Re: Safety FAQ is here -- draft, asking for comments.

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Safety FAQ is here -- draft, asking for comments.
From: Steve Roys <sroys-at-umabnet.ab.umd.edu>
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 1996 09:30:18 -0400 (EDT)

On Tue, 13 Aug 1996, Tesla List wrote:

> Robert:
>  I have photographs of my 720va coil exhibiting just this phenomenon
> when operating in a very light breeze. I have never been able to tie the
> jagged sparks directly to the break rate bacause I don't know how to
> make  a measurement. I estimate the length of the "steps" in the spark
> to be 2" to 3". One thought is that the spark is actually growing in
> length from the bottom which is eminating from the toroid rather than  
> growing from the tip of the spark thru conduction of current in the
> spark itself. I would be interested in other comments on this subject.
> 
> Skip

It sounds like a streak camera would be good to settle some of these
questions.  This is a type of camera used to show the time varying
components of discharges in lightning research by moving the film
continuously while making the exposure.  The film viewed along the
direction of motion is then the time axis.  This gives the same effect
that blowing the spark around would, only you move the recording media
instead of what you're recording.

If you don't have a streak camera, it should be possible to set something
up so that your camera is rotating at a constant, known speed with the
shutter open while you fire the coil for a single revolution.  The image
could certainly be used to determine the "rep" rate of the discharge, and
you might also be able to get some information about how the discharge
grows.

Steve Roys.