Yadda seen the 1,675 ampere, 2KV PIV rectifiers I was using! They were made in Vermont and had 250 MCM leads and 3/4" diameter mounting holes. Brazed copper heatsinks, around 350 lbs each one, 470 CFM fans.
AC proved utterly destructive to FLA batteries. The Thyristors in the power unit had 3-1/2" flats across the hex. Serious stuff. Yes I had helpers, around a dozen laid off aerospace men.
I believe lightning is badass enough to swing both ways (polarity) and get away with it.
The Hot Seat. Something like 3,400 volts and 5 amperes. Of course adjustable. Prisons had their own generators. The urban myth of the lights dimming never happened.
But I got a bad 480 zap once that threw me ten (?) feet and caused amnesia for a week or so. Learned me good.
The days of fifty cent copper. Gone forever. Along with a vast percentage of tools, equipment, bulk materials, transformers. My only comfort is to look in a mirror and yell YOU'RE OLD! GET OVER IT! YOU'RE RETIRED! I don't miss the death threats from folks about TV and radio reception, visits by the FCC, cranky SCE engineers, and the EPA. I had a vinyl coated concrete work pad to contain heavy metals, and a home made Faraday cage over the pulse generating equipment. Cyclone fence, and a half ton of razor sharp lathe curls purchased in Los Angeles.
