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My first experience with electronics began with my evil brother knocking the crap out of me with a 300v cap and showing me how to blow up transistors and caps by plugging them into the wall and flipping the switch.
One day I plugged in a higher voltage cap thinking I might be able to melt it with no explosion and nothing happened. No heat, nothing. I asked why and found out it was all about reactance and impedance. So I measured the current through it and it was just a couple of milliamps and then learned to do the calculations. So began my love affair with resonant circuits.
So now, I'm wondering if you could connect an adjustable, high frequency tank circuit (high impedance with respect to 60hz) to the hot line and a deep earth ground and "listen" for high frequency components using the power grid.
I realize the transformers are tuned to 60 hz but since high frequency utilizes the skin effect I wonder if the grid could be used in this manner as an extended aerial or would you be limited to the distance of the first transformer?
One day I plugged in a higher voltage cap thinking I might be able to melt it with no explosion and nothing happened. No heat, nothing. I asked why and found out it was all about reactance and impedance. So I measured the current through it and it was just a couple of milliamps and then learned to do the calculations. So began my love affair with resonant circuits.
So now, I'm wondering if you could connect an adjustable, high frequency tank circuit (high impedance with respect to 60hz) to the hot line and a deep earth ground and "listen" for high frequency components using the power grid.
I realize the transformers are tuned to 60 hz but since high frequency utilizes the skin effect I wonder if the grid could be used in this manner as an extended aerial or would you be limited to the distance of the first transformer?