RE: Coat the secondary or not?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Aron Koscho" <kc5uto-at-wt-dot-net> 

I have wound almost a hundred secondaries and would defiantly coat it.
The main reason being the thermal expansion/contraction of the wire.
This loosens the wire on the secondary significantly and in my opinion
renders it useless due to over-lapping turns. Also, when I nuke a
secondary I don't stop until it's in flames:) It is easy enough for me
to wind a new one so repairs don't interest me to much. However, if you
can't get the necessary wire, or the right tools to wind one, repairing
the damage is a better option. I would coat it, and coat it thick. To
throw in yet another opinion I like the coating to be clear, so I use
high gloss Minwax polycrilic.

-Aron

Aron Koscho
KC5UTO
www.hvguy-dot-com


-----Original Message-----
From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 12:21 PM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Coat the secondary or not?

Original poster: pepperman-at-softhome-dot-net

I've read several opinions on whether or not you should coat the
secondary with some sort of sealant/protectant (e.g. polyurethane,
epoxy, etc.).  The pluses are that the coil is well-protected, and
possibly more attractive (depending on your feelings about what
looks good).  The minuses are that if you coat the coil, you can't
really get at it in case something goes wrong.

What are the current opinions, for and against?  When would you
want to have access to the windings, and when would it not matter?

Michael Johnson