Re: Question

To: tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: Question
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 1997 23:24:49 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net
Subject: 
            Re: Question
       Date: 
            Sun, 13 Apr 1997 20:25:44 -0700
       From: 
            Skip Greiner <sgreiner-at-wwnet-dot-com>
Organization: 
            Greiner, Ltd.
         To: 
            Tesla List <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
 References: 
            1


Tesla List wrote:
> 
> Subject:
>         Question
>   Date:
>         Thu, 10 Apr 1997 21:47:28 -0700
>   From:
>         Gary Weaver <gweaver-at-earthlink-dot-net>
>     To:
>         tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> 
> I noticed a post about the strike rail.  Should the strike rail be a
> continious circle with the ends connected together?  Or should the ends
> be
> close together but not connected?  Or does it make any difference?
> 
> I have been told not to use a rotor on a neon transformer because it
> will
> destroy the neon.  That must not be true from the posts I have seen this
> week.
> 
Gary: There are several of us on the list who use sync and non-sync
rotaries to good advantage. I have never blown a neon using a sync
rotary but be advised I have only worked up to 2kw so far. Higher power
is on the way and I will keep the list advised.

> What is the best design for a rotor?

Design for mechanical integrity first and foremost. Those that use
insulated rotors usually use 0.5" or thicker material which is imbedded
with some strengthening agent, i.e.,glass filled or linen  filled
plastics. Others are successfully using metallic rotors. This is your
call and also has to do with material availability

> 
> It seems like if the rotor is turning too fast or has too many contacts
> it
> will discharge the capacitor before it can reach a full charge.  Is the
> rotor
> RPM and number of contacts critical?
> 
The jury is still out on rpm and number of contacts. Some of us run sync
gaps and fire only at the peak of the mains. Others run two or three
firings per peak. Those running non-sync gaps usually run multiple
firings per ac peak. The idea is to process the maximum power from the
driver xformer to the primary. One member of the list is at present
trying to do a mathmatical analysis as to whether a single firing at the
peak of the ac will process more power than multiple firings during each
peak. Sync gaps can be run with 1800 or 3600rpm motors. Non-sync gaps
can be run with standard induction motors, usually about 1750 or 3450rpm
or with a varible speed motors up to 10,000 rpm. Be care at that high an
rpm. The whole gap mechanism has to be RIGHT. The number of electrodes,
both movable and fixed is determined by how many firings you expect to
achieve and the motor rpm.


> How do you know if you have the timing right on the rotor?  Should the
> rotor
> discharge the capacitor on the 60 HZ peak when the capacitor is at full
> maximum voltage charge?  Should the stationary part of the rotor be
> adjustable like the distributor on a car for timing adjustments?


A sync motor requires that the motor be mounted so that it can be
rotated in its mount to phase the firing point to meet your design
criteria. This is not required in a non-sync rotary.

> 
> What is 1st notch quenching, 2nd notch quenching, 3nd notch quenching?
> What
> does this mean?
> 
Notch quenching has been discussed in detail on this list over the past
month or so. You should review several of these recent postings which
have been most enlightening.

> I have a Richard Quick type spark gap.  Above 1500 watts it operates
> fine for
> a few seconds then stops working.  If I let it cool a few seconds then
> it
> works again for a few seconds.  The problem is too much power makes it
> over
> heat and not work. Is it the HEAT that is the real problem?

Yes. You will also have this problem with a rotary unless it is very
well designed

Hope this helps

Skip