RE: [TCML] Idle musings about surge suppressors

["Lau, Gary" <Gary.Lau@xxxxxx>]

Surge suppressors use MOV (Metal Oxide Varistors) to clamp voltages.  Since you're talking about cutting off plugs, I assume that you're talking about consumer-ready power strips, which hopefully contain such devices.  I don't know what the circuit configuration is for protected power strips, but I would assume that any MOV's are simply in parallel with the power, and so there's no concept of forwards vs. backwards.  Just plug the TC into it.  No worry about frying it.

I have 120V MOV's permanently wired inside my Variac case, from hot to ground and from neutral to ground.  I have no idea how much difference it makes, but it surely doesn't hurt and seems like a good idea.  

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of mrapol@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 6:13 AM
> To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
> Subject: [TCML] Idle musings about surge suppressors
> 
> I was just wondering if common surge suppressors have any use in coiling?
> They are designed to protect equipment from power spikes coming in, but
> could they work the other way, dampening surges going out from Tesla coils?
> Perhaps by physically reversing the surge suppressor--cutting off the plug
> and wiring it into the Tesla coil backward, then using a double-ended cord
> to connect to a wall plug? Or is a coil too much for it, frying all the
> circuitry at the first go?
> 
> PBT

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