Re: Two Manifestations of Charge

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Terry Fritz <teslalist@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Dave,

> Can you replicate this on your coils?

http://www.tesla-coil-builder.com/images/chiron01twosparks.jpg

I think the situation is this:

http://hot-streamer.com/temp/DaveTest.gif

The bright i3 current to ground is the sum of current i1 from the top 
terminal plus the current i2 picked up by the partially conductive 
florescent tube near the secondary high voltage regions.  I show how such a 
setup and results should be repeatable on a standard coil too.

I think you mean to suggest that the currents i3 and i1 are equal.  But I 
suggest that i2 is causing much of the effect.  Simply replacing the 
conductive tube with a Styrofoam rod with a similar metal tip from a broken 
tube will eliminate almost all of the i2 currents.  Then the currents going 
through the two arcs will be equivalent.  Normally in this configuration, 
the voltage between the tube tip and the top terminal would be relatively low.

Also, the two spark gaps need to have the same terminal types (say sharp 
tips) to be comparable.  The round top terminal is obviously spreading the 
spark out unlike the top arc which is between two sharp points.


> There is no point in getting into theory just yet.  First, let's
> see if the phenomenon can be replicated by others.  Then when
> others have direct access to the event, perhaps we could narrow
> down the cause and quantify it.

It should be easily repeatable for the above reasons.  My coil blew the 
IGBTs today during some holiday mischief, but I will see if I can give it a 
try in the next few days.

Cheers,

        Terry