In this space, visitors are invited to post any comments, questions, or skeptical observations about Philo T. Farnsworth's contributions to the field of Nuclear Fusion research.Subject: Re: Spark Plug feedthrough insulator
Date:
Poster: Richard HullOn , Richard Hull wrote:
>I wouldn't worry about breakdown through the insulator (porcelain), but creepage along the surface of the insulator. On the air side, cleanliness would be a big factor, as would anything causing a field concentration at the connection end.
This was a well recognized factor by me having many years of Tesla coil experience behind me.
I did the following:
1. micro cleaned the insulator first with alcohol to degrease it just before installation in its final position
2. Next, cleaned it with distilled water and wiped it dry.
3. Use a heat gun or blow dryer on high to take the porcelin up to over the boiling point of water (bakeout)
4. Slather on HV silicone compound (purchased at the better electronic jobbers). Make sure that the insulator is well covered.
5. Secure a first rate racing wire red silicone plug boot and slide it down the attached high tension wire over the plugs insulator letting the silicone compound oozae out of the bottom and top of the boot.
6. Wipe off the excess silicone, but leave enough to seal out moisture as well, top and bottom.
The wire you use should be first rate super suple, silicone, stranded copper core stuff. JC Whitney sells this expensive custom racing wire by the foot. Use at least 40kv standoff wire.
Richard Hull