[Milsurplus] More info...

[J. Forster]

Rick Brashear wrote:

> [snip]  I am lacking one
> vital number, the inductance of the winding on which the capacitor
> connects.  I can calculate the inductance using the 15 mfd capacitor,
> but that proves nothing considering it may not be the proper one.  Also,
> after rechecking the cap, I don't think it's shorted.  It could be it
> gives way when the ac voltage is applied, but I don't think so.  When I
> attach it to the transformer winding it draws in excess of 45 amps, so I
> know that's not right.  Do you think it is  possible this is the
> incorrect capacitor and that's why it's acting as if it were partially
> shorted when attached since it would be out of resonance?

I'm by no means sure an inductance measurement is meaningful. The Sola style
transformers play tricks with resonance and saturation. They are tuned to
resonate near, but NOT at line frequency as I remember. For a first shot at
this, I'd look at the original cap and it's tolerance and try and uplicate that
by a series / parallel combination as necessary.

You might want to test the transformer for shorted turns by applying 10 or 20
VAC to the primary and measuring the current. Roughly how much does the thing
weigh?
-John