MOT for Ballast Question...

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: MOT for Ballast Question...
From: "M Fabs" <the_machin_shin-at-hotmail-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 11:33:22 -0700
Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

I asked some time ago about a thought I had for a ballast, and never 
received an answer. I was hoping someone with some experience with variable 
air gap inductors could help out.  I took apart 2 identical Microwave Oven 
Transformers by grinding out the welds, etc... I was planning to put the two 
"E" sections open face to open face, whereby I will have the same current 
capability as a single MOT, but twice the wire winding window area.  Is this 
reasonable?  I was hoping to build a bracket of some kind that would let me 
adjust the air gap between the two core sections, thereby varying the 
inductance (and current limit).  What range of air gap distances is 
reasonable for, say 0-20 amps?  Would it be on the order of 0-2 mils, or 
maybe 0-200 mils? Should this be wound with wire similar to that which 
originally made up the primaries of the MOT's?  How many turns? Same number 
as the original primaries had?

This is all for 120V 60Hz supply.  This arrangement (or maybe these, if I 
get ambitious and find more MOT's) will be used with NST's for Tesla Coils, 
and other fun.

Any thoughts, or answers, or even questions would be welcomed!! I don't want 
to find out only after this is built that I missed something very important!

MPF
the_machin_shin-at-hotmail-dot-com

PS: My Allanson 12kV 60mA is happily soaking away in gasoline, pleasantly 
sluffing away the tar I missed when I heated it up.
I also got my Primary wound, it's on a Lexan disc about 30" in diameter 
(kinda big, I know, but it's Pretty!), with 18 or so turns of 3/8" Copper 
Refer Tubing. For supports I used some strips of Walmart Special poly 
cutting board. I cut holes in the strips, and then trimmed the strips again 
such that the copper tubing just snapped in. I can't remember which of the 
hundreds of Tesla sites I visited mentioned this method first, but Bravo!!! 
The primary was easy to wind; it took about 5 minutes. (Cutting and drilling 
and obtaining a second 50' of tubing notwithstanding...)  I think 
preparation is the key.

Thanks everyone!
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