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Re: NST and GFI ?




That stands to reason.  In the US, GFI/GFCI's are set to trip if the
difference between the current coming from the hot and going back into the
neutral is more than 5 milliamperes.  If you're using (like me) a ground
such as a drain pipe, that is current which is coming from the hot, but
not returning on the neutral.  Two good ways to get around this:

1.  Don't use a Tesla coil on a GFI outlet.  Ground fault circuit breakers
have a higher tolerance (can't remember the exact current off the top of
my head) and will be able to take a bigger Tesla coil.

2.  Although I don't recommend it, you can use the neutral (prong on the
left) as a ground and make sure all of your sparks hit the neutral on the
Tesla coil side of the outlet (e.g. using a neutral from another outlet
or "upstream" from the outlet won't do).  Keep in mind that St. Elmo's
fire is current going to ground, so just because you don't see sparks
doesn't mean you aren't leaking current.  I would recommend against this
because, inter alia, a substaintial number of outlets are reverse-wired.
If you do this and you are reverse wired, you'll have 120v exposed metal
you might not be aware of...touch your Tesla coil chassis while you are
leaning against a radiator or some other grounded object and you're toast.
There are other problems associated with using the neutral as a ground,
but I won't bother going into them.


On Mon, 14 Feb 2000, Tesla List wrote:

> Original Poster: Esondrmn-at-aol-dot-com 
> 
> In a message dated 2/13/00 5:56:59 PM !!!First Boot!!!, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com 
> writes:
> 
> << Original Poster: CTCDW-at-aol-dot-com 
>  
>  GFI protection is generally NOT considered a good thing for coils..I have 
>  actually been able to run my coil (15/60) from a GFI outlet, but I think 
> that 
>  is the exception, rather than the rule.
>  
>  chris
>   >>
> Chirs,
> 
> That's good.  Heck, I have an old refrigerator out in the garage that won't 
> even run off of a GFI outlet.  Too much leakage current I guess.
> 
> Ed Sonderman
> 
>