From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: need help/capacitors and AC
Date: Thu, 03 May 2007 00:18:03 -0600
Original poster: "Scott Bogard" <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Matthew,
    I have never built an MMC, but I researched them, as I was 
going to build one.  What is the voltage rating on your 
caps?  1200 seems like an awful lot of caps for an MMC (to me at 
least), especially considering you are using an NST, which 
probably has fairly low current (30, 60, or 90, mA).  Re-run your 
calculations, {V=V1+V2+Vn..., and C=1/((1/C1)+(1/C2)+(1/Cn)...)} 
and if you get the same results, consider using different MMC caps 
(like the 942C rated at 1500 or 2000 volts). I would say, using 
the 2kV, you would need about 20 some, for a small 3 in. coil, and 
maybe a little more for a bigger coil, or a higher current supply 
(not 1200 capacitors).  Plus remember, one can generally push the 
operating voltage of the caps a little beyond what they are rated 
(if you don't mind replacing one once in a while), but be careful, 
use peak voltage (15kV/.707) to calculate the necessary voltage 
rating of the capacitor!
    Anyway, to answer your second question, I believe it works 
like this, as your frequency increases, your maximum current must 
go down (that is how it works with Maxwell caps, or so says the 
company that makes them).
Voltage breakdown is irrelevant (not really, but for your purposes it is).
    To answer your third question, generally NSTs are 15kV from 
terminal to terminal (one is +7.5 kV, the other is -7.5 kV, and 
then they switch as the AC cycle progresses).  Remember this is 
RMS voltage, use peak for calculating you capacitor voltage 
(RMS/.707).  I hope this helps.
Scott Bogard.
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: need help/capacitors and AC
Date: Wed, 02 May 2007 18:40:07 -0600
Original poster: "Matthew Boddicker" <shmerpleton_town@xxxxxxxxxxx>
This is Matthew Boddicker
I am currently designing a MMC, but I need the right capacitor for 
the job. I am going with cornell-dubilier caps, but my recent 
calculations said that I would require around 1200 caps for a MMC.
My question is how does a capacitor react to different frequencies 
of current? the cornell-dubilier web page says that the cap can 
handle 500Vac at 60Hz. if my circuit for my coil operates on a 
much higher frequency will I require a higher ac voltage rating or a lower one?
last question but equally relevant. My NST's output is 15,000 
volts, is that the voltage between both output nodes or is 15,000 
the voltage between one node and ground?
Thanks,
Matthew Boddicker
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