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Quench, Coherence etc.


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From:  John H. Couture [SMTP:couturejh-at-worldnet.att-dot-net]
Sent:  Sunday, August 16, 1998 5:01 PM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  Re: Quench, Coherence etc.


  Robert -

  The TC output is complex and erratic but I do not agree that it is
"chaos" or "utter confusion"(my dictionary). By properly controlling the
output of a continuously operating TC that is using controlled sparks you
can determine the performance of the TC for engineering analysis. The
longest lightning bolts are fun to look at but for most TC research more
control of the spark output is required.

  Note that a continuous horizontal spark between the toroid and a ground
point is a steady state load similar to a resistor, light bulb, etc. 

  The problem with single shot tests is that they are instantaneous type
tests and and the results cannot be used with continuously operating TCs
which are over 99% of the coils being built. With single shot tests the
details of the instantaneous times should be given if input watts are to be
used. This will give the instantaneous input energy (power x time) for the
corresponding single output spark which is also output energy. Malcolm
Watts gets around this problem by using the joules (energy) in the primary
capacitor and ignoring the input losses.  

  In doing TC research it is important to understand the many differences
between instantaneous operation and continuous RMS operation. When
describing the results of TC tests the details of the instantaneous
conditions or the continuous RMS conditions should be given so the reader
can analyze the results correctly.

  John Couture
---------------------------------------

At 11:49 PM 8/14/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>----------
>From:  Robert W. Stephens [SMTP:rwstephens-at-headwaters-dot-com]
>Sent:  Friday, August 14, 1998 3:00 AM
>To:  Tesla List
>Subject:  Re: Quench, Coherence etc.
>
>
>> From:  John H. Couture [SMTP:couturejh-at-worldnet.att-dot-net]
>> Sent:  Thursday, August 13, 1998 10:08 AM
>> To:  Tesla List
>> Subject:  Re: Quench, Coherence etc.
>
>
>John Couture wrote:
>
>>All,
><snippage> 
>>   In order to obtain useful results from tests of electrical devices it is
>> necessary to operate the device with controlled conditions such as with a
>> constant output.
>
>Agreed in general...but only on devices that can operate properly 
>under steady state conditions, like a resistor, or a light bulb, or 
>an unloaded electric motor.
>
>> This means that with Tesla coils the output spark must be
>> a controlled spark giving a constant load to the Tesla coil.
>
>John, the nature of the output of a properly operating Tesla coil IS 
>CHAOS.  If you attempt to tame it into a constant load which air 
>being perforated with lightning bolts is not, then you are NOT going 
>to determine the best parameters for a coil.  Those in the hobby that 
>I know are building coils for the longest lightning bolts, mostly 
>into air with attachments at random to objects in the vicinity of the 
>coil.  That Sir is the very application of a Tesla coil, not the 
>stabilized heating of a reference load in some laboratory!  If you 
>think of a Tesla coil as a 2 port black box with a constant input and 
>a chaotic output, then if you somehow clamp the output to be stable, 
>you're input will turn to chaos.  How is that going to help your 
>power measurement?  Please don't bother answering.
>
>>The test
>> results will then be more uniform and more subject to correct analysis. 
>> 
>>   For example, when a spark occurs on the second transfer instead of the
>> first and both have the same amplitude there can only be one answer. The
>> transfers and sparks are not being properly paired in the tests. The idea
>> that the first transfer ionizes the air and the second transfer creates an
>> extra long spark is not possible. I suggested this in past posts but
>> several coilers said this was not possible. I now believe they were correct
>> because if the first transfer ionizes the air there would always be enough
>> energy left to create a spark.
>> 
>>   The quench and coherence tests with continuous operating TC's should be
>> made only with constant outputs and that means with controlled sparks.
>
>
>John Couture also said:
>
>> Single break tests are of less value.
>> 
>>   John Couture
>
>
>John,
>
>I have to strongly dispute your statement here!  Not only are single 
>shot tests of tremendous value in that the amount of input power to 
>the TC by way of them can be precicely determined, they yield an 
>output spark length which is repeatable under identical conditions 
>anywhere in the known universe.  As such it is a very credible way of 
>comparing all disruptive Tesla coils that are able to produce sparks.
>Of course I've said this to you before.
>
>Robert W. Stephens
>Director
>Lindsay Scientific Co.
>RR1 Shelburne, ON Canada L0N-1S5
>Tel or AutoFax: 1-519-925-1771    
>*Custom built Tesla coils, etc., for museum display 
> and special effects work.
>*Canada's largest publicly accessible wall-to-wall
> indoor lightning show...by appointment.
>*Future home of Electric Science World, 
> educational/entertaining Theatre of Electricity.
>*Antique TV Museum...in search and acquire mode now.
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inquiries welcomed! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
>