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Jacobs Ladder/Tesal Discahrge


(This is not to be taken as a disagreement with Richard Q (Tho i will disagree
if i thinkit in order...)

Another aspect of Jacobs Ladder/VS Tesla discharge:

	The classical Jacobs ladder will occur at DC or LF AC.  It occurs
	between two electrodes (I ASSume all know the shape....).  It is an ARC
	rather than a spark.  The difference is subtle (sometimes) but real.
	As I undersatnd it (without getting too deep) and arc takes place in a
	contiuous cloud of ionized gas (hense the rise in the jacobs ladder
	arc, pulled up as the arc rises, due to heating.).

	A spark is more a single shot event, a single breakdown.  A stream of
	sparks can follow each other "continuously", but each should see
	(essentially) "fresh air.  This need for "fresh air" is why, as i
	understand it, rotary gaps and air blast gaps and quenched gaps provide
	better performance, because the keep things cool, avoiding a tendency
	to arc, maintaining a spark.

	A Jacobs ladder discharge (or other arc) actually has a fairly low
	voltage across it.  Less than the nameplate rating of the transfomer,
	or other power supply.  (This can be measured but CAUTION as to	
	personal safety and meter safety is order...)

	Both arc and spark ar "plasma", in different forms.  There are many
	different sorts of plasma...

	regards
	dwp