Re: alternative static spark gaps???

• To: tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
• Subject: Re: alternative static spark gaps???
• From: Bert Hickman <bert.hickman-at-aquila-dot-com> (by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net>)
• Date: Sat, 06 Nov 1999 11:19:17 -0700
• Approved: twftesla-at-uswest-dot-net
• Delivered-To: fixup-tesla-at-pupman-dot-com-at-fixme

Michael,

Try it! I suspect that a potential problem with using carbon electrodes
is that a carbon arc, once formed, tends not to extinguish very rapidly
since the electrode tips become incandescent and the reduced thermal
conductivity of the carbon prevents quick cool-down. A spark gap for a
Tesla Coil needs to be able to extinguish once most of the energy in the
primary circuit has been transfered to the secondary - this is called
quenching. If the electrodes overheat (BTW, this can occur with tungsten
electrodes as well), the ability of the gap to quench is reduced. This
permits the gap to reignite and transfer energy from the secondary back
into the primary, reducing overall performance of the coil. However,
your mileager may vary! :^)

-- Bert --

Tesla List wrote:
> 
> Original Poster: "Michael Thomson" <miketz-at-cqnet-dot-com.au>
> 
> I was out on a mine site today, and had to get some gouging done, and had a
> brain-wave...
> 
> For those that don't know, Gouging is the electric welder version of oxy
> cutting, using hollow carbon rods instead of steel rods. (It is also
> extremely loud!)
> 
> Would a setup like the old arc-lamps (self adjusting spark-gap with
> sacrificial electrodes) using these rods be of too high a resistance for
> coil use?
> 
> Regards,
> MichaelT

• Prev: Re: Voltage Multiplication Circuits
• Next: Re: Believe it or not
• Index(es):
  • Main
  • Thread