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NST gang
Posted by Jerry Scafidel on 10/11/2004, 1:05 pm
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Re: NST gang
Posted by jerry scafidel jr on 10/18/2006, 9:07 pm, in reply to "NST gang" --Previous Message--
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Re: NST gang
Posted by Bert Hickman on 10/18/2006, 9:19 pm, in reply to "Re: NST gang" Hi Jerry, NST's have built-in current limiting. This allows you to connect 15/30's together with one or more 15/60's. You can even connect 15/30 or 15/60's with 12/60's and 12/30's. However, you'll get much better charging behavior if you use NSTs that all have the same output voltage rating and it's also easier to "phase" transformers (so that they are not fighting each other) when all have the same faceplate voltage rating. Good luck and play safely! Bert
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Re: NST gang
Posted by Bert Hickman on 10/11/2004, 1:31 pm, in reply to "NST gang" Hello Jerry, As long as all of the NST's are standard coil and core construction (not the newer light weight electronic type), you can parallel any pair of NST's that have the same output voltage rating irrespective of their individual current ratings or who manufactured them. And, because the NST's have internal current limiting, you can also parallel 12 and 15 kV NST's. However, your output voltage will then be somewhere between 12 and 15 kV, and you will not be able to draw quite as much output current from the pair since the lower and higher voltage NST's will "fight" one other to some extent. This causes a portion of the total output current to flow between the pair of NST's instead of into your Tesla Coil, and you'll end up wasting some power heating up your NST's instead of incinerating the air with streamers. Also, since the lower voltage NST "sees" a higher than normal output voltage, its insulation system is stressed harder, which may cause it to fail prematurely. To prolong the life of any of your NST's be sure to use safety gaps. You may also wish to consider using a "bulletproof" protection filter such as the "Terry" filter pioneered by Terry Fritz (moderator of the Pupman Tesla Coil Builders List): Good luck and play safely! -- Bert --
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