They're not transformers, they have only one winding. They're some kind of heavy duty chokes. I bought them at an electrical surplus shop, but I'm not sure what they were used for. They work great to limit current because of the inductive reactance, and they seem to be able to handle a LOT of current without getting hot. I even connected just one of them to 120 VAC and it barely got warm.
@ct92404 are they ust one coil around some steel? if they are they are used to filter ac so it is at a consisten levle with little spikes or drops used in computers alot or mri rooms
actually big mots don't need a ballast if you use capacitors, i have 2 BIG mots in anti parallel with 4 capacitors and they run quite cool, and i have a choke wound on a piece of pvc pipe , with the choke i can run forever and 1 foot arcs, with out it i can run for about 7 minutes with 2.5 foot arcs, running it for 7 minutes the hot but NOT over heating
But how do you have the capacitors and chokes connected to the transformers? If they're in series with the primary or secondary windings, then you are adding reactance, which adds resistance to the circuit and that's why you're not overloading the transformers.
yeah, I kind of like the look of analog meters...they look more "retro" and it's better for comparison. But sometimes digital is better for getting precise measurements. When I made that panel, I used analog meters because they could handle more current...and also because they were cheaper. But I got lazy when I was recording this and I just didn't feel like actually look at the ammeter to see what it was saying. Also, it was freezing cold out there!
Put NST's in series? I don't know. I guess if you took them out of the case and maybe put them in oil for better insulation, you could put two of them in series for 30,000 volts. But I've never heard of anyone putting neon transformers in series before.
yes, for safety you should ground the core of the transformer. But most MOTs are end-point grounded anyway, meaning one end of the secondary winding is connected to the core. So you have to ground the core.
thats cool, a few questions: how do you figure out how many milliamps are coming out? what would happen if you only used 1 choke? sometimes i put a 1uf capacitor in series with the output and zap fruits!
I just used Ohm's Law. The meter was showing I was drawing 6 Amps. So, 120 volts X 6 Amps = 720 Watts. The output on the secondary side is about 4,000 volts. 720 Watts divided by 4,000 volts = 180 milliamps. A transformer changes voltage, but the power stays the same. So if you know the power and the voltage, you can figure out the current. Although technically with AC, it's a little different because there's a difference between true power and apparent power. But it's close enough.
Cute??? DOH! I'm definitely going to have to post another video with a bigger arc. I can bypass some of the chokes to get more current. I really don't like MOTs that much though. It's annoying to have to use a ballast. I like neon transformers a lot better. I can get higher voltage and a lot bigger arcs with my 15kv neon transformers.
Well you dont have to use a ballast and with 2 MOTs in series you will get 3x bigger arc than with your neon xfmr :) You only need a powerful breaker and to watch overheating of the MOTs.
well, yeah I could put a higher current breaker to run the transformers without a ballast. But the problem is that can also overheat the bus bars in the main service panel. It can get so hot that they warp and don't make good contact with the switches anymore, and the lights in the house start flickering! I've actually had that happen before.
Well, definitely not me! You see everything I use and how much space it takes up just to get 4,000 volts! My neon transformers can supply 15,000 volts and I can just put them up on a table. But SOME people seem to like to use them for some reason! :)
well, okay...maybe not from one NST, but you can hook up a bunch of them in parallel and get high voltage AND high current! Neon transformers are better for a lot of experiments because you get much higher voltage. I can get about a foot long arc with four of them connected in parallel for 15kv at 120 ma.
what do you cuse to limit current? they look like transformers how are they not steping up or down all your cuttent?
MrStemkilla 9 months ago
@MrStemkilla
They're not transformers, they have only one winding. They're some kind of heavy duty chokes. I bought them at an electrical surplus shop, but I'm not sure what they were used for. They work great to limit current because of the inductive reactance, and they seem to be able to handle a LOT of current without getting hot. I even connected just one of them to 120 VAC and it barely got warm.
ct92404 9 months ago
@ct92404 are they ust one coil around some steel? if they are they are used to filter ac so it is at a consisten levle with little spikes or drops used in computers alot or mri rooms
MrStemkilla 9 months ago
give it 12 amps and give it caps now that thng will kick an nst's butt!
ubuntupokemoninc 1 year ago
actually big mots don't need a ballast if you use capacitors, i have 2 BIG mots in anti parallel with 4 capacitors and they run quite cool, and i have a choke wound on a piece of pvc pipe , with the choke i can run forever and 1 foot arcs, with out it i can run for about 7 minutes with 2.5 foot arcs, running it for 7 minutes the hot but NOT over heating
ubuntupokemoninc 1 year ago
@ubuntupokemoninc
But how do you have the capacitors and chokes connected to the transformers? If they're in series with the primary or secondary windings, then you are adding reactance, which adds resistance to the circuit and that's why you're not overloading the transformers.
ct92404 1 year ago
@ct92404
with heat the same with or with out the caps, the are big freaken transformers.
ubuntupokemoninc 1 year ago
seem's a lot of work for a tiny little arc...i get 30Kv from a flyback and a power tansistor (2n3055)
andymouse123 1 year ago
Pretty lethal setup there... good idea putting in a ballast
ArtistBlade1972 1 year ago
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ubuntupokemoninc 1 year ago
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0ZYM4NDI4S 3 years ago
this is a nice setup!
form109 3 years ago
i just watched this video again"were live, 120volts...and the amps...are right there"lol i started cracking up!!!
codemsan 3 years ago
hehehe...yeah, that's me being lazy and not wanting to read an analogue meter.
ct92404 3 years ago
id rather have analog meters over digital anyday, they just look more scientific lol
codemsan 3 years ago
yeah, I kind of like the look of analog meters...they look more "retro" and it's better for comparison. But sometimes digital is better for getting precise measurements. When I made that panel, I used analog meters because they could handle more current...and also because they were cheaper. But I got lazy when I was recording this and I just didn't feel like actually look at the ammeter to see what it was saying. Also, it was freezing cold out there!
ct92404 3 years ago
Put NST's in series? I don't know. I guess if you took them out of the case and maybe put them in oil for better insulation, you could put two of them in series for 30,000 volts. But I've never heard of anyone putting neon transformers in series before.
ct92404 3 years ago
i just got a huge mot and i just wanted to know if i had to ground(earth) the outside of the transformer?
TCDIL95 3 years ago
yes, for safety you should ground the core of the transformer. But most MOTs are end-point grounded anyway, meaning one end of the secondary winding is connected to the core. So you have to ground the core.
ct92404 3 years ago
thats cool, a few questions: how do you figure out how many milliamps are coming out? what would happen if you only used 1 choke? sometimes i put a 1uf capacitor in series with the output and zap fruits!
awsomehighvoltage 4 years ago
I just used Ohm's Law. The meter was showing I was drawing 6 Amps. So, 120 volts X 6 Amps = 720 Watts. The output on the secondary side is about 4,000 volts. 720 Watts divided by 4,000 volts = 180 milliamps. A transformer changes voltage, but the power stays the same. So if you know the power and the voltage, you can figure out the current. Although technically with AC, it's a little different because there's a difference between true power and apparent power. But it's close enough.
ct92404 4 years ago
I'm a lady and I'm confused about the hold thing I would love to know how it all works but i think only a man can understand it.
twicefroze 4 years ago
awsome power supply! and the arc is cute :)
codemsan 4 years ago
Cute??? DOH! I'm definitely going to have to post another video with a bigger arc. I can bypass some of the chokes to get more current. I really don't like MOTs that much though. It's annoying to have to use a ballast. I like neon transformers a lot better. I can get higher voltage and a lot bigger arcs with my 15kv neon transformers.
ct92404 4 years ago
Well you dont have to use a ballast and with 2 MOTs in series you will get 3x bigger arc than with your neon xfmr :) You only need a powerful breaker and to watch overheating of the MOTs.
jmartis2 4 years ago
well, yeah I could put a higher current breaker to run the transformers without a ballast. But the problem is that can also overheat the bus bars in the main service panel. It can get so hot that they warp and don't make good contact with the switches anymore, and the lights in the house start flickering! I've actually had that happen before.
ct92404 4 years ago
Who DOES like MOTs? I think they're a pain to work with and would rather just sue a neon transformer. Nice video though!
LineMasterJorbob 4 years ago
Well, definitely not me! You see everything I use and how much space it takes up just to get 4,000 volts! My neon transformers can supply 15,000 volts and I can just put them up on a table. But SOME people seem to like to use them for some reason! :)
ct92404 4 years ago
yeah i LOVE MOTs, id prefer them over NSTs any day...with exeptions for powering tesla coils,then NST rule again :)
codemsan 4 years ago
besides,you try and get a foot and a half long arc with some NSTs!
codemsan 3 years ago
well, okay...maybe not from one NST, but you can hook up a bunch of them in parallel and get high voltage AND high current! Neon transformers are better for a lot of experiments because you get much higher voltage. I can get about a foot long arc with four of them connected in parallel for 15kv at 120 ma.
ct92404 3 years ago
why cant you connect the in series? if you dont use the ground, and keep the casings insulated, it sould work!
codemsan 3 years ago
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MajorUtah 2 years ago
i didnt understand a word you said, so i cant really answer anything....
codemsan 2 years ago