RE: streamer output - toroids vs. spheres

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Scott Bogard" <teslas-intern@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Miles,
    I have used both in my early coil experimenting, and found the 
same thing, a sphere tends to send the streamer straight up.  I, for 
a while, used a toroid, with a sphere sitting in the middle, that 
worked Ok, but I eventually just settled on a big old toroid, as I 
got huge spark improvements.  My three inch coil only ever saw about 
25in arcs, but I don't think that is to bad for only having 300+ 
turns (I used 20awg wire), and a big toroid made a big difference 
(from about 10 to about 20in).  Perhaps a big sphere would have 
worked just as well, but toroids are easy to make (so I use them).  I 
don't really know, but I think they are supposed to provide better 
shielding of the top turns, because of the shape of the magnetic 
field.  Spheres do have a very "classic" look about them though, so I 
guess there is more to Tesla coiling than just spark length.  Cheers 
for spheres!
Scott Bogard.


> From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: tesla@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: streamer output - toroids vs. spheres
> Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:57:58 -0600
>
> Original poster: mileswaldron@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
> It seems that everyone is using toroids as toploads these days. I 
> admit tuning a coil with a toroid is much easier than tuning a coil 
> with a sphere; however, there is one remarcable difference in 
> streamer output that I have noticed. This type of streamer output is 
> so *AMAZING* that I don't like toroids, and prefer spheres.
>
> What I see happen with a tuned in sphere, with careful and painful 
> adjustments, is that I can get exactly 1 streamer rolling around the 
> top of the ball. The streamer will eventually settle itself down on 
> the top of the ball and start "reaching" upwards. The end of the 
> streamer licks and curls around in a shape that I cannot describe, 
> going inside itself in fractal looking loops. It will stand there 
> doing this for quite some time. It is a beautiful site to see. My 3" 
> diameter coil can project a 42" streamer upwards using a single 12-60 NST.
>
> This is a simple observation about topload shape that I hope will 
> foster some interesting commentary.
>
> Miles

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