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Materials

Edited/Updated:  Dec. 15, 2004

• Cop-R-Cote - can be painted onto surfaces to provide a conductive cu coating.

• Copper Tape - Digikey# 3M1181A-ND, $10.50, 1/4 inch wide by 50 feet.

• DeoxIT Power Booster by Caig Laboratories.  Here's a hot tip on a new material to improve all contacts and bolt connections.  This was passed on to me by a woman coiler that I know (a very rare person) that does absolutely amazing and innovative work.  She used some on her RF ground bolt connections and reported dramatic improvements in performance.  I think it's around $13.00 for a spray can.  They're in Poway, CA, (800) 224-4123.  Go to  http://shopping.netledger.com/s.nl/c.ACCT113328/sc.1/.f .  You'll see a link to this product about 1/2 down on the left.  Their home page is http://www.caig.com.  Contact cleaner, conductivity enhancer and lubricant; dissolves oxidation and corrosion on metal surfaces, fills in microscopic gaps and reseals surface for better contact to enhance flow of electricity.
  Improves Conductivity
  Deoxidizes, Cleans & Preserves
  Reduces Intermittent Connections
  Reduces Arcing & RFI
  Reduces Wear & Abrasion
  Temperature Range, -34 C (-29 F) to +200 C (400 F), a fast-acting deoxidizing solution that cleans, preserves, lubricates and improves conductivity on all metal connectors and contacts.  Use as a general treatment for connectors, contacts and other metal surfaces, and on non-critical metal surfaces with severe oxidation and corrosion.  If the metal surface is discolored, it is severe.  DeoxIT dissolves the contamination and protects the surface.  For reference, DeoxIT has approximately 20% cleaning action.

• Dielectric Oil - Shell Diala AX - http://www.shell-lubricants.com/Electrical/products.php.  Your best bet is a local power utility repair group.  Go to the power company maintenance dept. and ask to buy HV oil.  They will sell it to you for about $2.00 a gallon.  I tested lamp oil, 10wt non detergent motor oil, kerosene, diesel fuel, and several other oils.  As long as they have no additives they will all work fine.   Lamp oil from Wal Mart seems to be the easiest for everyone to find and it comes in quarts and gallons.   Get uncented lamp oil 100% pure oil.  I tested the oil by placing an adjustable spark gap under the oil and connecting it to 15KV power supply.   Measure the gap and try different oils to see which one works best.   Put a cap in parallel with your transformer and test it again.  Gary W.

• Ferrofluidic - July 18, 04.  John, I have something that might be of interest to you, I just came across the info sheet on it cleaning up...a unique magnetic liquid that can be manipulated  by an external magnetic field, ferrofluidic is the only material in which a magnetism and fluidity coexist.  Patented by NASA in 1965.  Also sold as a kit.  Fluid may be purchased directly at (888) 455-9712 for 50cc bottles......Ritz

• Hardware and washers - BROKER'S INC at 1-800-927-4377, Fax 1-800-321-3462

• Kapton Tape - http://www.kaptontape.com/, http://www.bertech.com/product9/kaptontape.htm, http://www.industrycommunity.com/myforum/janine_kruit/messages/422.html

• Plastics - some properties of.

• Silicone Sealer - Clear - excellent hi voltage insulation (an old TV repairman material, it will stop that creeping 'arc-welder' action of a cracked and shorting flyback transformer!).  It must be allowed to dry as it will catch fire when still wet.

• Silicone - Sheet - I've got a sheet of 36" x 110" x .125" that will stand off 40kV.  Contact me for details.  I'm a distributor for Diversified Silicone Products, 13937 Rosecrans Ave, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, (562) 404-8942. They have either FDA or medical grades, fairly pricey stuff.

Finis