can't see any reason why not, but I can think of only two or three people
>who might be qualified to have an opinion on 1MVA coils, and I'm not one of
>them.  Greg Leyh? Bill Wysock?  Bob Golka built a really big coil of 
>course,
>but as far as I could tell, it was never tuned well, or particularly
>efficient.  And so far as I know, he's not on this list.  :)

I have heard of Golka before....Bill posted some interesting things about 
his accomplishments a few months ago when the Avalon project was just 
started.


>
> > One of the buildings is an
> > old 4 story structure with one large room topped with a 25ton gantry 
>crane.
> > A 40' coil could be build and operated in here with ease.
>
>*pant-pant*
>*lust*
>*sigh*

You (or anyone) could always come and help. We're always open to new members 
:)


>
>The Colorado coilers had a nice (but smaller) high-ceiling facility about a
>year ago, until the landlord kicked everyone out, claiming he was going to
>tear down the building... it's still standing.

Our old Ionia Street facility, our first big warehouse (30,000sqft) gets 
demolished on the 16th.

>
> > 2. Can a coil be buit in such a way that the coil is indoors up to the 
>roof,
> > and the topload sits on the roof ouside?
>
>Consider a retractable roof.  it worked for Tesla.  You need a copy of his
>Colorado Springs Notes, if you don't already have one.
>

Been trying for a while. I like the roof idea...it may not be practical 
there though.

> > 3. What are the effects of running a large coil in the city?
>
>Complaints to the cops about noise- check local noise ordinances.
>
>Complaints to the FCC about interference.
>
>Fear complaints to cops- have an attorney check the books for old "infernal
>machine" laws.  I'm not kidding.

Infernal machine......I have a few of those....

>
> > What can we do to minimise our impact on the surrounding community?
>
>Preemptive communication.  Mail out pamphlets explaining what you are 
>doing,
>and why, and why it's not a danger to them.  Explain how you intend to
>mitigate interference.  Provide a first-contact number (preferably a pager,
>not an answering machine) for complaints.  And respond to it!
>

Great ideas!


>Of course, that sort of thing could backfire.  If the local community
>decides that some whacked-out bunch of mad scientists are building a
>doomsday device, they may light torches, take up pitchforks, and run you 
>out
>of town.  People fear what they do not understand.
>
>Consider charging admission.

Tours and demos are always free.

Consider doing demonstrations for schools.

We have for years now :) It's what we do

>Consider providing high voltage testing services.
>

That could be fun.


> > Noise isn't an issue,
> > and light/arcs are fine (we have plenty of room) it's the EMF/EMI I 
>worry
> > about.
>
>  You'd better be prepared to deal with the FCC.  I can see it now: "You 
>got
>a license for that 1 million watt AM transmitter, boy?"
>

A TC falls under an Unintentional Radiator, and is a terrible transmitter to 
boot. there are FCC issues though.


> > Finally......Avalon is coming along. Construction should be 
>simple...it's
> > the logistics that are such a pain. BS-Red tape-and lawyers can give a 
>would
> > be coiler fits :) And at 25 I'm entirely too young for ulcers.
>
>I had an ulcer at 25.  I healed it by living like a monk for a year.
>

I don't have time, at 100hrs a week I'm suprised I'm not narcoleptic yet :)

>- Gomez
>
>....................................
>If "all the world's a stage", I want
>better lighting and costumes!
>
>
>


Christopher A. Boden Geek#1
President / Founder
The Geek Group
www.geekgroup-dot-org
Because the Geek shall inherit the Earth!

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