[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
HV hookup wire
----------
From: Malcolm Watts [SMTP:MALCOLM-at-directorate.wnp.ac.nz]
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 1998 3:32 PM
To: Tesla List
Subject: Re: HV hookup wire
Hi Eleanor,
> From: Eleanor Flood [SMTP:eflood-at-bellsouth-dot-net]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 1998 5:30 PM
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: HV hookup wire
>
> In place of ignition wire, HV hook up wire can be constructed, cheaply,
> by purchasing black plastic tubing, about the size of a pencil, normally
> used for micro-irrigation purposes and available at large builder's
> supply stores and some garden centers. The tubing will hold up well
> under HV. We use silver coated braid obtained from coaxial cable and
> use a wire with a small hook bent on the end to snake the braid through
> the desired length connection. Stiff wire is much easier to use and the
> tubing will accommodate up to a size 8 wire.
> If you are using caps in oil, clamp one end to prevent siphoning of oil.
> Works for us.
> Maybe better explain how we clamp it.
> A very effective clamp can be made from 1/4" copper tubing cut in 1/4 "
> lengths, slipped over the end of the plastic tubing and crimped with a
> pair of pliers. This stops any leaks.
> Harold and Elli
Braid is not a good thing to include in high frequency resonant
circuits, silver plated or not. Skin effect adds enormously to the
resistance of braid. In trying to stay near the overall conductor
surface, the current has to hop from strand to strand so in using
braid, you are including hundreds of connections of dubious quality
in the wire. It would be OK to use between the transformer and the
spark gap, but nowhere else. The high I^2.R losses in it make
themselves known as heating in the wire.
Malcolm