RSG Question

To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Subject: RSG Question
From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 23:02:10 -0500
Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net


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From:  dwight duncan [SMTP:duncand-at-ccsalpha2.nrl.navy.mil]
Sent:  Monday, June 22, 1998 8:14 AM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  Re: RSG Question

At 10:57 PM 6/17/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>
>----------
>From:  D.C. Cox [SMTP:DR.RESONANCE-at-next-wave-dot-net]
>Sent:  Tuesday, June 16, 1998 6:45 PM
>To:  Tesla List
>Subject:  Re: RSG Question
>
>to: Greg
>
>With non-snychro gaps, pole xmfr drive, and cap values from .04 to 0.2 MFD
>a break rate of 450-480 pps seems to work best.  Higher rates work well
>with magnifiers but not classic coils with coeff. coupling in 0.18 to 0.2
>range.
>
>DR.RESONANCE-at-next-wave-dot-net
>
>
>
>> From:  FutureT-at-aol-dot-com [SMTP:FutureT-at-aol-dot-com]
>> Sent:  Monday, June 15, 1998 8:56 AM
>> To:  tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
>> Subject:  Re: RSG Question
>> 
>> In a message dated 98-06-14 02:12:26 EDT, you write:
>> 
>> << ----------
>>  From:  Gregory R. Hunter [SMTP:ghunter-at-enterprise-dot-net]
>>  Sent:  Saturday, June 13, 1998 1:59 PM
>>  To:  'Tesla List'
>>  Subject:  RSG Question
>>  
>>  Dear List,
>>  
>> > Ever since I saw an RSG in operation at the UK Teslathon, I've been
>> >contemplating building my first RSG.  I'm curious though, about the
>> > relationship between optimum tank cap value and RSG break rate.
>> > Instinct tells me that at high or very high break rates, the tank
>> > capacitor must be smaller than one optimized for a static gap
>> > system.  Does anyone have a rule or formula for selecting best
>> >cap size based on both power supply and RSG break rate?
>>  
>>  Greg
>>  
>>  Suffolk, UK
>>   >>
>> 
>> Greg,
>> 
>> The basic rule is that if you double your break rate, you should use
>> half as much capacitance, for the same input power.  A static gap
>> will automatically adjust its break rate based on the cap size and
>> power available...provided the quenching is good.  Using the rotary
>> gap, if you increase your break rate, without providing more power 
>> input, the caps will charge to a lower voltage.  Either a static
>> or a rotary can have a high or a low break rate. 
>> 
>> I used to like high break rates and small capacitors, but I now 
>> prefer low break rates and larger capacitors for a given power 
>> input.  With high break rates the sparks will be brighter, and more
>> frantic in motion.  Low break rates will produce dimmer, slowly
>> floating, longer sparks IMO.  However what I just said seems to only
>> be true at relatively low power levels.  At higher powers, the frantic
>> motion may not develop, even at faster break rates.  And this may
>> be affected by toroid size or other factors perhaps.  So there seems
>> to be a few mysteries *out there*.
>> 
>> I suspect that a low break rate with a large cap will give longer
>> sparks even at high powers, but I don't have the room to do the
>> tests.  Perhaps someone on the list will do these kinds of 
>> comparisons to help settle the matter. 
>> 
>> Have fun, but safety first,
>> John Freau
>> 

Hello John,

    With my last magnifier I did conduct an experiment with rotor speed vs
arc length.  I am charging a 0.08 miroF cap -at- 10,KV and I found that
basically as you increase rotor speed the arc length increases.  There were
no peeks in this data and appeared to be nearly linear.
    Hope this is some use to you.

Dwight