RE: AMRAD Spark Gaps

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Oxandale, Terry by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <Toxandale-at-SPP-dot-org>

Here is a very simple picture I drew up (Excel needed to view) of the
gap I made. 

 
http://hot-streamer-dot-com/TeslaCoils/Misc/Quenched%20gap.xls

Terry (Un-Terry)

> ----------
> From: 	Tesla list[SMTP:tesla-at-pupman-dot-com]
> Sent: 	Sunday, December 24, 2000 5:23 PM
> To: 	tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: 	Re: AMRAD Spark Gaps
> 
> Original poster: "Ed Phillips by way of Terry Fritz
> <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <evp-at-pacbell-dot-net>
> 
> Tesla list wrote:
> > 
> > Original poster: "Oxandale, Terry by way of Terry Fritz
> <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>" <Toxandale-at-SPP-dot-org>
> > 
> >         The temperature rating was very low (I'm sure, because the
> > gaskets were designed to operated in an oil bath that I would expect
> > never see 50 degrees C. I only used them because they were soft
> enough
> > to crush and seal tightly, and because I had never built one and
> never
> > expected the large improvement over the stationary SG performance.
> The
> > pieces were pressed using (I'm going on memory here) a large washer
> on
> > top and centered over the brass disc and a smaller washer was
> centered
> > under the disc. the small washer OD was about 1/4" smaller than the
> > larger washer ID, thus when pressed, it formed a small round but
> flat
> > protrusion in the middle of the disc (again, like a dinner plate).
> If I
> > could find a high temperature plastic or fiber washers to seal these
> > "units", this thing would be worth redoing. It was interesting in
> that
> > when I would rebuild these washers, inspection of the discs revealed
> a
> > very uniform arcing pattern over the entire protruded portion (1.5"
> > diameter) of the disc. I did find that the expansion of the convex
> > surface did close up each individual gap a slight amount after
> warming
> > up thoroughly. I can look up the article date or send a Excel
> drawing of
> > the if wanted. It was a very simple device, and made with very basic
> > materials and tools, but worked very well. There is no telling how
> much
> > better a professionally designed one would work.
> > 
> >         Terry
> 
> 	Would be very much interested in more details and a photo, if
> possible.  
> 
> Ed
> 
> 
>