RE: ...another newbie question

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>

You are correct about the peak voltage going up to 177V, but that is
already factored into the rating of the cap.  When a cap is rated at
165VAC, it assumes that the waveform is a sine wave with an RMS value of
165V or less.  The DC rating would be considerably higher.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> Original poster: "Ken May" <kens.coil@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Yes, I know ,but 120volts is only the average not the max .In ac sine
wave
> the volt starts at 0 then it goes to 177v and back to 0  then to -177v
and
> back. It is an average of 120vac so the cap is subject to the volts of
> 177volts for 1/60 sec for x 30 times.....
>
>
>
> Original poster: "Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>
>
> If your caps are rated at 165VAC, and your mains voltage is 120VAC, or
> 140VAC from a Variac, there's nothing to be gained by
series-paralleling
> 4 caps to double the voltage rating.  As long as the cap voltage
rating
> is no less than the maximum Variac voltage, they're guaranteed to last
> longer than the rest of your coil.
>
> Regards, Gary Lau
> MA, USA
>
>   > Original poster: "Ken May" <kens.coil@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>   >
>   > Yes ,890 to 900va =165.8uf ...
>   > I like to take two sets of  caps (4 caps)at 175uf 165vac and put
them
> in
>   > series and then add them in parallel to give 175uf at 330vac...
>   > No bang yet...
>   >
>