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Re: First Pole Pig TC in Germany??
Hi Jim, all,
> Original Poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-jpl.nasa.gov>
[snip]
> But why not buy a distribution transformer in Germany?
>ABB and Siemens both manufacture them in largish
>quantities. Or are the regulatory issues so complex that
>it is easier to buy a used one in the USA and have it
>shipped? Or even in England, and you could drive it
>home yourself?
Hehehe. Bad joke ;o)) Single phase pigs are almost
non existent over here, because all households are
fed with 3 phase. The smallest 3 phase pig I could find
was a 50kVA unit. Needless to say, I passed it up, because
there was no hope of transporting, storing or easily using
such a monster. In the rural *fart*, where I live (1200 people),
3x 650kVA (21kV to 380V) 3-phase units (distributed all
throughout our town) deliver the power to all households.
A 650kVA unit would deliver some assume sparks, tho ;o))
There are (VERY) a few 6kV single phase, one horned,
units floating around, but they are about as rare as hen�s
teeth and 6kV is on the low side. Most of these units are
PT�s, which have a 100V LV side. Other PT�s used to
measure the 21kV line are of low power (50-100W) only,
so they are no good for TC useage. They are built like a
rock and I bet you could get 800W-1kVA from them for
short periods of time, but I can get that kind of power
from a NST, so its not really worth the trouble (other
that they have a high BIL)
Regulatory issues can be a problem, but if you talk enough,
you usually can bend the rules and get a HV xformer, but
you just CAN`T find any. Arrgh. Germany is not that free
in such matters. Finding surplus equipment (you name it,
I mean it) is a real pain, too. Almost non existent. Surplus
stores are a rarity. Military surplus is just that: military.
Almost no chance to get this stuff except for a few Russian
exceptions (tubes, etc) maybe. Pigs just don�t fly low
enough to get ;o)) at, which is why I treasure my open
framed NSTs, which can deliver a hunk of current. I plan
on running 4 in parallel for my 6kVA setup, which they
should easily deliver.
You wouldn�t believe what a pain it is to fly D powered
model rockets. Not to mention E thru H power ;o((,
which is my interest. Laws, paperwork, more laws,
more paperwork... ad nausum.... uuugh. The EU is
NOT what you would imagine it SHOULD be.
For the above reasons I have tried most everything (large
OBIT arrays, MOTS, etc, etc) before finally settling on
the 7.5kV NSTs. The max allowable voltage above ground
(for NSTs) was changed in 1963 from +/-8kV to +/- 4kV
above ground (sucks). However, Tesla�s creation runs
on low voltage, too ;o)). I even was crazy enough ask
what a custom built xformer would cost. 12kV and 1A
(BIL of 50kV) would have set me back around $1700
(yeah that�s $$ not DM), which let me back off quickly.
Similar goes for my asking AEG for a pulse cap. 100nF
-at-30kVac would have set me back a small fortune (~
$2500, GASP!!), which is another reason, why I am
glad, that I discovered MMC caps ;oo)). In Germany,
we have a saying "Not macht erfinderisch", which simply
means: "Can�t find what you are looking for? Go and
build it!!"
Of course, I have open arms for a nice pig, if one ever
floats in my vicinity. I am also still looking for some pulse
caps for exploding wire experiments. 15-20kV and a few
�F (80-100+ �F would be great ;o)) Compensation caps,
used in the States for utility lines are non existent, here
(tried that already). This is probably due to the fact that
3 phase power somewhat self compensates and they
aren�t necessary.
Coiler greets from Germany,
Reinhard