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Coil stuff etc.

Greetings,

>> Just got done reading your last message.  Sounds like your coil
>> works pretty good.  How what is the milliampres rating of your
....
   
How big is your secondary?  Mine is about 12" tall.

I have either 120 or 150ma.  I can't remember right now.  From your 
description, our power setup is very similar.  Normally I am using the same
type of gap as you do:  Copper pipe pieces.  I have seen the giant ball 
bearings in use in a TCBOR video, but since I have the copper pipe, I'll 
stick with it for now.  Some time I plan on modifying the pipe gap so that 
there will be a positive flow of air over the pipes, which should help in
both cooling the pipe and breaking the arc.  My planned modification is to 
build a box with a slot large enough for the pipes to be placed perpendicular 
to the slot with just the ends supported by the sides of the slot.  I will put 
a salvaged vacuum cleaner motor inside the box to suck air over the gaps and
vent it outside. Eventually, I plan on making a rotary gap too.
I'll give the report on it if/when each different gap is tried.

>> An electrode with a small radius produces a higher electric field at a 
>> given voltage than one with a large radius, so a small, pointed 
>> electrode would break down and conduct much easier than a large, flat 
>> electrode.
That may explain why I have never seen pointed gaps in any tesla coil plan.
Back to the drawing board for that ball bearing design.

>> You might look to see if there 
>> are any large conductive/magnetic objects in the direction preferred by 
>> the streamers that could be distorting the field (a refrigerator right 
>> upstairs, etc...)? 

I would bet that a 1200 lb. metal lathe, some bikes and about 200 lb. of 
misc. metal stuff in the streamers general direction could indeed have some 
effect :-)

Chip