Re: NST power rating -- another perspective

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

Original poster: FutureT-at-aol-dot-com 

In a message dated 10/13/03 12:43:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
tesla-at-pupman-dot-com writes:

>When a coiler tests a NST with different resistance loads he will find that
>the maximum wattage output that he will get from the NST will be about 25%
>of the nameplate rating on the NST. The reason for this is that as the
>resistance is reduced the NST current  increases but the output voltage
>decreases (to zero). The output power (watts) will be the product of current
>times voltage and will never be more than about 25% of the nameplate rating.
>Coilers who say that their NST is producing 50% of nameplate watts output
>are not metering their systems correctly. It is obvious the maximum power
>theorem does not apply to NST's. The power  transformers that are not
>current limited are another story.


John,

When using NST's with a capacitive load as in a Tesla coil, it appears
to me that the NST can supply approximately its rated wattage output
without over-volting the NST input.  I'm basing this on measurements I did
of the peak capacitor voltage and capacitance, which permitted me
to calculate the joules, and then the output "wattage" based on the
breakrate.

Another test which supports the above statement is that comparisons
with non-current limited transformers gave a similar spark length for a
similar input power to that of the NST.

When you speak of the 25% of rated output capability of an NST,
are you saying this is true for TC usage?

John