Re: gap losses

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

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Goinbonkers-at-aol-dot-com>

Just curious why anyone would consider using magnesium for a gap electrode.   
It would seem to me to be just asking to start a class D fire. 
Mike 



>
> Normally, one selects spark gap electrode material which is long 
> lasting such as tungsten.  Such metals may also assist in 
> quenching compared with metals such as zinc or magnesium. 
> According to "principles of radio communications" by Morecroft, 
> metals such as zinc or magnesium give a lower gap resistance 
> than silver or copper.  I assume this is because of the greater 
> number of ions tossed into the arc using zinc or magnesium. 
> It may be possible to lower the gap resistance by using such 
> metals, if the arc can still be quenched adequately, and if the 
> higher rate of electrode erosion can be tolerated.