Re: NSTs & PCBs?!?

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

Original poster: "Steven Ward by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" <srward16-at-hotmail-dot-com>

Thats good to hear about the PCBs not have been used in NSTs.  I kinda 
doubted it anyway, but thought i should ask.  Yeah, its tough to get the 
old NSTs now.  And it seems to have drastically gotten worse in the last 2 
months (around here anyway).  If they do sell them, they want like $60 for 
a 12/60.  No way im paying that!  So i guess MOTs are looking good for the 
future!  Time to work on that 4 pack!

Steve Ward.






>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>Subject: Re: NSTs & PCBs?!?
>Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2003 19:54:42 -0700
>
>Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-qwest-dot-net>" 
><Neonglo-at-aol-dot-com>
>
>Hi Steve, All,
>
>As far as I know, neon transformers never contained PCBs (or tar for that 
>matter) in the potting compound. The black potting material is a mixture 
>of about 50% asphalt and 50% silica flour. This improves the electrical 
>insulating ability of the asphalt, and also aids in heat transfer from the 
>core to the case. However, old high power factor transformers may contain 
>a capacitor containing PCBs.
>
>It is now illegal for neon distributors to sell transformers without 
>secondary ground fault circuit interrupters. This has upped the price of 
>transformers and made them less reliable than the old ones. No wonder sign 
>shops have started to hang on to the good ol' standard neon transformers 
>when they can.
>
>Tony
>
>*************************
>Tony Greer
>Special Effects Neon
>Lubbock, Texas
>*************************
>
>In a message dated 3/6/03 8:33:48 AM Central Standard Time, 
>tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>does anyone know if PCBs were ever used in the tar potting of old neon
>>transformers???  When i picked up some NSTs today, the man at the sign shop
>>mentioned i probably should not try to depot them as there may be PCB in
>>the tar.  But now that i think about that, i would think they would have to
>>use better methods of sealing off the case of the NST, if that were true
>>(but then again, they didnt really think PCBs were bad at the time of its
>>use).
>>So to make sure, did the use PCB??  It makes me worry when i think of all
>>the old transformers i unpotted!
>>
>>Steve Ward,
>>
>>PS, i hope im not setting off a false alarm. if so, sorry about that!
>>
>>PPS, is anyone else having a heck of a time getting NSTs???  The sign shops
>>dont want to give up the old ones, and say that the price of new ones is
>>sky rocketing.
>
>
>
>
>


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