Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive ballast (for pole transformer). (fwd)

["High Voltage list" <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 19 May 2005 01:28:17 -0400
From: Mike <mike.marcum@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive ballast (for pole
    transformer). (fwd)

Sounds like a plan. Only problem I foresee is that the resistive ballast 
will drop the voltage to the pig, and make it hard to adjust the jl's gap 
because of the reduced voltage. Had that problem with a 3kva pt till i used 
a roll of wire (had to use a plastic rod with a nail on it to start the arc, 
it never did on its own without being too close for it to climb).

Mike
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "High Voltage list" <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "hvlist" <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 5:10 PM
Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive ballast (for pole 
transformer). (fwd)


> Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 11:22:01 -0700 (PDT)
> From: J. Aaron Holmes <jaholmes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive ballast (for pole
>    transformer). (fwd)
>
>
> Thanks, all!
>
> After cogitating a bit about how to hook them up, I
> went ahead and bought 11 new 5kW elements off eBay for
> ~$35 (one lot).  Seemed like a decent price.  With ten
> of these switched with relays, I ought to be able to
> (briefly) consume all of the 200A my breaker box is
> allowed to provide :D  Regardless of the obvious
> lossiness of the resistive elements, it still ought to
> provide for a pretty spectacular arc!  I'll certainly
> post a picture of the result when I get there,
> hopefully within the next few weeks.
>
> --- High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 07:12:06 -0600
>> From: robert heidlebaugh
>> <rheidlebaugh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive
>> ballast (for pole
>>     transformer).
>>
>> Check with your locsl appliance shop ,propane
>> dealer, or plumber. When I had
>> a ranch I used old hot water heaters as feed
>> troughs. I never had a shortage
>> of tanks or heating elements.
>>      Robert   H
>> -- 
>>
>>
>> > From: "High Voltage list" <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 20:34:59 -0600 (MDT)
>> > To: hvlist <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> > Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive
>> ballast (for pole
>> > transformer). (fwd)
>> > Resent-From: hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx
>> > Resent-Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 20:34:59 -0600 (MDT)
>> >
>> > Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> > Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 02:43:12 -0700 (PDT)
>> > From: Yurtle Turtle <yurtle_t@xxxxxxxxx>
>> > To: High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> > Subject: Re: Cheap parts for high-power resistive
>> ballast (for pole
>> > transformer). (fwd)
>> >
>> > Just look for stoves and/or water heaters (Not
>> "hot
>> > water heaters". Why would you heat "hot water"?)
>> on
>> > the side of the road.
>> >
>> > Adam
>> >
>> > --- High Voltage list <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> >> Original poster: <sroys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> [Sorry for the delay in posting.  I was at a
>> meeting
>> >> where I *thought* I
>> >> would have had access to the list, but actually
>> >> didn't.  SRR]
>> >>
>> >> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> >> Date: Sun, 8 May 2005 21:16:35 -0700 (PDT)
>> >> From: J. Aaron Holmes
>> <jaholmes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >> To: hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >> Subject: Cheap parts for high-power resistive
>> >> ballast (for pole transformer).
>> >>
>> >> Howdy, hvlist,
>> >>
>> >> In addition to some Tesla coiling, I'd like to do
>> >> some
>> >> ridiculously high-powered Jacob's laddering :)
>> I'm
>> >> shooting for 30kVA.  Unfortunately, I don't feel
>> >> like
>> >> investing much (in time or money) in a big
>> inductive
>> >> ballast.  Instead, I thought I'd just install six
>> or
>> >> eight hot water heater elements in a cheap metal
>> >> trash
>> >> can (filled with water, of course), then use some
>> >> big
>> >> relays to put them all in parallel so that I
>> could
>> >> fire the thing up with only a single element in
>> >> line,
>> >> then bring the others in one at a time until I'm
>> >> running at full throttle.  Sound workable?  I
>> could
>> >> even install a faucet in the side of the trash
>> can
>> >> so
>> >> that the thing could be made light and portable
>> on
>> >> short notice (great for Teslathons).  Now on to
>> the
>> >> question:  Is there something cheaper that might
>> >> provide the same functionality?  Amazingly, hot
>> >> water
>> >> heater elements appear to be relatively
>> non-cheap.
>> >> I've seen a few tempting bulk lots go by on eBay,
>> >> but
>> >> they were threaded in an odd way that made me
>> >> suspect
>> >> they'd be difficult to work with.
>> >>
>> >> Should I just get a spool of nichrome wire, some
>> >> cinder blocks, and a box fan? :))
>> >>
>> >> 73,
>> >> Aaron, N7OE
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
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