Tank Connect Method

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Tank Connect Method
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 00:13:13 -0600
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

----------
From:  Barton B. Anderson [SMTP:mopar-at-mn.uswest-dot-net]
Sent:  Wednesday, February 18, 1998 2:15 AM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  Tank Connect Method

John and EVERYONE-------

Following is an old post from John Corture (cap
connection). I've thought about it
for quite some time now. Recently, I had a question from
someone off the list about
the best method to connect the cap across the
transformer. I replied the only way I
could, I copied John's post to him with a few of my own
comments and let him make
up his own mind. Of course, either connection will
function in the circuit. However, John
brings up an interesting point. I've copied Johns post
at the bottom (hope you don't
mind John) and was wondering:

* If everyone would post -  if their cap or gap is
across the transformer.
* And why?

It will be interesting to learn what the most widely
accepted connection is and if all
connect that way for the same reason or different
reasons.
- Bart

(Here's the old posting from John)
>Tesla in the CSNotes said he thought the gap across the
transformer was
>better than the cap across the transformer as you and
Mr. Cox suggest. He
>based this on the fact that the current from the cap
did not have to go thru
>the gap to get to the TC primary winding. However, he
did not make
>comparison tests to determine which method was
preferable. Also, he did not
>address the problem of the gap OPENING.

>The TC primary circuit contains an inductance. When a
switch (gap) opens
>on an inductive circuit with current, there can be a
large voltage transient
>created. This voltage is   V = L di/dt   and can be
high enough to break
>down the secondary winding insulation in the power
transformer. I believe
>this is what breaks down neon transformer insulation.

>When the gap is across the transformer and it opens the
TC primary
>circuit, there can be large voltage transients formed
in the power
>transformer secondary winding. This voltage can damage
neons and under
>special conditions even damage pole transformers. When
the cap is across the
>transformer with a safety gap, the safety gap will
provide voltage limiting
>for the transients coming from the operating spark gap.

>The problem is we do not know how to design a spark gap
to keep these
>transients under control. A few years ago when I saw
the "rotgit" program by
>Jamison I thought it could be used to solve this
problem. It is an excellent
>simulation of the spark gap but is based on theory only
and I was not able
>to find a method to relate it to real world spark gap
design.

>It is obvious that more research is needed in this
region of TC operation.
>As I mention in one of my books the design parameters
that need to be
>coordinated in a computer program are the spark gap and
primary capacitor
>charging  characteristics, and several other
parameters. If a rotary spark
>gap is used the RPM, number of electrodes,
breaks/second, etc, would also
>have to be considered. In fact this program would be
more complicated than a
>program to design the Tesla coil.

>  John Couture