RE: oil dielectric

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

Original poster: "David Thomson by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <dave-at-volantis-dot-org>

Hi Dave,

	Suppose the coil is running.
	Suppose the coil arcs over, in an unexpected way.
	Suppose the arc hits the oil.
	Suppose (since its an insulator) the oil gets a breakdown
	UNDER it.  Now the arc is in the oil.

We're talking about enclosed containers with no air.  There is no way the
arc will contact the oil.

You are correct, if the oil is left exposed and there were a conductor just
below the surface, an arc could form and eventually heat the oil.  There are
many poor construction techniques a person could use that would allow for
disaster with Tesla coils.  Your advice to not expose oii to arcing is well
taken.

Dave