[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: 2 foot sparks - need more garage!
From: Alan Sharp[SMTP:100624.504-at-CompuServe.COM]
Sent: Friday, July 25, 1997 4:56 PM
To: INTERNET:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: 2 foot sparks - need more garage!
Jim and all,
> You're Hooked now!
I was hooked when I got a 1" spark of my first
solid state driver.
>You need a better ground.
Right, I've got 3 * 3' stainless steel pipes (1/2") diameter
driven into the ground (clay) but linked to the coil with
a 5m length of 10A wire.
Looks like I want a much heavier connection and maybe more
pipes. 4" wide tape
>Also find some 20uF-60uF 600V Power correction or Motor Starting Caps
>and put then across you mains.
Will do I have got mains suppressors but I reckon I need something
more extreme! 40uf looks about right.
>Adding some inductance in parallel with your resistive ballast will
>improve the spark immensely. The inductive ballast will also boost
>your 5kV output also.
Short of a welder what do you suggest for ballast - the only thing
I've seen that I thought might be suitable is 100W flourescent tube
ballasts.
>What are you using as a top load? At 15kV -at- 60mA and a 6" X 24"
>torroid, I'm up to about 4' (memory here, don't have my notes in the
>same room) at 2.5KVA I'm up to 60" with my pig.
Thats good going! I think I'm pulling about 6A from the mains - I am
having difficulty getting the right meter from Maplin mail order.
Top load is a toriod, 2.5" small diameter - 24" large diameter.
I did notice a big improvement when I moved from a 1.5" * 12" toriod -
2 or 3, 24"-30" streamers instead of 6 or 8, 12" streamers.
I've just bought some 4" diameter air duct to make a new toriod - after
my holidays.
I do need a bigger cap 0.042uf at present - needs to be 0.12uf (from
memory) to match the transformers.
But I think I also need a larger diameter secondary - more induction.
- yes definately hooked - I briefly considered building a ten foot
diameter faraday cage in the back garden!
>
>Why do I get the most impressive arcs when
>its just switched on?
>Either switching transients or poor spark gap quenching.
Yes, a fan on the gaps improves things. Richard Hull suggested
poor caps but I hope not. I'm going to try building a cap after
the holidays.
Have fun,
Alan Sharp (UK)