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Re: How should we measure coil efficiency, was neon vs. potential transformer
From: FutureT-at-aol-dot-com[SMTP:FutureT-at-aol-dot-com]
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 1997 8:43 AM
To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: Re: How should we measure coil efficiency, was neon vs. potential transformer
> >Hi John C,
>
>> Again, I'm not concerned with my output power, only
> >my spark length. We have a different viewpoint on this part of the matter
>>since I'm more concerned with true input power vs. spark length,
regardless
> >of the "true" efficiency. Suppose it turns out that the best way to build
a
> >TC for longest sparks vs. input power is NOT the same way as to obtain
> >best efficiency of output vs. input. This would be quite acceptable to
me.
> >I still don't see the importance of the energy in vs. energy out of a TC.
>>This type of efficiency may or may not translate into long sparks and I
> >suspect it may not.
>
-------------------------------------------
> John F.
> Using the "longest sparks vs input power" would only make sense if a time
> period is involved which would mean you are talking about energy. The TC
> spark represents energy not power. Power is the RATE that energy is
produced
> in the TC. When watts per foot of spark is used, a period of one second is
> implied. This means many sparks are involved in the one second period and
> should be averaged (controlled spark).
> The importance of "energy in" vs "energy out" is that it is the correct
> way to represent the spark producing abilities of a Tesla coil. The energy
> in comes from the power transformer. The energy out is the total number of
> secondary sparks in a period of time such as one second. The total number
of
> sparks are represented by the number of breaks per second. If only one
> particular spark is used it would be very difficult to determine the energy
> involved for that one spark.
> The energy for the spark comes from the TC primary capacitor. The rate of
> charging this capacitor is determined by the power (wattage) available from
> the power transformer. The primary capacitor can be charged to a certain
> energy level giving a certain spark length by a low wattage over a long
> period of time or a high wattage over a short period of time. This means
> that for a certain spark length the wattage can be anything unless a time
> peroid is considered in the test. Wattage x time equals energy.
>
> One of the main problems with rating TC's today is the lack of a standard
> method to do the tests to get the rating. Because a standard test has not
> been agreed upon by coilers, comparing various Tesla coils and magnifiers
> has only a non-scientific value.
> John Couture
>>
John C, All,
I agree that a standard method for measuring coil efficiency is needed.
I've said all along that the method I'm advocating ignores "true" (energy
in vs. energy out) efficiency, and that it is more of a practical method
for measurement. I've also suggested that sometimes a practical method
has more value than a "scientific" method...it all depends on what we are
trying to accomplish.
Maybe some more of the list members will join the discussion.
John Freau