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Subject: Re: [motm] OT: Bad day at the office

From: "J. Larry Hendry" <jlarryh@...>
Date: 2004-04-23

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <groovyshaman@...>
> Jeeze Larry, how many volts was it this time?!?

345,000

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Paul Schreiber <synth1@...>
> Looks like your basic Radio Shack #271-4553 "High-Voltage Binding Post" :)

Well, I checked with them today and they did not have any replacements in
stock at the local store. But, in true Radio Shack form, the store manager
offered to phone the other stores and locate one for me.

For those interested in the technical side, you were looking at a 345 KV,
2000 amp current transformer used for metering the power flow. These high
voltage transformers are made to step DOWN the current to about 5 amps that
can be easily metered. But, what happens to voltage when you step DOWN the
current? The open circuit voltage on the CT secondary in theory could be
110 million volts. However, the secondaries are always kept in a closed
loop to avoid this. But, if you get failure that causes the secondary to
become open, the smoke letting will begin.

Larry