Re: [TCML] Safety Gap Construction

["Neal Namowicz" <neal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've found brass (and other metal) balls used as drawer pulls at hardware 
stores and Home Depot. They're about an inch in diameter and already 
threaded, making mounting easy. As easy as wood is to use as a base, I would 
avoid it and go with possibly an old "plastic" cutting board or something 
else non-conductive. Wood's lossy and does begin to conduct, I've got a few 
scorched pieces to prove it.
For spacing the gaps, I start out by disconnecting the primary circuit 
completely, and leave the gap very close (credit card thickness). I crank up 
the transformer with the variac and start spreading out the gap(s) until it 
just barely, occasionally fires at pull power. (TURN OFF the power when 
adjusting!) After that's set, leave it there and resist the urge to open the 
safety if it starts firing during the tc's operation. Kinda defeats the 
purpose if you starting opening it up.


Neal.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicholas J. Goble" <ngoble@xxxxxxx>
To: <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 5:23 PM
Subject: [TCML] Safety Gap Construction


> How do I construct a safety gap?  From what I see, it's just three
> brass balls.  The middle one is grounded and the end two are connected
> to the transformer wires.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.
>
> I only have two questions:
>
> 1) Where can I buy brass balls? I've looked on the internet, but I just
> can't find any.  Or maybe I don't need brass balls at all.  Is there
> some other way I can construct a safety gap?
>
> 2) How can I determine the spacing of the balls? Is there any formula
> to calculate the gaps, or should I just guess?
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Nicholas Goble
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