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Re: [TCML] Breakout Point

I don't see a big difference with a breakout point or not except when in a situation which Gary described as having a top load large enough that it is difficult to breakout on it's own. But once breakout occurs on a "non-breakout point coil", you have a breakout point. It's simply ionized versus metallic. I think coils with or without breakout points will perform similarly on average. Not having a breakout point may exert those random long sparks from time to time, but I think for the average spark length, there's probably little difference. Just a theory since as I don't use them.
I've never had a toroid large enough that couldn't break out. There's probably a lot of coilers like me in that arena. But I must say that I've used a 9" x 30" toroid on a 4.5" x 21" coil with no breakout problems (however, it was a maggy of sorts). I wouldn't go that large of a toroid on a classic tesla coil. 

Take care,
Bart

Lau, Gary wrote:

That's a great question!  I almost always use a breakout point, as I try to use the largest top load possible in my coils, since this almost always results in the best performance.  But being so large, it often fails to break out smoothly without the aid of a break out point, and racing sparks may otherwise result.

I have also found that the nature of the "point" matters.  I think I get better performance if I use a ball or sphere rather than just a pointy wire, but I haven't done extensive comparisons.

Regards, Gary Lau
MA, USA


-----Original Message-----
From: tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tesla-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Phillip Slawinski
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 12:30 AM
To: Tesla Coil Mailing List
Subject: [TCML] Breakout Point

Does having a breakout point reduce your maximum streamer length?  I
increased the size of my second toroid today and I'm getting 56" ground
strikes, but I'm wondering if having a breakout point limits my streamer
length any.


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