Insulators

Nov 22, 2008 6 Replies
B

I bought a big potted neon sign transformer on ebay, but both of the hv insulators were destroyed in transit (this is me, having a positive attitude...).



Anyway, I'm wondering where I might get some new ones to replace the broken ones? Any ideas? They (were) about 5cm long, 4.5cm wide, round, with bolts on the ends:


|-| |-| |-| - ==| |=| |=| | | | | | | | |={} 4.5cm ==| |=| |=| | | |-| |-| |-| -


------ 5cm ---|



They look like the kinds of things on power poles, only smaller.



There are pictures of what is left of them here if you don't like my ascii art:



formatting link



Thanks, Bob Monsen



Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
R

Take a ceramics class and make your own? ;-) (or go to the hobbies and crafts store, and see if they can give you some pointers...)

Otherwise, surplus stores, search for "steatite insulators", etc.

Good Luck! Rich

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
M

See if a local sign shop has a bad transformer, and will let you 'harvest' the insulators.

http://improve-usenet.org/index.html aioe.org, Goggle Groups, and Web TV users must request to be white listed, or I will not see your messages. If you have broadband, your ISP may have a NNTP news server included in your account: http://www.usenettools.net/ISP.htm There are two kinds of people on this earth: The crazy, and the insane. The first sign of insanity is denying that you\'re crazy.
Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
J

Epoxy a couple of plastic tubes where the insulators were. Extend the HV leads out, as wires or bolts. Then fill the hollow tubes with epoxy or silicone caulk.

John

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
S

On Nov 23, 9:52=A0am, John Larkin wrote: Epoxy a couple of plastic tubes where the insulators were. Extend the > HV leads out, as wires or bolts. Then fill the hollow tubes with epoxy > or silicone caulk. >

SIlicone caulk is _conductive_ until it fully cures so BE PATIENT if you take this route.

G=B2

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
B

SIlicone caulk is _conductive_ until it fully cures so BE PATIENT if you take this route.

G²

Thanks John and stratus46. I'll give this a try. I have some epoxy laying around. Much easier than trying to re-pot the monster, which looks to be a nightmare.

Regards, Bob Monsen

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
J

If you pull an arc between the ends, it makes a nice soft bzzzzzz sound. Add an old TV set doorknob cap across the ends, and the arc goes BZZZZZAAATTT!

John

Vote
Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required