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Re: Ground Fault Interupters and RFI filters





---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 11:46:25 -0500
From: Geoff Schecht <geoffs-at-onr-dot-com>
To: Tesla List <mod1-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Re: Ground Fault Interupters and RFI filters

I was just going to recommend that Tesla coils not be run on GFCI mains.
Although GFCI's are  isolated from the lines by a current transformer (as a
rule), an inadvertent arc to one side of the line might break through the
transformer insulation and kill the control IC. GFCI's are useful where
human factors safety is involved but they seem kind of pointless to hang on
a line that's hooked to a TC.

Geoff

----------
> From: Tesla List <mod1-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: Geoff Schecht <geoffs-at-onr-dot-com>
> Subject: Re: Ground Fault Interupters and RFI filters
> Date: Tuesday, September 30, 1997 11:10 PM
> 
> Geoff,
> 
> This is all I got, which has nothing from you in it.  If you wanted to
> post, you need to resend.
> 
> Chip
> 
> On Tue, 30 Sep 1997, Geoff Schecht wrote:
> 
> > 
> > 
> > ----------
> > > From: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> > > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > > Subject: Re: Ground Fault Interupters and RFI filters
> > > Date: Monday, September 29, 1997 10:39 PM
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 15:44:54 GMT
> > > From: Jim Fosse <jim.fosse-at-bjt-dot-net>
> > > To: Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> > > Subject: Re: Ground Fault Interupters and RFI filters 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > >---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > >Date: Sun, 28 Sep 1997 22:10:34 -0500 (CDT)
> > > >From: Richard Wayne Wall <rwall-at-ix-dot-netcom-dot-com>
> > > >To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
> > > >Subject: Ground Fault Interupters and RFI filters 
> > > >
> > > >9/29/97
> > > >
> > > >I recently added a 30 A circuit breaker/GFI to my power cabinet. 
It's 
> > > >placed before the main contactor and variac.  Following the variac 
> > > >there is a 100 A RFI filter.  Without the main power transformer 
> > > >connected, the GFI trips when power is applied.  It still trips when

> > > >either the neutral or hot is disconnected and the other remains 
> > > >connected.  Removing the RFI filter stops the GFI tripping.  I
replaced 
> > > >the RFI filter with two 200 A EMI filters on both the neutral and
hot 
> > > >line.  Same thing happens as with the RFI filter.
> > > >
> > > >Has anyone had this experience with GFIs and RFI filters?  Anyone
know 
> > > >what the mechanism is?
> > > >
> > > Richard,
> > > 	The "fault" is leakage current through the RFI filters bypass
> > > caps. These caps are from line to ground and neutral to ground. The
> > > current flow through them at 60Hz is larger than the trip current of
> > > the GFI.  Even if you solve this problem, GFIs are notorious for
> > > tripping from RFI.  I expect that the first time your TC discharges
> > > that they will trip.
> > > 
> > > 	jim
> > > 
> > 
>