Re: Capacitors

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

Original poster: "Bill Vanyo by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <vanyo-at-echoes-dot-net>

Here are specs for some Maxwell caps from the General Atomics site. 
It's not an exhaustive list of model numbers.

http://www.hvpower-dot-com/products/components/capacitors/double_ended/ptech.html

http://www.hvpower-dot-com/products/components/capacitors/single_ended/ptech.html

I've had one of the single ended Maxwell caps fail (rated 35kv, 0.06uF)
on my first coil (three 15kv 60ma NST's).  I'd still consider getting
another, but a double ended with a known design life.  But for now, I'm
going with MMC (for my next coil).

	- Bill V.


Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Steve White by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<slwhite-at-zeus.ia-dot-net>
> 
> You make a good point about the Maxwells. I was simply going by Maxwell's
> published specs for their caps. They make caps with pulse discharge cycle
> times ranging from 100,000 cycles to 100,000,000 cycles. I still would not
> buy one of the units with a low-rated discharge lifetime, especially since
> they are used and I do not know how much life is left. I myself use a couple
> of Maxwells, but they are rated new at 100,000,000 discharge cycles. So even
> though I bought them used, I am fairly confident that there is a lot of life
> left.
> 
> Steve: Coiling in Iowa
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
> Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 11:07 AM
> Subject: RE: Capacitors
> 
> > Original poster: "Lau, Gary by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> <Gary.Lau-at-compaq-dot-com>
> >
> > I whole-heartedly agree that there is an awful lot of utter garbage being
> > sold on ebay suggesting that it's suitable for "Tesla", notably Glassmike
> > caps and multi-microfarad sized caps.  If you're not sure is an ebay cap
> is
> > suitable for use in a coil, ask the list (and it probably won't be :-(.
> > And don't get me started on the "Nikola Tesla Purple Positive Energy
> > Angel"!  Shame on those sellers!
> >
> > But I'm not sure I share your concern for Maxwell caps.  I am well aware
> of
> > the rated life expectancy issues with Maxwell's (or any other cap), but as
> > a practical matter, how many times have we heard of a Maxwell expiring in
> > actual Tesla service?  I have not.
> >
> > Gary Lau
> > MA, USA
> >
> >  -----Original Message-----
> > From: Tesla list [mailto:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> > Sent: Friday, January 25, 2002 10:15 AM
> > To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> > Subject: Re: Capacitors
> >
> > Original poster: "Steve White by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
> > <slwhite-at-zeus.ia-dot-net>
> >
> > Many things for sale hang the words "tesla coil" onto them, especially on
> > E-Bay. Do careful investigation to avoid wasting money. I see a lot of
> pulse
> > discharge caps on E-Bay which are unsuitable for tesla coil service. A lot
> > of the Maxwells that I see on E-Bay are models that have a very low pulse
> > discharge cycle life. If the cap only has a discharge cycle life of
> 100,000
> > cycles it will only last about 500 seconds of total run time when used
> with
> > a RSG at a break rate of 240 PPS. And that is only if the cap is new. They
> > are almost always used with unknown service life remaining. There are some
> > good deals out there but you must know what you are buying.
> >
> > Steve: Coiling in Iowa
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >