Re: Seperate transformer cabinet or not?

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>

The weight and bulk aspect is probably the biggest practical problem with
higher powered TCs (and other high energy HV stuff).  And, because you're
not likely to rebuild it once it's done, you kind of want to pick a good
solution from the beginning.

Some things I have discovered:

1) Metal handtrucks make nice chassis to support heavy things. They've got
wheels already mounted to an axle, a handle in the right place, etc.
2) Make sure whatever you do can fit in the vehicle(s) you are going to
transport it in, both now and the in the future.   You WILL need to move the
stuff eventually.

I built a bunch of nice fiberglass capacitor banks (4 caps -at- 250lb each)
designed to be conveniently moved with a forklift.  They had nifty casters,
etc.  The only problem is that I quit the job where I had access to a
forklift and big trucks. I also built some stuff using those big plastic
"macro bins" (inexpensive (<$100), polyethylene tubs about 40x48inches and
24 inches deep.. used for produce (grapes, fruit, etc.))

They wound up in my driveway.  What looks reasonable size in a 40,000 square
foot warehouse with 20 foot ceilings looks a lot bigger in front of a two
car garage with the neighbors looking sideways at you.

Now, I design equipment to fit in the back of a minivan or station wagon
(sort of a lowest common denominator vehicle, size wise).  This is the big
problem with standard 19" racks (which I love for other reasons)... they
don't fit easily..

Take a look at what's available for mobile DJ's and for garage bands to use
(big bands use real semis and have roadies...)  I wouldn't necessarily buy
the stuff they do, but an hour browsing in a store catering to that market
might give you some good ideas.

The omnipresent milk crate, and it's ilk, are something else to consider, at
least form factor wise.  I don't know that I'd use crates (all those holes
seem to collect dust, allow stuff to get in, etc.), but the general size is
convenient.  And, if you build in a consistent size package, they stack nice
ly, both in operation, moving, and in storage.  You could probably get some
reasonably inexpensive crate/box/container to fit 1 or 2 15/60's, and then
come up with some nice connectors, etc. to allow interconnecting some nice
modular building blocks. (Banana jacks are fine for 15 kV (aside from
personnel safety aspects)).

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2001 7:01 PM
Subject: Re: Seperate transformer cabinet or not?


> Original poster: "Bill Vanyo by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<vanyo-at-echoes-dot-net>
>
> I'm about to add a 4th 15/60 NST to my power supply, and plan to leave
> room for a 5th.  After that, I get a pig.
>
> I went with the third choice - seperate power supply unit.  It's not
> exactly a box - just a big plank of heavy plywood with 2-by-4 rails on
> the sides, two big wheels on one end and a handle on the other.  Kind of
> like a hand truck in shape and form.  Mounted on it are my NST's,
> protection circuit on the high voltage side, and line filters on the
> mains side.  I've got a variac, but I keep that seperate, because a)
> adding it on would make the weight too much, even with the big wheels,
> and b) I like to use it for other things occassionally (like motor
> control for winding jig).
>