Re: Re:High speed Tesla spark photographs - polarity indicator

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: Vardan <vardan01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Peter,

Cool idea!!

I will "guess" two LEDs a resistor and a MOV.  The strike current 
might be 2000A for a few nS which will kill most TVSs and such.  It 
really helps to keep the device voltage low so the instant power is 
lower too.  A capacitor might also work if one could guess the right value.

Cheers,

        Terry


At 06:54 AM 9/20/2006, you wrote:
> OK here is my fabulous "improvement". It is so simple it only took 
> me 4 or 5 hours and a few blown high power ultrafast diodes and 
> TVS's. In the end I settled for this. Only 4 components, two of 
> which are red LED's.
> Simply, it reads the polarity of a spark. The led closest to the 
> spark is negative ie the spark from the toroid on the left is a 
> negative leader.
> They then alternate polarity far further than one can see as a spark.
>
> Guess how I did it. ie what are the two other components.
>
> Photos of the strike which is a negative leader and the alternating 
> polarity of the ringdown are at the bottom of this section on my site.
> http://tesladownunder.com/HighVoltage.htm#High%20speed%20Tesla%20spark%20photography
>
> Peter
>
>
> > Original poster: Vardan <vardan01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> ........  The mounting system I have now is not really optimal so I will
> > redesign it once I figure out what Peter's new improvement is ;-)) 
> > I really need another larger mirror in there to improve all the 
> > angles. Then I will have to get a better camera...
> >
> > Cheers,
> >         Terry