Re: shorted turn?

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: shorted turn?
From: Bert Hickman <bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-com>
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 1996 06:34:27 -0800
Cc: Tesla-list-subscribers-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> >From des-at-ellijay-dot-comMon Nov 11 22:59:33 1996
> Date: Mon, 11 Nov 1996 17:40:19 -0500
> From: des <des-at-ellijay-dot-com>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: shorted turn?
> 
> I'm nearing the completion of constructing my first coil system, and
> have been assuming that I could use a large diameter hose clamp (metal)
> to secure the ground strap braid to the base of the secondary coil's
> tube.  I've been wondering though, will the fact that the clamp is a
> complete circle be a problem, what with the shorted turn?
> 
> Guess I won't power up until I get some expert advice, I mean, I like to
> gather information through experimentation, but why burn up anything if
> someone out there can tell me that it will burn, melt, or blow up?
> 
> I assumed that because it is at the ground potential, it shouldn't be a
> problem...  Any advice?
> 
> doug

Doug,

Use a large rubber band (although the ozone eats natural rubber bands
alive!) or a large nylon tie-wrap instead. Even though the clamp is at
ground potential, it is in the strongest area of the electromagnetic
field created by the primary. The one-turn short circuit created by a
regular hose clamp will needlessly remove energy that could go into
making sparks. 

BTW, unless you're runnning at very high power levels, it shouldn't
burn, melt, blow-up, etc, but the rather sharp edges of the clamping
mechanism may create a convenient site for undesireable corona
generation if you're running at the edge of coil breakover. I found
needed to "fold over" the copper braid on my  6" coil to prevent the
sharp wires from creating excessive corona when really pushing my 6"
coil...

Safe coilin' to ya!

-- Bert --