Outcome (was 2 "ground rod" questions (Thumper aka cable fault locator))

Dec 16, 2006 4 Replies
I

I tested this machine more today. If I power it up and then depress the little breaker in the back (which seems popped), my GFCI blows. Powered from generator, depressing the breaker button seems to power the unit's fan down and seems to shut it down altogeher until un-pressed.



I basically decided to part it out and not to sell or try it anymore in its present form. It is too dangerous at 25 kV and seems to have something wrong with it. It is absolutely not supported by associated research any more. They have no manuals, no old guys to talk to, etc.



There are some fun goodies in there, such as a 25 kV, 1.2 kW high voltage adjustable transformer (10a input), HV rectifier, huge capacitors (maybe 3 uF), 7/8" thick high voltage cable for those thumping pulse discharges, 100' single piece 1/0 gauge welding cable for grounding, about as much in smaller 1/0 gauge grounding pieces made of same cable, and also a very interesting High Voltage Vontactor to make those pulsed discharges.



I hope to learn something as I take it apart. Maybe I will post a webpage on what is inside a thumper like this, if anyone is interested.



i
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I

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Contactor

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W

igor - make this available to tesla coil folks - there is a tesla coil list serv that you could get on, for example these folks will want the HV, and the high energy - you could make a coin shrinker too, that's fun

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J

Hi Iggy, Just make sure it doesn't part you out ! Check that those HV capacitors are shorted out and earthed to their case, without touching them. If you can't see how they are shorted out, assume they are fully charged and treat them accordingly. If you are disconnecting them from that short, wrap some fuse wire around their terminals and case to keep them safe.

I've seen something go wrong with one of our test sets, which left a

60kV capacitor fully charged inside one of it's modules. My workmate picked it up and carried it across the workshop, it discharged when he put it on it's metal shelf, frightened the crap out of both of us. If he had his hands in a slightly different spot, he wouldn't have made it home that afternoon. Be careful, especially now that you have turned it on..

regards,

John

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I

That's true. I will see what's inside these machines, I guess I will try to check again if I did not just misconnect this thing somehow.

i
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