PFC for pigs

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

Original poster: "Gregory Peters by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <s371034-at-student.uq.edu.au>

Hello list,

I realise PFC for pole pigs is not necessarily practical for two
reasons:

1. Huge capacitance needed

2. Variable ballasting means no set value can be used.

However, I assume SOME PFC is better than NONE, and I have just been
offered HEAPS of big motor run caps at a good price. Also, once my
coil is going properly, the ballast is not altered. So two questions:

1. How does one figure out an approximate value of capacitance needed?

2. Should the PFC go before the variac and ballast, or before the pig?

I ask this question because I want to extract the most possible from
my measly 32A, 240v supply (The largest single phase residential
supply you can get in Australia, before going to 3 phase). Jeez I
wish I lived in the US! I'm one day going to wind a 415v to 240v
transformer and use two phases of my 32A 3 phase supply, but that's
in the future :)


Cheers,

Greg.