[TCML] Clarification sought on transformers

[Mddeming at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/19/08 6:56:28 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
evp at pacbell.net writes:

4) If  you shake it, it should not rattle. Slightly chipped insulators are   
probably OK, cracked ones are not."

I think Matt is  overstating this one.  I have a couple of NST's I picked out 
of the  bushes by a freeway on ramp.  Obviously had fallen off the back of a  
flatbed truck and bounced across the pavement on the insulators, not much of  
which remained and I removed them completely.  I replaced them with  plastic 
ones and the transformers have worked fine for years.   I wouldn't pick ones 
with beat up insulators if better were  available but don't look down your nose 
at them if that's all you can  find.

Ed 



Hi Ed,
 
I agree with you that they are repairable, but I would not recommend  
insulator replacement as a newbie activity on a first coil, especially since  Steve 
indicated he would have access to a neon shop's old stock. In the context  of 
what was asked and by whom, I still consider it a good rule of thumb YOMV.  ;^)
 
Matt D.



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