Safe ground hookup

[notbob]

I wanna mess around with some LOPTs from CRT monitors, but wanted a
reliable chicken stick (ground hook) to discharge caps, etc, first. I
bought some 10awg sgl strand wire, a clamp, and a 18" L x 1" dia
concrete stake. The hardware store had some 10ft long 1/2"-3/4" dia
copper rod, but wouldn't cut it and 10 ft was waaay too expensive.

Is this 18" steel (iron?) concrete stake good enough? Will rebar work?
How long, minimum, for good ground stake?

nb

 

[Jasen Betts]

I wanna mess around with some LOPTs from CRT monitors, but wanted a
reliable chicken stick (ground hook) to discharge caps, etc, first. I
bought some 10awg sgl strand wire, a clamp, and a 18" L x 1" dia
concrete stake. The hardware store had some 10ft long 1/2"-3/4" dia
copper rod, but wouldn't cut it and 10 ft was waaay too expensive.

Is this 18" steel (iron?) concrete stake good enough? Will rebar work?
How long, minimum, for good ground stake?

you don't need a ground stake to discharge capacitors.

 

[notbob]

in this question you are so far behind in knowledge that you should not
go near CRT monitors till you have done Electronics 101,102& 103.
BTDT

A little knowledge is VERY dangerous at 25 THOUSAND VOLTS.

Yes, I know. It's why I'm asking advice, which you seem woefully
lacking. Thanks for nothing.

nb

 

[Tom Biasi]

Yes, I know. It's why I'm asking advice, which you seem woefully
lacking. Thanks for nothing.

nb

Not good to discharge large capacitors abruptly. Bleed them them off
with a resistor connected to clips.

 

[Tom Biasi]

Most resistors aren't rated for 25 KV. They will arc over.

Yes, he is working in HV area but I didn't get the impression that the
caps were HV. If so, you are correct.

Tom

 

[notbob]

Yes, he is working in HV area but I didn't get the impression that the
caps were HV. If so, you are correct.

I once worked at a govt lab assembling and helping test 600KV Marx
generators. We all gotta lotta HV safety training, as any of those
60KV caps we used could kill you dead from a spontaneous proximity air
discharge. I was mostly a mech tech, then, but payed attention.
Ground hooks were everywhere. In fact, the entire test stand was
fenced with multiple redundant safety interlocks, tag-outs, etc. So,
I know what NOT to do.

What I don't know, and am trying to learn, is how to build up a like
super-safe HV experimenting environment. I hafta believe I can do
better than the simple ground wire circuits in my home. I know damn
well that govt lab test stand wasn't grounded thru the ground plug in
a 110V wall socket!

I've noticed some replies mention bleeder circuits, which is good to
know, but I'm looking for a circuit and grounding specifics that will
provide an instant safe grounding system for any sized cap or whatever
I may encounter hacking around with benchtop marx gens, tesla coils,
flyback gens, etc. I find all kindsa webpages on HV projects like
jacobs ladder, tesla coils, etc, but none of them mention much about
safety grounding systems, like it's some sorta inate knowledge
everyone is born with. I don't think so!

Yes, I don't know a lot of electical/electronics theory. It is not my
primary discipline, but I'm having a lotta fun learning about it, now.
What I do have is a lot of practical experience. From the HV I
mentioned to setup/tuning of HV RF networks for plasma etching systems
to troubleshooting circuits through entire $10M plasma etch/dep fab
equipment. I know how to use a DMM and read a schemo and right now
I'm assembling my first 4 band SDF radio receiver kit with SMT
components. Big fun with itty-bitty components! In the pursuit of
furthering my meagar theory knowledge, I now need specifics and
information, not criticism telling me what I don't know. Hell, that
Grand Canyon will never be filled! Anyway, all advice appreciated.


nb

 

[Jasen Betts]

I once worked at a govt lab assembling and helping test 600KV Marx
generators. We all gotta lotta HV safety training, as any of those
60KV caps we used could kill you dead from a spontaneous proximity air
discharge. I was mostly a mech tech, then, but payed attention.
Ground hooks were everywhere. In fact, the entire test stand was
fenced with multiple redundant safety interlocks, tag-outs, etc. So,
I know what NOT to do.

What I don't know, and am trying to learn, is how to build up a like
super-safe HV experimenting environment. I hafta believe I can do
better than the simple ground wire circuits in my home. I know damn
well that govt lab test stand wasn't grounded thru the ground plug in
a 110V wall socket!

I've noticed some replies mention bleeder circuits, which is good to
know, but I'm looking for a circuit and grounding specifics that will
provide an instant safe grounding system for any sized cap or whatever
I may encounter hacking around with benchtop marx gens, tesla coils,
flyback gens, etc. I find all kindsa webpages on HV projects like
jacobs ladder, tesla coils, etc, but none of them mention much about
safety grounding systems, like it's some sorta inate knowledge
everyone is born with. I don't think so!

start with circuit thory,
Ohm's law, and Kirchoff's circuit laws.

An earth terminal is not a magic totem that can protect you from danger,
once you understand those you'll understand why, you'll also
understand why you don't need an elaborate earth connection.

 

[notbob]

An earth terminal is not a magic totem that can protect you from danger,
once you understand those you'll understand why, you'll also
understand why you don't need an elaborate earth connection.

Yeah, those whacky scientists building marx generators for that linear
accelerator didn't really need elaborate grounding. Jes plug that
600KV ground hook into the GFCI outlet next to the Mr Coffee.

Sorry, but momma notbob never raised such a foolish child.

nb

 

[notbob]

then denigrates the helper, when help is offered, in order to incur no
debt.

I'm denigrating no one, any more than anyone is actually denigrating
me ...which I thank this group for.

Hey, I admit I know waaaay too much, yet way too little, to be as safe
as I'd like to be. So I'm asking for info. So far, I've gotten ppl
advising me to learn what I already know. Yet the info on what a
ground rod is for, how it may/may-not help me, HV dissipation
specifics, circuits, etc, is pretty much non-forthcoming. If you want
to argue my skill level, I have no argument. But, if you are not
gonna help me learn what I would like to know about HV, as opposed to
what you think I should know, please annoy/attack someone else.

nb

 

[Jasen Betts]

I'm denigrating no one, any more than anyone is actually denigrating
me ...which I thank this group for.

Hey, I admit I know waaaay too much, yet way too little, to be as safe
as I'd like to be. So I'm asking for info. So far, I've gotten ppl
advising me to learn what I already know.

you appeared to be demonstrating ignorance of basic circuit theory.

ground rod is for, how it may/may-not help me, HV dissipation
specifics, circuits, etc, is pretty much non-forthcoming.

sci.electronics is mostly about low-ish voltages,

You may find what you seek at http://4hv.org/ .
There was a high voltage forum mentioned here a few months back that
may have been it.

 

[notbob]

you appeared to be demonstrating ignorance of basic circuit theory.

heh heh... I demonstrate an ignorance of a lotta things in my old age.
I occasionally drool, too. (say the last 2 words fast, over and
over ....hey, I think I invented a tongue-twister!)

sci.electronics is mostly about low-ish voltages,

Yes, as "...tronics" vs "...cal" would indicate. OTOH, you can't have
'tronics' w/o the 'cal'. (please, don't go there)

You may find what you seek at http://4hv.org/ .
There was a high voltage forum mentioned here a few months back that
may have been it.

Thank you for the link.

nb

 

[notbob]

- specifically - that you'd like to know about HV?

OK....

If you had a 60KV cap and wanted to make sure it wasn't charged, by
using a ground hook, what would that ground hook be hooked to?

nb