Re: where to get dielectric oil? =

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

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-twfpowerelectronics-dot-com>

Hi David,

At 08:46 PM 8/19/2004, you wrote:
>Terry, all,
>
>I called the local authorized Shell Oil distributor today
>and found that they did carry the Shell Diala oil, but
>not the type M. They did carry one of the 2-letter
>grades (can't remember which one off hand) but
>it wasn't currently in stock in the local warehouse.

Any of those grades are perfectly fine!!  Maybe the type "M" has been 
phased out now for the "new and improved" versions ;-))

>However, they did have some in stock at the ware-
>house in Jackson, TN (about 80 miles). They could
>bring it from their Jackson warehouse and have it ready
>for pick up in  couple of days. Their price for it is
>$5.28/gal, which puts a 5 gallon container at $26.40.

Wow!!  I thought it was like $10/gal!  that is almost cheaper than motor 
and other common oils.  Equal to the E-bay guy's price (before 
shipping).  Can't go wrong at that price for probably the best oil out there.

>That seemed reasonable enough to me so I ordered
>one 5 gallon container. BTW, this oil company is the
>only local authorized Shell Oil distributor for the Mem-
>phis and Jackson, TN area according to the Shell Oil
>webpage, so shopping around locally didn't seem to
>be an option for me.....

Maybe here in wild Colorado there is more demand for Shell oils or 
something.  The "dealers" are just "small guys" that order stuff for 
you.  Not surprising they have to get the 5 Gal sizes in sort of special.

Cool!

Cheers,

         Terry


>David Rieben
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
>Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 3:40 PM
>Subject: Re: where to get dielectric oil? =
>
>
> > Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist-at-twfpowerelectronics-dot-com>
> >
> > Hi David,
> >
> > Phenolic type "GPO3" is very tracking resistant.  It is a red to pink
> > polyester phenolic that is used in all kinds of HV electrical
> > stuff.  McMaster sells it somewhere but I can't find it at the
> > moment...  Polypropylene will burn up bad, but it is very resistant to
> > failing in the first place that may indeed fix the problem ;-))  G-10 is
> > nice for low voltage stuff but GPO3 is best of HV...
> >
> > Water at the bottom of a container of transformer oil is usually
>considered
> > a disaster...  Oil can hold a lot of water, thus the vacuuming of
> > refrigeration systems and all to purge out all the water...  The thing I
> > saw for a big substation transformer oil filling, heated the oil to boil
> > off water under vacuum in a continuous loop recirculating system.  Quite
>an
> > operation!!  It took days...  That transformer slide 3 feet on the rail
>car
> > it was delivered on (200 tons!!) and came damaged.  They "thought" they
>had
> > it all fixed...  It failed within a year and destroyed the substation
> > ($15,000,000!!!)...  But the mechanical damage was to blame, not the
> > oil.  They tested transformer oils all the time for breakdown as a
>periodic
> > check to be sure water was not getting in...
> >
> > If you really care, I would get that nice new Shell oil and all...  I
> > really worry about used oils or "just any" oils for things that really
> > matter...  "Water" is the worst enemy.  I seem to remember a "descant"
>that
> > works inside transformer oil too....  But just "clean and dry" will fix
> > 99.9% of problems...  I would consider sloshing around alcohol, like the
> > gallon tins from the hardware store first to clean things if needed.
>Then
> > heat the thing up for a day or so to drive out water.  "Any oils" may not
> > have all the "bad oils" removed that could attack transformer shellacs on
> > the wires and all too...  "Detergent" motor oils are designed to eat
>though
> > shellacs which may not be a good thing in a tranny!!
> >
> > If you get oil from Shell, please tell us how it goes (cost??)...  They
> > seem very happy to sell it to anyone they can find ;-))
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> >          Terry
> >
> >