Some Uses of Storage Battery Compound in the Physics Laboratory

Abstract

First: High Voltage Condenser: In the construction of a Tesla Coil or other high voltage devices in which a condenser is one of the essential parts, it is necessary that the condenser be one that can stand the voltage, have the desired capacity, be easy to construct and of low cost. Such condensers have been constructed and used by the writer and will be described as follows: Sheet metal plates are first cat to the desired size, in the case described they were 4x6 inches, although various sizes have been bailt. To the corner of each plate was soldered a wire about six inches long. Each plate was then dipped into the compound that was heated to a temperature between 110 and 120 degrees centigrade. The compound should not be higher than 120 degrees, because it will be too thin and will not coat the plate to any desired thickness. The plates should be hung qp to harden, and when inspected, should the coating be too thin, they can be dipped again. Any thickness can be obtained by additional dipping in the hot compound. While the plates are still warm, the condenser is assembled by placing glass plates between the coated metal plates. In the condenser described, the glass plates used had dimensions 7x5 inches. The plates were assembled with the lead wires coming out on alternate sides. A very little pressure will cause the glass and metal plates to stick together, and the entire unit can be transferred to the heated compound that has been allowed to cool down to abou,t 90 degrees centigrade, at which temperature the compound can be readily worked into the condenser to fill all the space between the plates. During this process, the compound is allowed to cool down to a point where it will not flow readily. The unit can be taken from the compound and placed on a sheet of paper, to which it will stick. The paper can be removed later if desired.