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Re: What efficiency?!



Tesla List wrote:
> 
> > Subject: Re: What efficiency?!
> 
> >From hullr-at-whitlock-dot-comMon Nov 11 23:06:16 1996
> Date: Mon, 11 Nov 1996 16:15:00 -0800
> From: Richard Hull <hullr-at-whitlock-dot-com>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Re: What efficiency?!
> 

<SNIP>

> >
> > Basically a current transformer. What I envisaged was to place the
> > coil around the grounded discharge rod (LV end of things). I had
> > trouble imagining why sec. current should be so difficult to measure.
> >
> > Malcolm
> 
> Malcolm,
> 
> If you think that a nice long spark won't come of that grounded rod to a
> small CT, guess again!!  I've seen it happen and have a couple of fried
> front ends to prove it.  Use a hula hoop or a core whose diameter is
> about 1/3rd the length of the spark itself!
> 
> Richard Hull, TCBOR

Richard,

I sure could believe it! The surge currents during discharges to ground
on my 10" coil look to be in the 500 - 1000 amp range, and have
frequency components in the 10-20 MHz range. With this combination, it
doesn't take very much groundpath inductance to develop _lots_ of
voltage on what "looks" like a solid ground. Like lightning, if it can't
find one way to easily get to ground, it'll find another!

Safe coilin' to ya!

-- Bert --