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Re: Arcing at RF choke



HI Harvey,

> Original Poster: "Harvey D Norris" <Tesla4-at-excite-dot-com> 
> 
> I have observed arcing on a single rf choke connected to a high voltage
> secondary from an ordinary 1.5 kva transformer powering a disruptive
> disharge method
> using large inductors resonated at 60 hz. Two of these coils are placed in
> series resonance, each of them
> 180 out of phase with each other. When the midpoints of each circuit (the
> wire between L and C)
> are brought in close proximity a 2cm lightening like discharge can be made
> between the series
> resonances, with a voltage input measured at 464 volts from the 1.5 KVA
> power transformer.
> The arcing occurs on the radio shack rf choke closest to the secondaryof the
> transformer. Can anyone suggest
> safety measures to prevent damaging the transformer, as I burned up a
> smaller 1.0 KVA transformer
> by subjecting it repeatably  to more tamed down versions of this midpoint
> arcing for long periods of time.
> The only thing I can think of is to replace the choke and try again with one
> on both sides. It seems that
> a disruptive disharge like this might produce bad rf kickbacks to the
> secondary, possibly I might be getting internal arcing on the secondary
> itself on the unprotected side. Is using two rf chokes/ one on each side of
> the secondary better than one? Appreciate any safety suggestions to prevent
> damaging the transformer again, and was wondering whats the estimated
> voltage of a 2 cm electrical disharge from two pointed terminals?

The chokes sound like they are doing more harm than good. They 
would be shock-excited by the gap and ring as a result.

Regards,
Malcolm