The demonic Rotary spark gap

To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
Subject: The demonic Rotary spark gap
From: "christopher boden" <chrisboden-at-hotmail-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twf-at-verinet-dot-com>)
Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 14:06:24 -0600
Approved: twf-at-verinet-dot-com

Alright....I yeild. I shall attempt to build a rotary gap.

I've seen a design for one on the Tesla Research site...I believe 
it's in the pics for the Model 8 or 12. It looks like a motor 
spinning a 10 or 12" phenolic disk with about 8 electrodes mounted 
around the periphery. There's an electrode with terminal at either 
side on the back (motor side) of the disk. And a shorting bar with 
electrodes across the front of the disk.
This looks to be the simplest type of rotary I've seen and I can 
build one (after finding the right electrodes) in a couple hours.
Here's the rub...
1 is it syn or a-sync? Which is better? Why?
2 Electrode material? Brass, Tungsten? (For the 4th of july I was 
thinking Magnesium ;-))
3 What size disk, electrode, spacing, how many...etc ad nauseum..
4 What effect will speed have on coil operation...faster/slower?
5 What is the target speed for the motor? Should I make it a DC servo 
with tight speed control? Or a constant speed AC and just plug it in?
6 Will 2" Lexan be a good shield ? Should I have a single plate as a 
shield or totally enclose this and have an air pump to keep the 
oxides from tinting the glass.

The Coronaphile

Christopher A. Boden 
The Geek Group 
344 Ionia SW 
Grand Rapids MI 
49503 
(616)-574-4065 
 
The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth! 


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