Re: Power curve

To: tesla-at-grendel.objinc-dot-com
Subject: Re: Power curve
From: "Malcolm Watts" <MALCOLM-at-directorate.wnp.ac.nz>
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 12:42:06 +1200
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In reply to Ed Philips on the use of modified Marx generator for 
voltage doubling....

> Re: Marx Generator
>     Sounds like an interesting concept, depending on a
> source of high-voltage inductors.

The ones I used in the towers were hand wound with a ferrite rod
and plastic insulated hookup wire. 

> It seems to me that without
> diodes the charging would be resonant and critical as to
> inductor size vs desired spark frequency.

It COULD be arranged that way. In terms of DC operation, they 
basically did a supply-disconnect job. There is some investigation
to be done here. IF I get time this weekend, I'll roll a couple
of caps and give it a try on a neon. I will CERTAINLY be giving
it a try in the not-too-distant future. 

> Charging through
> resistors is simpler, but has an efficiency of only 50%, which
> is intolerable.

Right on!! It was looking for ways to eliminate this that the idea
came about. In fact for AC operation, the resistors are really a
non-starter given factors like dissipation, time constants etc.

Malcolm