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Re: Ballasting a Pole Pig (Revisited)

Original poster: "Gerry  Reynolds" <gerryreynolds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Curt,
Even if the PIG is dead, the ballast should limit the current and keep the breakers from tripping if the breakers were big enough for the ballast. I think a 15amp breaker is too small for your ballast. Try to weld with it on max current setting with an amp meter in series with its primary using that breaker (no variac, no PIG, just normal connection for a welder). This will test your welder and verify the current draw. I bet it will still blow your breaker. I think you may have two problems (breakers too small, and perhaps a dead PIG). Also test the ballast with a feeding variac and amp meter (no PIG) to see what the limiting current is. This will tell us and you a lot. Need to verify some of the feeding components first to make any definitive conclusions. Troubleshooting is often a process of elimination. 

Gerry R.



Original poster: "C. Sibley" <a37chevy@xxxxxxxxx>

Tried ballasting with a LARGE wattage resistor, still
trips the breaker almost instataneously.  I'm
beginning to beleive that the pig is dead.  Anyone
have other suggestions?

Would driving it with a 6V transformer and measuring
the HV output be a reasonable test???

Curt.


--- Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Original poster: "C. Sibley" <a37chevy@xxxxxxxxx>
>
> Definitely not!  The welder and pig are definitely
> in
> series (220 power input to the welder in series with
> the low voltage bushings on the pig.  Center tap
> unconnected).  Everything is one loop so that the
> current must pass through both the pig and the
> welder.
>   Trust me on this one, I know the difference.
>
> I have tried running with welding leads shorted
> together and unshorted.  With lower amperage
> settings
> of the welder the welder comes on and the fan runs
> without tripping the breaker, so the pig is
> definitely
> passing current.  No spark at the HV terminals, even
> with as little as 1/16" gap between "coat hangers".
>
> Beginning to suspect the pig is dead???
>
> Curt.
>
>
>
>
> --- Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>  > Original poster: Charles Brush
>  > <cfbrush@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>  >
>  > Curt,
>  >
>  > You don't by any chance have the pig wired in
> series
>  > with the
>  > welder's welding leads do you?  It needs to be in
>  > series with one leg
>  > of the 220v ac line going into the welder.
>  > Otherwise I am stumped,
>  > but it sounds like something must not be wired
>  > right.
>  >
>  > Zap!
>  >
>  > Charles Brush
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > >Original poster: "C. Sibley"
> <a37chevy@xxxxxxxxx>
>  > >
>  > >David,
>  > >
>  > >I only have a 15A 220V circuit to play with, and
> am
>  > in
>  > >the process o
msnip...