[Amps] The power of an oversized electrolytic capacitor

[Carl]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom at telus.net>
To: <amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2012 10:28 AM
Subject: [Amps] The power of an oversized electrolytic capacitor


> Date: Thu, 3 May 2012 19:20:24 -0700
> From: "k7fm" <k7fm at teleport.com>
> Subject: Re: [Amps] The power of an oversized electrolytic capacitor
>
>
> We have been talking about the danger of having too much capacitance in 
> the
> power supply filter capacitor. I just read that large capacitor banks are
> used to fire off nuclear bombs. That puts takes the discussion to a new
> level. Also, I wonder if carrying a large electrolytic around might be
> violating some federal or state law about having possession of bomb making
> equipment? I can just see some prosecutor demonstrating the power of a
> charged 300 ufd @ 10,000 volt cap - especially if the owner was a cb
> operator.
>
> 73, Colin K7FM
>
> ##  where do you folks get the idea that they are bombs.   I have yet to 
> see one of em,
> from hundreds so far... that up and blow their brains out. Toss that myth 
> out the window.
>
> ###  BTW,   My latest creation uses  24 x 10,000 uf  @ 450 vdc caps, all 
> in series..
> and charged up to 7700 vdc.   That’s  one bank.    I built a 2nd identical 
> bank of 24,
> and parallel  the 2 x banks together... onto a common buss.... via hv 
> fuses of course.
> I use a  1.1 kw CCS, energy discharge rated  glitch  50 ohm R.    And yes, 
> you can cro-bar
> it all day long..and nothing happens...just a blown HV fuse.  ( via  a vac 
> contactor of course).
>
> ##  This is all old news..at least for over 5 years now.   The concept 
> works very good.  It amounts
> to a brute force regulated B+ supply.
>
> Jim  VE7RF


Youre missing the point Jim and no one is expecting the cap to grenade 
unless it has a serious failure.

OTOH a short anywhere in the HV circuit dumps all of that stored energy in a 
bright flash that WILL create lots of damage if allowed to occur.

Carl
KM1H