Re: Getting Closer to First Light with 10KVA Pig

["Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-jpl.nasa.gov> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)]

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> From: Tesla list <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Getting Closer to First Light with 10KVA Pig
> Date: Sunday, August 20, 2000 11:42 AM
> 
> Original poster: "Ryan Ries" <spud-at-wf-dot-net> 
> 
> 	Well, we're getting closer to lighting up our Veretus coil with the new
> transformer, but there are still some heavy preparations to be made. 
First
> of all, when I asked about the ballasting with a welder, you told me that
> the current scale on the welder will probably bear no relation to the
> actual current going to the pig.  As such, does anyone out there have a
> high-power (100amp) ammeter to sell? 

Solution #1, the real low buck approach... 
Build a high current shunt... A bar of copper, or a length of #4 wire, and
measure the voltage across it with the current passing through.  You can
calibrate it with lower currents (say 10 Amps with lightbulb loads..)

Solution #2, the $25 approach.. 
Get a current transformer designed for just this application.  They are
typically rated in terms of their full scale current with a 5A full scale
meter on the secondary winding, e.g. 100:5 or 200:5.  Newark carries them,
as do most industrial electric supply kinds of places.  Price NEW is around
$25, used, you can find them for $5.  Warning... DO NOT run one of these
with the secondary open circuited...

 Fortunately, I found a surplus of
> oilfield wire, it has three insulated conductors in it, all 8 or 6 gauge
> solid copper.  It has very hefty rubber insulation on each conductor and
is
> all coated with another layer of all-weather rubber stuff, and is topped
> off with flexible metal conduit stuff.  I imagine this cord would have
cost
> a fortune if I didn't have so many "connections". :)  
> 	Fortunately, I have some experience in residential house wiring, because
> my breaker box is plum full.  What I want to do is install a secondary
box
> and feed it with a breaker from my main box.  I've been looking around,
> because I don't want to spend $40 on a 100a breaker, but I think I may
have
> to.  What I plan to do is feed the pig with 120v, up to 84 amps.  The
> reason why I am so insistant on using 120v is that if used 240v, the
output
> of the pig would be over 28Kv, and my capacitors could never handle that.

> ($$$$ Not having any money can be a real pain. $$$$$)
> 	Anyway, thanks again, and I'm sure I'll have another slew of questions
> after this message is answered. :)
> 	
> 	Ryan Ries
> 
> 
>