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Re: What efficiency?!

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> >From MALCOLM-at-directorate.wnp.ac.nzTue Nov  5 22:30:12 1996
> Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 07:54:21 +1200
> From: Malcolm Watts <MALCOLM-at-directorate.wnp.ac.nz>
> To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject: Re: What efficiency?!
> 
> Hi Richard, all,
>                  I would like to propose an experiment for a sparking
> machine that should be quite within the bounds of possibility for
> someone who has the gear. You wrote.......
> 
> > I know of know person alive who has ever measured the actual output
> > efficiency of a Tesla coil! (what is this efficiency?- what are its
> > parameters-RF, Spark energy, magnetic fields, all?) I also know of no
> > form or process involving anything about the spark which will yield even
> > a +/- 20% correct answer to any question regarding same.
> >
> > I do know of a lot of proposed methods of measuring efficiency with none
> > of them having either been done, or if they have, a method of
> > verification or transfer to other systems which are vastly different in
> > character.
> 
> How about setting up a grounded discharge rod for the secondary and
> measuring current both in the rod and at the base of the resonator
> simultaneously? A bridge configuration might show up any differences.
> The basic idea is to find out whether the curents are equal so we
> might have a basis for knowing whether the current measurement at
> the base truly reflects spark current (IMO it should) and thereby
> at least set one variable in concrete for further measurement. The
> reason I throw this open is that I just don't have the gear to do it
> myself.
> 
> Malcolm


Malcom, 

This is a fairly good idea, but wouldn't come close to the efficiency I 
seek.  (Spark disappates a lot of heat energy in air to reach the rod)  
Putting the rod too close in order to reduce the air path would again, 
skew the results.   Nonetheless, it would be a real measurement that 
could be made.  A custom wound very large Rogowski coil would be 
required.  Whose scope we gonna' hook to it?  Yours?

Richard Hull, TCBOR