Why does everyone assume the heater elements use DC? A transformer would be the easiest way to adjust the voltage or current to larger rms values and would explain the isolation transformer. The blue control box then might simply gate this AC power through the transformer for longer or shorter durations. This wouldn't be called an RFG but it would have the same effect while simultaneously heating the reactor elements.
Fran Jones Beene Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:09:19 -0800 Mine too, and now ... the real reason for this inquiry - why do you need one? Coincidentally, as you mentioned in the preceding message, they claim NOT to use an RFG. Which technically does not mean they do not have a fair amount of RF noise in the reactor, does it? It means only that they have no dedicated RF generator. There are other reasons for having an isolation transformer than to protect your Variac and other instruments and computers from a source of disruptive electrical spikes, so it's not a smoking gun - but is there a good reason not to suspect either a spark gap or glow discharge arrangement inside the reactor somewhere? After all, if we were talking about resistance heating elements (ala AR) being your thermal input and your P-in, then an isolation transformer would not be needed, correct ?
