Re: Question about ballasting and VA

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Question about ballasting and VA
From: "Barton B. Anderson" <tesla123-at-pacbell-dot-net> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 11:25:41 -0700
Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

Original Poster: "Ross Overstreet" <ross-o-at-mindspring-dot-com>
Hi Ross, 

Just got a quick question (clarification): 

I think I understand what your trying to say, but correct 
me if I'm wrong: "The reactor acts as an impedance matching 
device "because" spark length has a maximum current condition 
where no further increase in ballast current will increase spark 
length?". 

Thanks, 
Bart 
<snips>I used to think that inductive ballasting works by adding Z in
series with 
the primary of the transformer.  Now I think that this is of secondary 
importance.  I currently lean towards the idea that the series inductance 
allows one to adjust the Z of the transformer so it is a much better match 
to the line. I think that it has more in common with "setting the SWR" of 
the system than just adding series inductive reactance.