Phil wrote:
> vac. cap. tinks can barely be heard. Big bangs are loud. The
> accompanying flash comes from the HV circuitry.
That's right. The energy stored in a vacuum cap is extremely small.
The energy stored in a power supply is very large.
When a HV path arcs, it's a "big bang" unless some resistance or
impedance limits currents. When a vacuum cap arcs, it's a tiny
little noise because the stored energy is very low.
As you say:
> The tink can barely be heard because it is a current limited arc.
> Does anyone care to sacrifice a vacuum variable for the good
> of the cause and hang it across a big amp power supply with a
> tape recorder running? You will loose a good cap, but you will
> be made famous here on the reflector in hundreds of references
> to your test.
Now, mostly due to conditioning through repetitive claims, people
assume a bang is a parasitic...or the effect of a parasitic.
73, Tom W8JI
w8ji@contesting.com
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