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Re: Trigger electrode wear



Original poster: "Jim Lux by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net>



Tesla list wrote:
> 
> Original poster: "Lau, Gary by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<Gary.Lau-at-compaq-dot-com>
> electrode in two separate segments.  In addition to the trigger electrode
> enduring the full power of the main arc, it would seem as the gap losses in
> such a multi-segment arc may be higher.

Yep.. although one might think that to a certain extent, the spark actually
goes around the trigger electrode.

> 
> I'm wondering if the trigatron geometry, where the trigger electrode is
> coaxial and flush with one of the main electrodes, would be better so far
> as trigger electrode erosion goes?  I'm just trying to decide if I need to
> find tungsten rods, or if any kind of wire or threaded rod would suffice.
> If it only has to endure the relatively low energy pumped into the trigger
> coil, i.e. if the main arc does not pass through the trigger electrode,
> there should be almost no erosion.  Does it?

True enough.. erosion should be minimal...
This is why trigatrons are popular... 

> 
> My only reservation with the trigatron geometry is that the trigger
> polarity with respect to the adjacent electrode is always the same, since
> I'm using a DC-powered trigger generator. This results in alternate trigger
> polarities with respect to the main electrode biases on alternate
> half-cycles.  Is this only significant if nanosecond-level jitter is a
concern?

Exactly.. In reality, the purpose of the trigger electrode in a trigatron
is to quickly inject a pile of ions and UV into the gap.  It's the spark
between the trigger electrode and the surrounding main electrode that does
this.  The cloud of ions distorts the field, causing the gap to break down.


> 
> Regards, Gary Lau
> MA, USA